Sloppy Joe Sliders On Hawaiian Rolls

Name: Sloppy Joe Sliders
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 1/2 cup red bell pepper (finely diced); 1/2 cup green bell pepper (finely diced); 1/2 cup onion (finely diced); 2 cups bbq sauce; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon yellow mustard; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 12 slices cheddar cheese; 12 Hawaiian Rolls; 2 tablespoons butter (melted); Sesame seeds (optional topping)

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If you love a sloppy joe, then these Sloppy Joe Sliders are something you are going to want to try. They are easy to make and perfect for a quick dinner or feeding a crowd. Seasoned beef smothered with melted cheese and favorite tangy sauce, what’s not to like?

Multiple Sloppy Joe sliders stacked on a white plate.

Easy Hawaiian Roll Slider Recipe

Sliders have become so popular over the last few years. I find that they are the ultimate easy meal and often a family favorite. Sloppy joes are always a good option for friends and family and these delicious sliders take all of the classic flavors and turn them into little sliceable sandwiches.

This recipe uses simple ingredients that you probably already have to create the tangy sauce. Lean ground beef works perfectly with these little sandwiches, but you can use other meats and options, more on that later! Brushing the Hawaiian rolls with butter helps to create that golden brown glazed finish. But the best part is the combination of the meat mixture with the melted cheese. So simple to make and something everyone is going to love!

Whether it is an easy weeknight dinner that you want ready in 30 minutes or for game day and parties, they are great to serve with some other party dishes like classic chili and cowboy caviar dip.

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A spatula being used to pick up a Sloppy Joe Slider off of white plate.

Sloppy Joe Sliders Ingredients

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Sliders - Ground beef, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, onion, garlic, bbq sauce, chili powder, brown sugar, mustard, worcestershire sauce, cheddar cheese, Hawaiian rolls, butter, sesame seeds and parsley.

Lean ground beef – Beef is the classic choice for these sloppy joes. Lean ground beef is preferable but you can always drain off any excess fat once it is cooked before moving on to the next step. You could always swap out the ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or even non-meat vegetarian crumbles if desired.
Green and red bell peppers – Finely diced bell peppers work well with the sauce and beef. A great way to add some extra veggie goodness to the dish.
Onion – Diced onion when cooked with ground meat helps to add extra flavor.
BBQ sauce – Sweet and tangy, BBQ sauce is an easy way to jazz up a dish. Use your favorite brand.
Brown sugar – This helps to balance out the flavors in the sauce
Worcestershire sauce – One of the best condiments for beef dishes and adds a unique depth of flavor to the sauce.
Yellow mustard – A simple sauce that will add tanginess and sharper flavor to the sloppy Joe mixture. Yellow mustard works great but Dijon mustard has extra heat and would work well if you like that sort of flavor.
Chili powder – Adds a little extra heat, you can add more or less depending on your preferences.
Garlic cloves – An easy way to add extra flavor to the sloppy joe sauce. I like fresh garlic but you can also use a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Cheddar cheese – This cheese melts really well and will balance out the flavor of the meat mixture.
Hawaiian Rolls – Ideal for sloppy joes but you could use dinner rolls if needed. King’s Hawaiian Rolls are my favorite. You can also use any dinner rolls or slider rolls instead of Hawaiian rolls.
Butter – Melted butter finishes these sloppy joes off with a golden glaze when baked.
Sesame seeds – This is an optional topping for the tops of the buns.

Variations To Try

1. If you want to increase the heat then why not add jalapeño peppers or crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture?
2. I used cheddar cheese for these sloppy joe sliders but you can choose any cheese you like. Why not try Pepperjack cheese, provolone cheese, or American cheese instead?

What To Serve With Sliders?

These sliders are best served with some delicious side dishes. I think this No Mayo potato salad or Broccoli Salad would be great options. Or why not try this creamy macaroni salad? I also think these scalloped potatoes will also be delicious with the sliders.

How To Make Sloppy Joe Sliders

Step 1 – In a large skillet, add the ground beef, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion and cook over medium-high heat until beef is browned and veggies are tender. Drain off any excess grease into a colander placed over a bowl.

A large pot filled with meat and vegetables.

Step 2 – Add the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder, and garlic and heat over medium heat for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens slightly.

Cheese slices lining hawaiian rolls in a baking dish.

Step 3 – Preheat oven to 350° F while mixture is cooking. Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half and place 6 slices of cheddar on the bottom buns.

Meat poured over cheese base on hawaiian rolls in baking dish.

Cheese slices laid over meat in baking dish.

Step 4 – Spread the beef mixture evenly over the cheese layer. Then top the meat mixture with the remaining 6 slices of cheese and place the top buns on.

Step 5 – Brush the bun tops with the melted butter and sprinkle with a little sesame seeds if desired. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Tips

If you want a more tomato based sauce, add a tablespoon of tomato paste or ketchup with a little extra water if desired.
Why not elevate that butter glaze by adding a teaspoon of onion powder to the melted butter that you brush on the tops of the rolls? Yum!
Make sure you drain any excess fat when cooking the ground beef before moving on to the next step.
Use a large sheet pan or baking dish to bake the sliders.
Cover with aluminum foil if you notice the tops are getting too brown.
Feel free to use a store bought sloppy joe mix for a quicker prep.

FAQ’s

How to Store?

If you have any leftovers then allow them to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. You can then store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

How to Reheat?

Add any leftovers back to a sheet pan and place them in the oven to warm up. You could also use a microwave. It should only take a few seconds in the microwave and around 5-7 minutes in a preheated oven. The air fryer could also work to reheat the sloppy joes, if available.

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