Sloppy Joe Sliders

These sloppy Joe sliders have all of the original flavors of classic sloppy Joes but in slider form. Browned beef is mixed with a slightly sweet and tangy sauce before being baked on buttery slider buns.

 

Oh, and there’s plenty of melted cheese, too. Because the only thing better than sloppy Joe sliders is cheesy sloppy Joe sliders.

You can whip these up quickly for handheld party snacks or they’re great to make as a hearty meal at dinnertime paired with your favorite sides. The next time you have a comfort food craving, turn to these little sloppy Joe sandwiches.

Why You’ll Love Sloppy Joe Sliders

There are so many reasons to love these tasty sliders.

• Easy – You can whip the filling up in no time and assemble them quickly for sliders that will feed a crowd. 
• Convenient – All of the ingredients are easy to access at most grocery stores. 
• Popular – Most people love a good sloppy Joe so this is perfect for parties but it also can be an easy weeknight dinner that everyone will love.

Ingredients

These simple ingredients are all you need to make sliders that are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

• Lean ground beef – Use lean beef so that you avoid having too much excess grease after cooking it. Of course, ground turkey or ground chicken can be swapped.
• Diced white onion – Make sure to dice the onion into small pieces so it blends well with the meat, especially for little eaters.
• Ketchup – You can use your favorite brand or make your own homemade ketchup. 
• Yellow mustard – This style of mustard brings bright and tangy flavor to the sauce. Dijon or a spicy brown makes things even more interesting.
• Worcestershire sauce – Using Worcestershire sauce is a great way to add depth to the sauce. 
• Light brown sugar – Brown sugar adds just a touch of rich sweetness. Dark can be used for a heavier molasses undertone.
• Salt – This helps to balance the flavors of the sauce.
• Black pepper – You can grind it fresh or just use a variety that’s already ground. 
• Onion powder – While there’s already onion in the sauce this helps to add even more flavor. 
• Garlic powder – Using the powder makes the recipe easy but if you want to mince garlic cloves you can do that, too. 
• Slider buns – We love Hawaiian rolls but you can use dinner rolls or any other slider-style buns that you can find at the grocery store.
• Mild cheddar cheese – It’s ideal to shred the cheese yourself for the best flavor but you can use pre-packaged shredded cheese, too. Other flavors of cheese are great options as well.
• Butter – You can use salted or unsalted butter — whichever is your preference.
• Italian seasoning – Make your own homemade Italian seasoning, or buy a blend at the store.
• White sesame seeds – You can find these in the spice aisle or the international foods section at your local grocery store.

How to Make Sloppy Joe Sliders

These are so easy you’ll be wondering why you didn’t make them sooner!

1. Cut the bread. Slice through the slider buns lengthwise.
2. Prep the bread. Place the bottom halves in a baking dish or on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. 
3. Brown Beef. Add the onions and ground beef to a large skillet that has been preheated. 
4. Make Sloppy Joe Sauce. Once the beef is browned, add the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens then remove from the heat.
5. Assemble Sliders. Place shredded cheese on top of the bottom buns, then spoon the beef mixture evenly over all of the buns. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top of the meat. Add the top halves of the buns. 
6. Melt Butter. Melt the butter in a small bowl and mix with Italian seasoning. Brush the melted butter on the tops of the buns. 
7. Top with Seeds. Sprinkle sesame seeds over tops of buns while still tacky.
8. Cook. Bake until cheese melts and the buns are browned.
9. Garnish and Serve. After removing from the oven, garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Sliders

There are tons of great sides to serve with sliders. For game day we like to serve them alongside other snacks like potato chips, stuffed jalapenos, pimento cheese deviled eggs, and Buffalo wings.

You can also make fries — our favorites are air fryer french fries and ranch bacon cheese fries. Or, try whipping up a simple ranch pasta salad or tossing together an easy side salad.

Variations 

There are lots of ways to put your own spin on these little sandwiches.

• Meat – Instead of ground beef try using ground turkey, chicken, or sausage. You can also use your favorite plant-based alternative.
• Cheese – Switch out the cheddar for American cheese, Monterey Jack, provolone, or even parmesan cheese. 
• Heat – Add some spiciness to your slider with hot sauce, chili powder, cayenne pepper powder, or crushed red pepper flakes. 
• Vegetables – Sneak some veggies into this meaty sandwiches by dicing up some bell peppers (green pepper works well) or mushrooms and adding them to the mixture.
• Smoky – Make your own version of a White Castle Smoky Joe Slider by using smoked cheddar and topping with crispy onions.
• Acidity – If you want your filling to have a bit more of a bite, experiment with adding a bit of apple cider vinegar.
• Tomato flavor – If you want a less sweet sauce with more condensed tomato flavor try using a mixture of tomato paste and tomato sauce in place of the ketchup.

Storage, Make Ahead and Freezing

If you think you might have leftovers, it might be ideal to use sliced cheese instead of shredded on both the top and the bottom to prevent the meat mixture from making the bread soggy when stored.

Make-Ahead: You can make the filling ahead and refrigerate for up to 1 day before filling the slider rolls and baking.

Refrigerator: Cover the sliders in the baking dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or in an airtight container, for up to 3 days.

Freezer: We do not recommend freezing sloppy Joe sliders. However, the meat filling can be frozen.

Common Questions About Sloppy Joe Sliders

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