Description

These festive Reindeer Sloppy Joe Sliders are a fun and playful twist on classic sloppy joes, perfect for holiday gatherings. Ground turkey or beef is simmered in a savory-sweet sauce and served on soft King’s Hawaiian rolls. Topped with cherry tomatoes, black olives, cheese eyes, raisins, and pretzel antlers, these sliders mimic whimsical reindeer faces, making them a hit with kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 pound ground turkey or beef
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons brown mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 Kings Hawaiian Rolls (split)

Decoration Ingredients

Cherry tomatoes
Black olives
White sliced cheese
Raisins
Pretzel twists

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cook Meat: In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook the ground turkey or beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
Combine Sauce: Stir in ketchup, water, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt into the cooked meat.
Simmer Mixture: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and let it simmer gently for 15-20 minutes to meld flavors.
Prepare Sliders Base: Place the split King’s Hawaiian rolls on a serving platter as the bases for the sliders.
Add Rudolph’s Nose: Cut cherry tomatoes in half and place a tomato half on the front slider to represent Rudolph’s nose.
Create Reindeer Noses: Cut the tips off the black olives and place them on other rolls as noses, securing with toothpicks if needed.
Make Eyes: Using a round icing tip, cut small circles from white cheese slices for the eyes; place them on the front of the sliders and add raisin halves as pupils.
Add Antlers: Break pretzel twists in half and insert them on top sides of the sliders to form antlers, completing the reindeer look.

Notes

Ground turkey offers a leaner option, but ground beef gives richer flavor; either works well.
If you prefer spicier sliders, add a pinch of cayenne or chili powder to the sauce.
Make sure to drain the cooked meat well to avoid overly soggy sliders.
Use soft rolls like King’s Hawaiian for the best texture and flavor combination.
For a fun presentation, assemble the sliders close to serving time to keep pretzels crisp.