This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.

Hawaiian Sloppy Joes are an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will LOVE! Classic ground beef sloppy joes with a Hawaiian spin and smothered in a sweet & tangy sauce. Serve inside Hawaiian hamburger buns and you have a delicious dinner with sweet island flavors.

If you’re a sloppy Joe fan then you must also try these sloppy joe favorites – BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes, Gumbo Soup Sloppy Joes, Frito Pie Sloppy Joes, and Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes.

A sloppy Joe inside a bun with pineapple on the side

Delicious & Easy Hawaiian Sloppy Joes Recipe

You are going to love this sweet island twist to a classic tangy sloppy joe! Ground beef simmers in a semi-homemade sweet Hawaiian barbecue sauce made with crushed pineapple, brown sugar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce for a BIG flavor explosion.

The sweet & savory flavors pair perfectly with each other – with chunks of sweet pineapple, fresh veggies, and an incredible thick and sweet sauce that smothers everything. The simmer time is really important because it caramelizes the sugars and really enhances the flavors and thickens the sloppy Joe meat, so make sure you don’t skimp on that!

These sloppy joes are on the sweeter side (which I think you are going to love) but of course, add some spice if that’s your thing, and be sure to serve the sloppy joes inside sweet Hawaiian buns for the best taste.

Open faced sloppy how with a pineapple ring on it.

Simple Ingredients Needed

Ground Beef : To avoid excess grease in the sloppy Joe mixture I reccomend using a lean ground beef. I use 93/7 or 90/10 lean ground beef. But of course, if you want the flavor then use a fattier ground beef such as 85/15 or 80/20.
Sweet Onion : One small sweet onion is what you’ll need for this recipe.
Red Bell Pepper
Crushed Pineapple : Use a colander to make sure this is lightly drained before adding it into the skillet pan.
Ketchup
Light Brown Sugar : Adds some sweetness and helps the ground beef mixture caramelize while cooking.
Soy Sauce : I use low-sodium soy sauce but regular soy sauce can also be used if that’s what you prefer.
Worcestershire Sauce
Garlic Powder
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper

How To Make Hawaiian Sloppy Joes (Printable Recipe Card)

In a large skillet pan, over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef, sweet onion, and red bell pepper until the ground beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat from the pan.

Add in the crushed pineapple, ketchup, light brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.

Bring the mixture to a simmer, once simmering (very light boil), reduce the heat to medium-low and allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes until thickened. Stir occasionally during the simmer time.

Serve the Hawaiian sloppy Joe mixture onto hamburger buns and enjoy!

What Do I Serve With Hawaiian Sloppy Joes?

I always love making this Hawaiian Mac Salad when I make these sloppy joes for dinner. Other great options are coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad, sweet potato fries (frozen from the store or make your own), or grill some fresh pineapple.

If you want toppings for the sloppy joes then try serving some green leaf lettuce, drained and patted dry pineapple ring, and/or sliced red onion. My family actually loves putting plain potato chips on sloppy joes! I promise it’s so good and you could use Lay’s classic potato chips or find some Hawaiian style kettle chips.

Sloppy Joe meat on a bun with a pineapple on top, sitting on a white plate.

Can I Make Any Changes To The Recipe?

Spice – These sloppy joes are on the sweeter side so add some spicy elements if you’re wanting more balance; cayenne pepper, red pepper chili flakes, and/or hot sauce are all great options. You could also top the sloppy Joe with some sliced jalapeños.
Buns – I always recommend toasting the buns when making any sloppy Joe. The toasted bun helps the sloppy Joe mixture not seep into the bread which in turn can make the bread soggy. Separate the buns and place them onto a baking sheet. Butter each bun and then broil in the oven for a few minutes. Watch it carefully because they will burn fairly quickly if left unattended.
Soy Sauce – I use low-sodium soy sauce but regular salted soy sauce also works just fine. It just depends on how much salt flavor/umami flavor you want.
Additions – Add a splash of pineapple juice and/or teriyaki sauce to enhance the Hawaiian flavors of the dish.
Bell Pepper – Although I prefer the red bell pepper in this recipe, you can substitute with a green bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, or an orange bell pepper if wanted.

Recipe FAQ’s

Can I Use Ground Turkey Instead of Ground Beef In Sloppy Joes?

Yes! Using ground turkey instead of ground beef is a great way to reduce the fat content and make them slightly healthier.

What Buns Do I Serve Hawaiian Sloppy Joes On?

I love buying some Hawaiian hamburger buns, Hawaiian rolls, or Hawaiian roll sliders buns from the grocery store. I love the sweetness of the Hawaiian bun paired with the sweet and savory sloppy Joe filling inside. You could also use traditional hamburger buns or sesame seeds buns.

Can I Make This Ahead of Time?

Yes you can make it ahead of time. Make it according to the recipe and then place the sloppy Joe filling into a slow cooker (preferably with a slow cooker inside of it) and put it on WARM for up to 2-3 hours. Give it a good stir before serving. If the warm setting is not warm enough then you may have to turn it to LOW heat. The sloppy Joe sauce will thicken up the more it’s over heat so watch it carefully if keeping it warmed in the slow cooker.

You can also make it ahead of time and let it cool to room temperature. Store inside an airtight container and reheat when ready to serve dinner. You an reheat in the microwave or on the stove top over medium heat.

Can I Make It Spicy?

These Hawaiian sloppy joes are on the sweeter side so if you want more of a kick then I definitely recommend adding some hot sauce or red pepper chili flakes with the other ingredients.

Try These Other Hawaiian-Inspired Recipes

Hawaiian Burgers : Grilled hamburgers with pineapple rings, cheese, and teriyaki sauce.
Hawaiian Roll Meatball Sliders : These delicious little sandwiches use Hawaiian sweet roll sliders which adds sweetness to the meatball sliders.
Hawaiian Sweet Roll French Toast : Forget the bread?! Use Hawaiian sweet rolls instead to make classic French toast for breakfast.
Easy Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork Chops : Pineapple and pineapple juice really makes the most tender and delicious pork chops made right in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Hawaiian Teriyaki Chicken : Classic teriyaki chicken with a sweet Hawaiian spin to it.
Hawaiian Haystacks : A family favorite dinner! Rice is the base and then you pile it high with all the toppings and a deliciously smooth and creamy chicken gravy.

Hawaiian Sloppy Joes