30 Minute Healthy Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders

As a food blogger, I keep a running note on my phone of all the recipe ideas that come to mind. Usually, these fantastic ideas appear around three o'clock in the morning, but they are the inspiration that drives my blog, so I just roll with it!

Growing up, I didn't like sloppy joes at all. In fact, I usually found an excuse to be somewhere else when my mom made them! I think it might have been because it was Manwich, so the idea of willingly choosing to eat them in my own home wasn't very appealing...

Then I decided I might actually like sloppy joes if I made them from scratch...and I was right!

When I was first developing my own recipe for traditional sloppy joes, I did a lot of research on Pinterest and Google, trying to learn about the key ingredients most bloggers used. Then I came across Hawaiian Sloppy Joes and thought, "Huh. Well, if I decide I like sloppy joes, that'll be a fun variation to try!"

Good news: today's recipe is not only evidence that I actually like sloppy joes, but that their cousins from the islands are just as tasty! These Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders are sweet, tangy, cheesy, and so easy to make!

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Ingredients for Hawaiian sloppy joes

Some of the traditional sloppy joe ingredients include ground meat, diced onions, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. These Hawaiian Sloppy Joes mimic a lot of those traditional flavors, but with a twist:

• Ground turkey: I figured ground pork would be the best choice for Hawaiian Sloppy Joes, but I couldn't find lean ground pork at any big grocery story, so ground turkey was the next best thing! I love using ground turkey because it has a much milder flavor and can be sweet or savory, depending on the seasonings you use. This brand is my favorite.
• Fresh vegetables: onions and garlic keep things traditional, but diced red pepper brings a touch of the islands right in!
• Barbecue sauce: sweet and a little bit tangy, BBQ sauce is the base of every classic Hawaiian recipe I found. This brand is my favorite because they don't use high fructose corn syrup, but feel free to use whatever brand you like.‍
• Pineapple juice: infused right into the sloppy joe sauce. The acidity from the pineapples perfectly compliments the sweet BBQ sauce and really brings that true Hawaiian flavor. If you really like pineapple, you can even add pineapple slices to your Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders!‍
• Sweet chili sauce: another touch of sweetness with a hint of spice. I always use G Hughes brand of sweet chili sauce because it's sugar free! You can find their products at your local Walmart.‍
• Mozzarella cheese: a milder cheese that adds just enough savor to the dish. You'll especially love it when it melts into the sloppy joe sliders!‍
• Hawaiian sweet rolls: the perfect finishing touch to these Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders! They're soft and so easy to use for homemade sliders. Just slice them all in half and build the sliders right in the baking dish!

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How to Make Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders

One of the reasons I love these Hawaiian Sloppy Joes is because all you need is one large skillet (I use a 12" cast iron skillet!) and one 9x13 baking dish. That's it!

Start by sauteing the vegetables until soft, fragrant, and translucent, about 7-8 minutes. Add the ground turkey, garlic, and ginger, cooking until the meat is browned.

‍Pro tip: to save time and make a finer minced meat, you HAVE to try this kitchen tool! It is one of my favorite utensils in my entire kitchen.

Here's the fun part: dump in all the sauces! No need to be perfect about it, just add all remaining ingredients right into the meat and stir until well combined. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat while you prepare the Hawaiian rolls.

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Now, it's time to build the Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders.

Grease the bottom of a 9x13 with cooking spray. Slice all the Hawaiian rolls in half like regular hamburger buns and place the bottom buns in a 4x6 array in the baking dish.

Pour the sloppy joe filling over the rolls and spread in an even layer all the way to the edges. Don't worry if some of it spills over the edges - these are Hawaiian sloppy joes, are they not?

If you really love pineapple, add pineapple rings over the sloppy joe mix to your liking. If not, these will still be Hawaiian sloppy joes.

Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over sloppy joe filling, then place the top buns over each slider. Spray the tops of the buns with cooking spray (so they don't stick to the foil) and cover with foil.

Bake the sloppy joe sliders in a preheated oven for 15 minutes until the cheese has melted and the sliders are nice and soft. Let them cool for a few minutes under the foil before serving.

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Why You'll Love These Sliders!

1. They're ready in 30-minutes: this means you can enjoy them for an easy weeknight meal or a lazy weekend dinner. Either way, less time in the kitchen means more time with the people you love!
2. They're made-from-scratch: no pre-made sloppy joe mix here! The sweet and tangy sauce is authentic, made with real ingredients, and uses many pantry staples you probably already have on hand, like BBQ sauce, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and mustard.
3. They feed a crowd: each 9x13 dish feeds eight people (each person gets three whole sliders), and if you're bring this to a potluck or sharing at a party, you can feed up to 24 people with one tray of sloppy joe sliders. Not bad for 30 minutes of work, right?‍
4. They're low sugar: most canned sauce mixes come with added sugar and unnecessary ingredients, but these Hawaiian Sloppy Joes are lower in added sugar thanks to a few brands like Stubbs, G Hughes, and Stevia.‍
5. They're macro-friendly: this means the ratio of carbs, proteins, and fats in each serving is balanced so your body is fueled right. I write my recipes backwards to make sure you're getting all the right nutrients in the right amounts!‍
6. They're incredibly easy to make: it's as simple as sauteing vegetables, browning meat, stirring in the sauce ingredients, and building the sliders in one pan. If my husband can do it without my help, so can you!

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Oh my goodness I can't wait for you to try these Hawaiian Sloppy Joe Sliders! You and your family are going to love them. They're the perfect balance of sweet and savory with a little bit of tangy, and you got to taste the island life in the comfort of your own home.

When you make these Hawaiian Sloppy Joes, be sure to leave a star rating and review below so I and other readers know how you liked them! You can also tag me on Instagram - I love seeing my recipes in your home!