These Weeknight Sloppy Joe Sliders are a classic comfort food for a reason, and so so good! Savory and juicy sloppy joe filling with a tangy sauce is stuffed into a slider roll and topped with pickles or coleslaw. They're perfect for game-day parties (it’s an excellent big-batch party food!), family dinners, or even a quick weeknight meal. Plus, they're incredibly easy to make with simple ingredients.
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Why this recipe works
This is a great weeknight recipe that my whole family loves. Here's why you'll love it too:
- Quick and easy dinner. This sloppy joe sliders recipe comes together quickly and is easy to make on a busy night. They take just a half hour and you could even make the sloppy joes ahead of time and then reheat when you're ready to serve. With just a few simple steps, you can have homemade Sloppy Joe Sliders ready to serve in no time.
- Versatile. Make them your own! You can customize this recipe to suit your taste preferences by adjusting the level of spice or adding your favorite toppings (we love pickles or coleslaw at our house!)
- Great for a crowd. This is a great recipe for serving a large crowd. The sloppy joe meat mixture is incredibly easy to make and guests can customize the toppings.
- Family-friendly. Is there anyone who doesn't love this classic comfort food? Even picky eaters will love this slider recipe, making them a great option for family dinners.
- Budget-friendly. You won't break the bank here! Even when serving these for a crowd, using affordable ingredients like ground beef and pantry staples makes these super cost-effective.
Key Ingredients
Here's everything you'll need to make these delicious sliders.
- Lean ground beef. Lean ground beef is the star of this recipe, providing a hearty base for the sloppy joe filling. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter alternative.
- Sweet onion, red bell pepper, jalapeno, garlic. These aromatic vegetables add tons of flavor and texture to the sloppy joe mixture. Sautéing them before adding the meat helps to soften the veggies and release their natural sweetness.
- Tomato paste, canned tomatoes. Tomato paste and diced canned tomatoes form the base of the sloppy joe sauce, giving it a rich, tomatoey flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce. These pantry staples help to balance the acidity of the tomatoes with sweetness and tanginess.
- Slider Buns: Soft slider buns are the perfect carrier for the sloppy joe filling. You can use regular slider buns or opt for Hawaiian sweet rolls (like King's Hawaiian Rolls) for an extra touch of sweetness.
How To Make Sloppy Joe Sliders
This easy ground beef recipe takes almost no time to prepare. Here's what you'll do:
- Sauté the vegetables. Heat a medium-sized Dutch oven or a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and jalapenos to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
- Add the garlic and beef. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Then, add the ground beef and cook, stirring until it has fully browned (about 5 minutes). Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Make the homemade sloppy joe sauce. Reduce the heat to low and add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and hot sauce to the ground beef mixture. Cook the homemade sauce for 10-15 minutes, until the sloppy joe mixture has thickened.
- Season and Serve: Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve the sloppy joe mixture on slider buns or Hawaiian dinner rolls, and garnish with pickles and coleslaw.
Variations And Substitutions
This is a classic sloppy joes recipe but there are seriously so many ways you can riff on this to make it your own. Here are some ideas.
- Change up the veggies. I like using red bell peppers, jalapenos, and sweet onions here, but you could easily omit the jalapenos if you don't want the extra heat. You could also use green bell pepper instead of or in addition to the red peppers, and regular white onions instead of sweet.
- Caramelize your onions. It takes a bit of time, but caramelized onions add some serious flavor to these sloppy joes.
- Tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes. Many recipes use tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes in the sloppy joe sauce, but I always like the extra chunkiness the diced tomatoes add.
- Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef. Swap out the beef for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter alternative.
- Make it veggie. Substitute the ground meat with cooked lentils or crumbled tofu for a meat-free version.
- Make cheesy sloppy joe sliders. Add a slice of melted cheese (Cheddar Cheese, American Cheese, or Colby jack are all a great idea) on top of the meat mixture for extra gooey goodness.
- Add some BBQ sauce: Mix some barbecue sauce into the sloppy joe mixture for a smoky, tangy flavor.
