Name: Sloppy Joe Sliders
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1.5 tablespoons olive oil; 1 yellow onion (peeled and minced); 1 bell pepper (small dice); 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms (finely chopped or minced (about 227 grams or 1/2 a pound)); 2 carrots (peeled and shredded); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (or to taste); 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste); 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (or yellow mustard); 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce (1 3/4 cups); 1 cup low sodium vegetable broth (or water or mushroom broth); 1/4 cup water (rinse out the empty can of tomato sauce and use that water); 12 ounces plant-based "meat" crumbles (about 3/4 of a pound); 1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 15 slider buns; 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (about 2 cups); 3 to 4 tablespoons garlic butter (melted); Sesame seeds (garnish to taste (optional))

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Veggie ground “meat,” veggies, shredded cheese and a rich tomato-based sauce make these mini sandwiches a crowd-pleaser every time! Fair warning, you’re definitely gonna want more than one of these yummy sloppy joe sliders.

Stack of two sloppy joe sliders on a wooden serving board.

You may remember me sharing some vegan sloppy joes with you all a while back that had lentils and veggie meat crumbles (soy-based crumbles). Those are always a huge hit!

I’m sharing another delicious sloppy joe recipe, but we’re mixing things up a bit.

This is a stick-to-ya-ribs, make your belly happy, comfort food recipe.

Cheesy sloppy joe sliders are always a favourite, especially for game day or Friday night supper.

These are super duper easy to prepare and so good; plus, who doesn’t love mini food?

With all kinds of hidden veggies (like shredded carrot and finely minced mushrooms) you can have tasty comfort food and still feel good about it!

I don’t about you, but that makes me happy.

How To Make Sloppy Joe Sliders

Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:

Make the filling

In a pan, cook onion in some olive oil until softened.
Next, add bell pepper, finely chopped mushrooms, shredded carrot, garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Give everything a mix to combine and cook for a little.
Add Dijon mustard, tomato paste, tomato sauce, vegetable broth and a little water. Cook until thickened. Tip: If you want a looser or thinner consistency, feel free to add a tad more broth.
Add veggie meat crumbles. Stir in and cook for a few minutes. Stir in cider vinegar.

Assemble and bake

Slice buns in half and place bottom half into a baking dish.
Top buns with sloppy joe mix and plenty of shredded cheese.
Top with the other half of buns (top buns). Brush with garlic butter and sprinkle over some sesame seeds (they add great texture and flavour).
Cover and bake (removing cover partway through). Once they’re done, you can cut out individual sliders.

Can I Make These With Ground Beef?

Sure!

If you prefer to use ground beef (like lean or extra lean ground beef), add after you cook the onion and heat through for about 8 to 10 minutes (or until fully cooked). Season with salt and pepper if you like.

Continue with the recipe (aside from using the veggie meat crumbles, of course).

Once the sauce is added, cook until you’ve reach your desired consistency. Make them as messy (or not) as you like!

Serving utensil picking up a sloppy joe slider from a dish.

Can I Make These Vegan?

Absolutely!

This recipe is super versatile.

For vegan sliders, use vegan cheese instead of dairy and, of course, ensure the buns and garlic butter are vegan.

Tips and Variations

Packages of slider buns vary. Sometimes you can get in a 12-count pack, other times a 15-count pack. The sloppy joe mixture yields enough for 12 to 15 sloppy joes (with the 12 count being jam-packed).
Can’t find slider buns? Use your fave dinner roll. You can totally remove some of the centre bun if you want less bread.
Make these as sloppy as you like. If you like your sloppy joe mix to be on the looser side of things, don’t reduce your sauce too much. If you like your sauce to be denser, cook a little more.
Reduced your sauce too much and you want a looser consistency? No worries! Add a little broth until you’ve loosened to your liking!
Canned tomato sauce can vary in sodium. Keep that in mind when adding salt. You want want less (or more) depending on what you use and your personal preference.
To make your own garlic butter, you can melt some butter with garlic powder to taste (I like to start with ½ teaspoon or so).
I topped the buns with sesame seeds, but poppy seeds (or a combo) would work. Heck, I’ve even topped with everything bagel seasoning and they’re delicious!
Shredded cheese would be a lovely addition to the top of the buns before baking.
Veggie broth was used here, but for more of a “meatier” and hearty flavour, try mushroom broth.

Sloppy joe slider on a wooden serving board.

Make It a Meal

Round things out with some sides. These sloppy joe sliders work great with any of these:

Several sloppy joe sliders on a wooden serving board.

If you make these meatless sloppy joes, be sure to leave a comment below!

Sloppy Joe Sliders

Dawn | Girl Heart Food

Veggie ground "meat," veggies, shredded cheese and a rich tomato-based sauce make these mini sandwiches a crowd-pleaser every time! Fair warning, you're definitely gonna want more than one of these yummy sloppy joe sliders.

5 from 11 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Course Main Course

Servings 15 sliders

Ingredients

1.5 tablespoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, peeled and minced
1 bell pepper, small dice
8 ounces baby bella mushrooms, finely chopped or minced (about 227 grams or ½ a pound)
2 carrots, peeled and shredded
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, or yellow mustard
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce, 1 ¾ cups
1 cup low sodium vegetable broth, or water or mushroom broth
¼ cup water, rinse out the empty can of tomato sauce and use that water
12 ounces plant-based "meat" crumbles, about ¾ of a pound
½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
15 slider buns
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, about 2 cups
3 to 4 tablespoons garlic butter, melted
Sesame seeds, garnish to taste (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for use later.
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a 12-inch sauté (or deep) pan on the stovetop over medium heat.
Add onion to pan. Cook, stirring often, for 3 to 5 minutes until onion has softened.
Stir in bell pepper, mushrooms, carrot, garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
Stir in Dijon mustard, tomato paste, tomato sauce, vegetable broth and water. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Stir in plant-based meat crumbles and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in apple cider vinegar.
Note: When the veggie meat crumbles are added it will thicken things. If you want a looser or thinner consistency, stir in more broth or water (a little at a time).
Cut slider buns in half horizontally (so you have a top portion and bottom portion, while still leaving slider buns in tact) and place bottom half (cut side up) in a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish. Top with sloppy joe mixture. Sprinkle over cheddar cheese, then place the top buns over top (cut side down) to form your sliders. Brush top buns with melted garlic butter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if using.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully remove aluminum foil and bake for another 5 minutes more or until the cheese has melted.
Cut into individual sliders. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Packages of slider buns vary. Sometimes you can get in a 12-count pack, other times a 15-count pack. The sloppy joe mixture yields enough for 12 to 15 sloppy joes (with the 12 count being jam packed).
Can’t find slider buns? Use your fave dinner roll. You can totally remove some of the centre bun if you want less bread.
Make these as sloppy as you like. If you like your sloppy joe mix to be on the looser or thinner side of things, don’t reduce your sauce too much. If you like your sauce to be denser or thicker, cook a little more.
Canned tomato sauce can vary in sodium. Keep that in mind when adding salt. You want want less (or more) depending on what you use and your personal preference.
To make your own garlic butter, you can melt some butter with garlic powder to taste (I like to start with ½ teaspoon or so).

A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.

Keyword game day recipe, meatless sloppy joes

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