• Gather all ingredients and have your skillet ready. If you plan to broil cheese, position a rack near the top of the oven.

For the Sloppy Joe Filling:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up with a spatula, cooking until it’s browned and fully cooked through.
• Stir in the chopped onion, chopped bell pepper, and minced garlic. Continue cooking until the vegetables are softened, about 8–10 minutes.
• Mix in the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder, and paprika. Season with salt and pepper and stir until everything is evenly combined.
• Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 5–7 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and the flavors to meld.

For the Toast:

• Spread butter on one side of each slice of Texas toast or thick-cut bread.
• Toast the buttered bread either by placing the buttered side down on a preheated skillet or griddle and cooking until golden and crisp, or slide the slices under a hot broiler until toasted. Repeat with the remaining slices.
• If you want the cheese melted on the filling before assembling, spoon warm Sloppy Joe mixture onto a baking sheet or onto the toasted bread, sprinkle with grated cheddar, and broil briefly (watch closely) until the cheese melts.

To Assemble and Serve:

• Pile the sloppy joe mixture onto each toasted slice (open-faced) or stack between two slices for a traditional sandwich. Add extra cheese and a light sprinkle of dried parsley if desired.
• Serve immediately with napkins and your favorite sides like coleslaw, pickles, or chips.