If you love sloppy joes, this version is a total upgrade. Think garlicky, buttery sloppy joe meat simmered in a sweet-savory sauce with brown sugar and soy sauce, finished with melty cheddar cheese or monterey jack cheese, and tucked into soft Hawaiian roll sliders or dinner rolls!
Perfect for weeknights, game day, or feeding the whole family. These mini sandwiches are messy in the best way — the ultimate popular recipe you’ll want on repeat.
If you love easy, pub-style meals like this one, you are also going to love my deep fried Calamari, Spicy Chicken Burrito & Chopped Chicken Caesar!
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Ingredients
- Tomato sauce
- Ketchup
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Butter
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Lean ground beef
- Salt & pepper
- Marble cheese, grated
- Slider buns
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions & Video
Fry the garlic in the butter!
Add in the beef and our sauce mixture!
Mix in the cheese!
Serve it up on our sliders & enjoy!
- Make the Sauce – In a small bowl, whisk together tomato sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Set aside. (You can also use a can of sloppy joe sauce if you want a shortcut.)
- Cook the Beef – Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and garlic (or garlic powder) and sauté until fragrant. Add the lean ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up the beef mixture. If you see excess fat at the bottom of the pan, tilt and spoon it out or blot with paper towels. Season with salt, pepper, and optional Dijon mustard or yellow mustard.
- Simmer the Sloppy Joe Mixture – Pour the sauce over the beef and bring to a light boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes until thickened to your liking. Adjust the seasoning or chili powder to personal preference. Add water for a looser sloppy joe filling or a cornstarch slurry for thicker.
- Add Cheese – Stir in the grated marble cheese until melty and creamy. This step creates the cheesy sloppy joe sliders that everyone will fight over.
- Assemble Sliders – Toast bottom buns until golden brown. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the bottom buns, then place the top buns on top. Optional: brush the top of the buns or top slider buns with melted butter, sprinkle sesame seeds or poppy seeds, and give them a quick bake in the oven for extra flavor.
- Serve immediately with potato salad, potato chips, or as part of a meal plan for the whole family. (VIDEO BELOW)
Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card!:)
Substitutions
- Butter: Olive oil, ghee, or vegan butter. Brush top of the buns with melted butter for golden brown top slider buns.
- Garlic Cloves: Garlic powder (¼ teaspoon per clove), onion powder, or Italian seasoning.
- Soy Sauce: Worcestershire sauce or Dijon mustard for extra umami.
- Brown Sugar: Maple syrup, honey, or coconut sugar.
- Marble Cheese: Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Parmesan sliders, or vegan cheese.
- Slider Buns: Hawaiian rolls, King’s Hawaiian, dinner rolls, or individual rolls.
- Tomato Sauce: Can of sloppy joe sauce, tomato paste thinned with water, or crushed tomatoes.
- Optional Veggies: Yellow onion, minced onion, bell peppers, or green pepper in the meat mixture.
- Spices: Chili powder, garlic powder, paprika per personal preference.
- Casserole Version: Layer the sloppy joe mixture in a baking dish lined with aluminum foil and bake for a sloppy joe casserole.
Equipment
- Large skillet or Dutch oven
- Small bowl for sauce
- Cheese grater
- Baking pan or baking dish (if making casserole)
Storage
- Store leftover sloppy joe meat in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat gently on the stove or microwave; add a splash of water if needed.
- Assemble sliders just before serving so the tops of the rolls stay soft and cheese stays melty.
Top tips for Success
- Don’t skip brushing the top of the buns with melted butter — a game changer.
- Drain excess fat to avoid soggy sliders.
- Taste after simmering — a little extra brown sugar, Dijon mustard, or chili powder can balance flavors.
- Hawaiian roll sliders are perfect for soft, sweet bites everyone loves.
FAQ
Yes! Keep the sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container and toast top buns before serving.
Absolutely — cool completely, store in an airtight container for up to 2 months, and reheat slowly.
Serve the sloppy joe filling on the side with individual rolls for mini sandwiches, or spoon less sauce per slider.
Related
Looking for other cheesy & savory recipes like this one? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite desserts to serve with these Sloppy Joe sliders:
How to Make Sloppy Joe Sliders (Cheesy & Savory Recipe)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, ketchup, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Set aside. It’s sweet, savory, and perfectly balanced. (WATCH FULL VIDEO BELOW)
- Cook the Beef: Heat a large skillet (or Dutch oven) over medium-high heat. Add the butter and minced garlic and sauté for about 30–60 seconds until fragrant — don’t let it burn.
- Add the ground beef and cook for about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula, until fully cooked and no longer pink.
- If there’s excess fat, carefully tilt the pan and spoon it out (or blot with paper towels). Season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer the Sauce: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet and stir to combine. Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, or until thickened to your liking.
- (Want it looser? Add a splash of water. Want it thicker? Let it simmer longer or stir in a small cornstarch slurry. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.)
- Add the Cheese: Stir in the grated marble cheese until melted and creamy. This step makes it extra rich and slightly gooey — so good.
- Assemble: Toast your slider buns until golden. Spoon the hot sloppy joe mixture onto the bottoms and top with the bun lids.
- Optional (but highly recommended): Brush the tops of the slider buns with garlic butter and warm them in the oven before filling. It takes them from good to unreal. (WATCH FULL VIDEO BELOW)
Notes
Food safety
We sometimes take for a granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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