Sloppy Joe Sliders are an easy weeknight dinner recipe! If your family loves sloppy joes, these are the perfect 35 minute little sandwiches.
If you like quick sandwiches try my sloppy joe sandwich recipe or my Chicken Sloppy Joes.
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Why this Sloppy Joe Sliders Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe because it’s a quick, easy and delicious meal! You will definitely want to add this one to your stash of easy recipes that are perfect for game day or parties.
- Delicious Flavor: This old fashioned sloppy joe recipe tastes amazing and is a hit every time.
- Freezes Well: It’s great for making ahead and freezing for later.
- Can Feed a Crowd: Sloppy joe sandwiches can easily be scaled up to feed a large group, making it perfect for gatherings.
- Comforting Dish: It has a comforting, homey feel that makes you want to return to it.
- Family Favorite: Everyone in the family loves it, making it a go-to meal.
Are Sloppy Joes and Wimpies the Same Thing?
Yes! Sloppy joes and wimpies are the same thing, they just have different names depending on where you are from.
Ingredient Notes to Make Sloppy Joe Sliders
You will need just a few super simple ingredients to make this simple sloppy joe recipe. They’re all easy to find at the store, but you may even have some of the ingredients in your kitchen already.
- Ground Beef: Use a lean blend of ground beef for this recipe so that you don’t get much unnecessary grease.
- Hawaiian Rolls: I like using the King’s Hawaiian rolls for this recipe. The sweet rolls go perfect with the meat mixture.
- Colby Jack Cheese: A slice of Colby jack cheese on top make the sliders so much better.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
How to Make the Sloppy Joe Sliders Ahead of Time
Preparing homemade sloppy joe sauce ahead of time can be the best way to go! Make a recipe in advance to be able to enjoy it whenever you’d like.
- Make Ahead: Make the sloppy joe meat in advance and reheat when ready to serve.
Pro Tip for Game Day Sliders
Low and Slow: Simmer the Sloppy Joe mixture on low heat for at least 15-20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken.
How to Make these Sloppy Joe Sliders
This easy sloppy joe recipe comes together in 6 quick and easy steps. If you love a good slider, this will quickly become one of your favorite recipes!
These are the basic steps for making Sloppy Joe Sliders. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
1. Cook the Sloppy Joe Meat
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown beef with onions and green peppers in a large skillet over medium heat. Break up the meat and cook until meat is fully cooked. Drain well and return to skillet.
2. Make the Sloppy Joe Sauce
Add ketchup, celery seed, dry mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Make the Glaze
While the sloppy joes are simmering, prepare the glaze. Combine all the brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, onion powder, melted butter and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Stir until completely combined and set aside.
4. Slice the Dinner Rolls and Place in Dish
Leaving the buns connected, slice the slider rolls in half horizontally so the tops are separated from the bottoms, but still in one piece. Place the bottom half of the slider rolls in a 9×13 baking pan.
5. Assemble the Sliders
Spread the sloppy Joe mixture on the bottom half of the rolls. Add a single layer of cheese and top with the French fried onions. Place the tops of the slider rolls on top and brush the glaze mixture evenly over the top of the buns.
6. Bake the Sliders
Place the baking dish in the oven. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and tops are golden.
How to Store, Reheat and Use Leftover Sliders
- Storing: Store the leftover sloppy joe mix in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual sliders portions in the microwave. To reheat all of it, add it back to a sauce pan on the stove.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy leftovers cheeseburger sliders with Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad!
Variations and Substitutions for this Sloppy Joe Recipe
This good sloppy joe recipe is super easy to customize to make it your own! Try taking it to the next level by adding some spice or experimenting with different topping flavors.
- Spicy: If you want to include some added spice, use Jalapeños or pickled onions.
- Cheese: American cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, Monterey jack cheese or pepper jack cheese.
Recipe FAQs and Reader Interactions
Serve this recipe with Ham and Cheese Appetizer Skewers, Air Fryer Animal Fries or Caesar Fancy Deviled Eggs.
Some great toppings can include different sauces, vegetables or melted cheeses.
Yes! Use a plant-based ground meat; There are many brands available, offering a meaty texture and flavor.
Expert Tips to Love this Recipe
- Different Meat: Try ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey
- Add Vegetables: Sneak in extra veggies like finely chopped mushrooms or spinach for a healthier twist.
- Different Flavors: Try adding a touch of tangy BBQ sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder or even a splash of soy sauce for unique flavor combinations.
- Buns: Try serving this recipe on brioche buns.
- Short Cut: If you don’t want to make the sloppy joe mixture from scratch, use a canned sloppy joe sauce like Manwich! Just add the ground beef.
Sloppy Joe Sliders
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Ingredients
Sandwiches
- 1 pound Ground beef
- 1 Green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 Onion, chopped
- ¾ cup Ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Celery seed
- 2 teaspoons Dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon Vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 12 Hawaiian rolls, 1 package
- 6 slices Colby Jack cheese
- 1 cup French fried onions
Glaze
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Sesame seeds
- ¼ teaspoon Onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Brown beef with onions and peppers in a large skillet. Drain well and return to skillet.
- Add ketchup, celery seed, dry mustard, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper to the skillet and stir to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- While the sloppy joes are simmering, prepare the glaze by combining all the brown sugar, butter, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, sesame seeds and onion powder in a small bowl. Stir until completely combined and set aside.
- Leaving the slider rolls connected, slice the slider rolls in half through the center so the tops are separated from the bottoms, but still in one piece.
- Place the bottom half of the slider rolls in a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spread the sloppy Joe mixture on the bottom half of the rolls.
- Add a single layer of cheese and top with the French fried onions.
- Place the tops of the slider rolls on top and brush the glaze mixture evenly over the top.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and tops are golden.
Christina’s Notes
- Different Meat: Try ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey
- Add Vegetables: Sneak in extra veggies like finely chopped mushrooms or spinach for a healthier twist.
- Different Flavors: Try adding a touch of tangy BBQ sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder or even a splash of soy sauce for unique flavor combinations.
- Buns: Try serving this recipe on brioche buns.
- Short Cut: If you don’t want to make the sloppy joe mixture from scratch, use a canned sloppy joe sauce like Manwich! Just add the ground beef.
- Scale the recipe: Simply adjust the serving size in the recipe card and the ingredients will update automatically.
- Make your own All Purpose Seasoning: When a recipe calls for All Purpose Seasoning, you can use my homemade All Purpose Seasoning recipe or substitute salt and pepper to taste.
- Meat doneness: I always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness when cooking meat.
- Use unsalted butter: I use unsalted butter so I can control the salt level in the recipe.
- Preheat the oven: Unless otherwise noted, always preheat your oven before baking.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, check out the blog post.
is there a secret to get the bottom bun toasted instead of soggy? l love making sliders but my husband hates the soggy bottom bun so I don’t make them as often as I would like. Thank you
Toast: Lightly toast the bottom buns before assembling the sliders. This adds a bit of crispiness and helps them resist moisture.
Drain Excess Liquids: If your toppings are juicy (like marinara sauce or sautéed onions), drain off any excess liquid before assembling the sliders.
Assemble Just Before Serving: If possible, assemble the sliders just before serving. This minimizes the amount of time the buns are in contact with the moist ingredients.
Bake Uncovered: Baking uncovered allows the moisture to escape, preventing the buns from becoming soggy.