Hawaiian Sloppy Joes, a family fave you cook in the Instant Pot!
I make these Hawaiian Sloppy Joes to satisfy my youngest son. He’s a big fan of Burgers, and Hawaiian Pizza, but not so much regular Sloppy Joes.
I like the ease of Sloppy Joes, and the childhood memories they evoke, they are so comforting. But, I want to cook a meal everyone would actually enjoy. and also wanted to keep it simple enough for an easy weeknight dinner. That’s where these Hawaiian Sloppy Joes come in.
What exactly is a Hawaiian Sloppy Joe?
This is a traditional family friendly recipe, with a unique twist. The combination of two kid friendly favourites, Hawaiian Pizza and Sloppy Joes. Sweet, Savory, Tangy, Tasty, Messy. Yup. This is messy, well, actually SLOPPY food, and I like it!
Browned ground beef, with sweet and smoky BBQ sauce and hints of pineapple, onion, green pepper, and garlic, so delicious.
Instant Pot or Stove top, so easy to make, so good to eat!
I make Hawaiian Sloppy Joes in the Instant Pot instead of on the stove top for a few reasons.
- It’s basically hands off cooking, once you get everything in the pot, you can walk away. No standing over the stove and stirring required.
- It’s WAY less messy! No splatters and spills to clean up.
- You can reheat from frozen really quickly, for those nights when LIFE just happens and you need dinner QUICK!
Can I cook it in the Crock Pot?
Well, anything is possible! Okay, honestly I don’t like the texture of ground beef that is cooked from raw in the Crock Pot, it’s just a bit um, weird? Mushy? Not my thing. BUT, wait… you can definitely reheat or finish these in the Slow Cooker with excellent results.
How to serve Hawaiian Sloppy Joes
The great debate. Toasted or Not Toasted? It’s a personal preference, and sometimes, I just go for one of each. As far as bun choices go, these are my recommendations.
- Soft white Hamburger Buns, super fresh and untoasted for me. But you do you!
- Hawaiian Rolls, these I tend not toast, BUT I sometimes make them as sliders and pop them in the oven to heat. So, either works!
- Brioche Buns, super buttery, and a little heartier, I like to toast these ones
Recipes for awesome sides!
While the Sloppy Joes cook in the Instant Pot, you have enough time to make a quick and easy side, and get into some comfy clothes, that can withstand a few dips of sauce! Here are some of my go to side dishes.
Sloppy Sides.... let's get messy!
Some fabulous sides that go well with Sloppy Joes and other messy main meal sandwiches. Grab a napkin and roll up your sleeves, we're going to get messy here.
One of my favorite side dishes, Buffalo Cauliflower. Crisped in the oven, slathered with Buffalo Wing Sauce, these are hard to stop eating.
Sweet & Spicy Coleslaw is the perfect match for messy, saucy, rich sandwiches like sloppy joes and Italian Beef Dips. Jalapeno's, lime juice, and a dash of sugar make the most fabulous vinaigrette for the shredded cabbage and carrots that are the base of this easy side dish.
A tropical twist on coleslaw with the addition of pineapple and mint, in a sweet vinaigrette. Serve with burgers, sliders, and sloppy Joes.
Add it to your Meal Plan; freezer friendly!
Perfect for Meal Planning, this recipe is one you will happily be adding to your menu rotation. Easy to prepare on a busy weeknight, you can also make this one ahead. It freezes and reheats very well, so you can make a double batch when you do cook it and freeze it for later, or if you do Freezer Meal Sessions, make an even bigger batch and add it to your freezer stash. You can adjust the quantities by Registering and adding it to your collection here on Love on a Plate. (You can get grocery lists too btw).
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Hawaiaan Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup smokey bbq sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 6 oz can pineapple tid bits with juice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Set the Instant Pot to Saute. Add the olive oil and ground beef to the pot. Break up the beef with a potato masher and cook until brown.
- Add the onion and green pepper to the beef, and continue to cook on Saute for 2 minutes
- Add the pineapple, tomato sauce ,BBQ sauce, apple cider, and brown sugar to the pot. Stir to coat evenly, then cover the pot and turn the vent to Sealing. Cook on Manual for 10 minutes. After the 10 minute cook time, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes before releasing the rest of the pressure manually.
- Scoop filling onto the bottom of each Hawaiian Roll, sprinkle with shredded cheese, and top with other half of the roll.
Stove Top Cooking:
- Follow directions as listed above, but instead let simmer on low for 15-20 minutes until flavours blend and the sauce thickens.
If you’re looking for another twist on the classic Sloppy Joe, I have a few for you to try.
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I didn’t see how much hamburger to put into Hawaiian sloppy joes. Guessing 1 lb.