- Make it a full sandwich. I love making these into little sliders for parties, but you could easily use the sloppy joe mixture on a full-sized bun if you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This is such a great meal prep option for busy weeks. Just prepare the sloppy joe mixture in advance, then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. When ready to serve, reheat the mixture and assemble the sliders. I like to make a batch on the weekend for when I know we are going to have a particularly hectic night.
Yep! You'll want to freeze the sloppy joe mixture separately from the buns, or else you risk super soggy buns when everything defrosts. I like to make a couple of batches of sloppy joes, freeze them in a ziplock bag, and then thaw, reheat, and assemble the sandwiches when you're ready to serve them. The frozen sloppy joe mixture will be kept for 2-3 months in the freezer.
If you're asking this question, you're my people. To make these delicious sliders spicier, you can increase the amount of hot sauce or add diced jalapenos or crushed red pepper flakes to the sloppy joe mixture.
Absolutely! Kids love the sweet and savory flavors of Sloppy Joe Sliders. You can adjust the level of spice to suit their taste preferences or offer toppings like cheese or avocado to make them even more appealing. Plus, serving them as sliders means they're perfect for little hands!
This may be a bit controversial since I know a lot of people love their Hawaiian roll sliders, but personally, I prefer a heftier slider bun for sloppy joes. Hawaiian rolls are delicious, but they're super soft and the sauce from sloppy joes tends to soak right through them, making them harder to eat without a fork and knife. To each their own, but I typically opt for a more traditional, sturdier slider roll for this recipe.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Sliders
There are so many great options! Here are a few ideas.
- Potato chips or French fries. The classic choice! Crispy potato chips or golden french fries add a satisfying crunch to your meal. Serve them on the side or stack them inside the sliders for an extra indulgent treat. (Try these easy homemade Yukon Gold Chips!)
- Coleslaw. Creamy coleslaw provides a cool contrast to the warm and savory sliders. I love adding a small scoop of coleslaw to the sliders.
- Roasted vegetables. Roasted or grilled seasonal veggies such as carrots, zucchini, and bell peppers are always a great option.
- Side salad. A simple green salad works great here. Or try this easy Cucumber and Chickpea Salad, Nectarine and Quinoa Salad, or Chopped Zucchini Salad for something special.
- Corn on the cob. Try this Smoked Corn On The Cob version!
- Macaroni and cheese. Creamy, cheesy macaroni and cheese is perfect - especially when serving these to kids! (This Pumpkin Mac And Cheese, or this Baked Mac And Cheese Recipe is are great ones to try! Or, try a Mac And Cheese Bar!)
- Baked beans. Another classic that pairs beautifully with sloppy joes. Try these delicious Apple Pie Baked Beans for a special treat!
- Pickles and jalapeños. Add a zesty kick to your sliders by serving them with a side of pickles and sliced jalapeños. Their tangy and spicy flavors cut through the richness of the meat filling and add some nice heat.
- Fruit salad. Always a classic!
If you try these Easy Weeknight Sloppy Joe Sliders, let me know what you think in the comments below. And don't forget to tag me with a pic @frontrangefed on Instagram so I can see your masterpiece!
Recipe
Sloppy Joe Sliders (Easy Weeknight Recipe!)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ¼ lbs lean ground beef
- ½ cup sweet onion diced
- 1 jalapeno diced, seeds removed
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (from a can)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1-2 teaspoon hot sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 12 slider buns
- pickles & coleslaw for garnish/toppings
Instructions
- Heat a medium-sized Dutch oven or large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeños to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables have softened.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
- Add the ground beef and cook, stirring until it has fully browned (about 5 minutes).
- Reduce the heat to low and add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and hot sauce. Cook for 10-15 minutes, until the sloppy joes mixture has thickened.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, and serve on slider buns or Hawaiian Rolls, with pickles and coleslaw.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Freeze sloppy joe mixture in a ziplock bag for 2-3 months in the freezer. Thaw, then reheat and assemble sandwiches just before serving.
Bonnie says
These sliders were a hit. I made them for a party, and so many people asked for the recipe. I will be making these again.
Sarah Jenkins says
Love these easy sliders! The sloppy joes were great - old school and brought me back to my youth!