Whether you need a hearty appetizer for game day or simply want a fun dinner, these sloppy joe sliders are a prime pick. The mini sandwiches start with Hawaiian rolls, which get stuffed with a meaty sloppy joe filling and melty cheddar cheese. The filled rolls are glazed with a butter-brown sugar sauce then sprinkled with sesame seeds and garlic and baked to golden, cheesy perfection. Yum.
Just make sure you serve these sloppy joe sliders with lots of napkins. Sloppy joes are not known for their tidiness!
Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Sliders
- Hawaiian rolls: Soft, fluffy Hawaiian rolls make all slider recipes a success—and easy to prepare! You could also go the extra mile and make your Hawaiian dinner rolls from scratch if you’re feeling up to it.
- Cheddar cheese: We highly recommend going with sliced cheddar cheese here. Shredded cheese might make assembling these sliders even messier. Sliced cheese, however, lays nicely and is easy to stack with other ingredients.
- Ground beef: Purchase a 90% lean ground beef for these slider sloppy joes.
- Sloppy joe sauce: One can of sloppy joe sauce is all you need for these baked sloppy joe sliders.
Directions
Step 1: Cut the Hawaiian loaf in half
Preheat your oven to 350°F, and grease a 13×9-inch baking dish. Take the entire Hawaiian roll loaf out of the bag, and slice the loaf in half horizontally. Do not separate the individual rolls from each other.
Fit the bottom half of the loaf in the baking dish, and arrange half of the slices of cheese on top.
Step 2: Cook the filling
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat, crumbling the beef in the skillet, until the beef is no longer pink and the onion is tender, six to eight minutes. Drain drippings from skillet.
Stir in the sloppy joe sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce and pepper. Cook and stir the mixture until combined, one to two minutes. Spoon the beef mixture evenly over the rolls, and top with the remaining cheese. Replace the top half of the loaf.
Step 3: Create the glaze
In a small bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, mustard, soy sauce and garlic powder. Brush the mixture over the rolls. Immediately sprinkle the tops of the rolls with the sesame seeds and the minced onion.
Step 4: Bake
Bake the rolls, uncovered, until the tops are golden and the cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes. If desired, top with pickle slices.
Editor’s Tip: If the tops of your sliders are browning too quickly but the cheese hasn’t melted yet, tent the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent overbrowning.
Recipe Variations
- Sprinkle in crispy fried onions: Premade crispy fried onions create a crunchy texture in the slider sloppy joes. Sprinkle in a layer after adding the second layer of cheese.
- Add extra spice: Layer a few pickled jalapenos into these sliders for a subtle crunch and a good kick of heat.
- Use a different cheese: We love how the sharp cheddar cheese holds up against the rich, saucy beef, but slices of provolone, Muenster or smoked Gouda would also work if you prefer those.
- Brush with mustard: Give these sloppy joe sliders an extra kick of zippy, vinegary heat by brushing a bit of mustard over the inside of one of the Hawaiian roll halves.
How to Store Sloppy Joe Sliders
To store any leftovers, allow the sloppy joe sliders to cool completely to room temperature. Place the sliders in an airtight container, and store in the fridge for up to three days.
Can you make sloppy joe sliders ahead of time?
Yes, you can make the filling for the sloppy joe sliders ahead of time, but do not assemble the sliders until you’re ready to bake and serve them. Create the filling, and allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Store the filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one day. When ready to serve, assemble and bake off the sliders.
Can you freeze sloppy joe sliders?
Yes, you can freeze unbaked sloppy joe sliders. Cover and freeze the unbaked sandwiches, and freeze the glaze separately. Store in the freezer for up to one month.
To use, partially thaw the sliders in the refrigerator overnight. Remove the sliders from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, and preheat the oven to 350°. Warm the frozen glaze in the microwave, drizzle it over the buns, and sprinkle the tops with the sesame seeds and minced onion. Bake the sandwiches as directed, increasing the cook time by 10 to 15 minutes. The cheese should be melted, and a thermometer inserted into the center of the sliders should read 165°.
Sloppy Joe Sliders Tips
What do I serve with sloppy joe sliders?
If you’re making baked sloppy joes to watch the Big Game, serve these sliders alongside other Super Bowl party food. The sliders also make a fun dinner for the family and can be served with broccoli and french fries.
Which rolls are best for sliders?
The best rolls for slider recipes are sweet, fluffy, buttery Hawaiian rolls. They’re pre-portioned but still connected—perfect for cutting horizontally and assembling, but still easy to cut into servings. Dinner rolls also work!
