This Spicy Hawaiian Sloppy Janes are so easy and deliciously spicy! Cooked lean ground turkey, peppers, onions and pineapple simmer in a simple sweet and tangy sauce. Serve on a toasted bun with melty peppery jack cheese and your favorite toppings! Yields 8 depending on how sloppy you like your joes to be.
Love sloppy Joes? Try Sloppy Janes!
Inspired by these wicked back beans, I decided to make a healthier, lighter and spicier version of the traditional sloppy Joe recipe. In the filling, lean ground turkey, bell pepper, jalapeño and crushed pineapple simmer in a simple, sweet and tangy homemade sloppy Joe sauce. I like to serve these on toasted sweet Hawaiian hamburger buns with melted pepper jack cheese and top with thinly sliced red onion and pickled jalapeños.
I also like to serve these with sweet potato fries, but I’ve also listed other options towards the end of this post.
To Make These Spicy Hawaiian Sloppy Janes You Will Need:
- olive oil – Lends fat for sautéing vegetables.
- red bell pepper – Adds a pop of color and mild sweetness.
- red onion – Lends a mild sweetness with bits of caramelization.
- jalapeño – Adds delicious spicy flavor. Remove the seeds and ribs for less heat.
- kosher salt – Helps draw out moisture while sautéing and enhances the flavors in the recipe.
- ground turkey – I like to use 97/3 lean ground turkey.
- ketchup – Use homemade or store-bought.
- water – Helps thin the sauce to the perfect consistency.
- mustard – Adds a tart and tangy flavor.
- white vinegar – Lends subtle tang to this recipe.
- crushed pineapple (drained well) – Lends tropical flavor. Place in a mesh sieve set over a bowl to drain well.
- dark brown sugar – Adds sweetness and subtle caramel like flavor.
- paprika – Adds color and subtle flavor.
- kosher salt – Enhances the flavors in this recipe.
- freshly ground black pepper – This adds subtle bite and flavor.
for serving:
- sweet hawaiian hamburger buns
- pepper jack cheese
- pickled jalapeños
- thinly sliced red onion
Make The Filling:
In a large, deep-sided skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, 1/2 cup diced red onion and 2 jalapeños, finely diced with a pinch of kosher salt.
Heat over medium to medium-low heat, stirring often until the vegetables are soft and tender.
To the sautéed veggies, add in 1½ pounds of lean ground turkey.
Use a spatula to break up the ground turkey and cook until no longer pink and fully cooked.
To the pan, add in 1¼ cup ketchup, 8 ounces (drained) crushed pineapple, 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard, 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon paprika.
Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
That’s it!
Build The Sloppy Janes:
Toast the sweet Hawaiian hamburger buns in your toaster. Meanwhile, move the oven rack to the second highest position and preheat your broiler. Top the toasted bottom bun with a few generous spoonfuls of the sloppy Jane mixture and top with pepper jack cheese – I cut each piece in half and then over lap so it will fit better.
Slip the pan under the broiler until just melted – about 1 minute.
Top with any and all desired toppings, I like thinly sliced red onion and pickled jalapeños, and replace the toasted top bun.
Sweet, spicy and incredibly delicious.
What Sides To Serve With Sloppy Joes?
- sweet potato french fries or regular french fries
- steak fries, potato wedges or sweet potato steak fries
- potato chips
- cut veggies and ranch
- mac and cheese
- coleslaw
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SLOPPY JOE RECIPES!
Enjoy! And if you give this Spicy Hawaiian Sloppy Janes recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Hot Hawaiian Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- olive oil
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced small
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced small
- 2 medium jalapeños, diced (remove ribs for less heat)
- 1½ pounds lean ground turkey
- 1¼ cup ketchup
- 8 ounces crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
FOR SERVING:
- 8 slices pepper jack cheese, or havarti
- 8 sweet Hawaiian hamburger buns, toasted
- pickled jalapeños
- thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Add oil to a deep-sided skillet and heat over medium. Add in onion, bell pepper and jalapeño with a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add in ground turkey and use a spatula to break up the meat, cooking until no longer pink and fully cooked. Drain off any fat if needed.
- Measure and add in ketchup, crushed pineapple, water, vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, salt, pepper and paprika. Stir well to combine, and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toast Hawaiian buns.
- Move oven rack to the second highest position in your oven and preheat your broiler.Place the toasted bottom buns on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Top with desired amount of sloppy Jane mixture and a slice of pepper jack cheese. Broil for 1 minute or until the cheese has melted, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Remove, top with red onion, jalapeños and top half of the bun and serve with fries or potato chips.
Notes
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