Spicy Hawaiian Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes with Pineapple and Pepper Jack Recipe
These Hot Hawaiian Sloppy Joes feature lean ground turkey, sweet pineapple, and spicy jalapeños simmered in a tangy sauce. Served on toasted Hawaiian buns topped with melty pepper jack cheese and pickled jalapeños, they offer a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors in an easy-to-make meal.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the Sloppy Joes
- 1 tablespoon 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 cups 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 cheese
- 8 sweet Hawaiian hamburger buns, toasted
- Pickled jalapeños
- Thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a deep-sided skillet over medium heat. Add diced red onion, red bell pepper, and jalapeños with a pinch of salt. Stir and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 6 minutes.
- Cook the ground turkey: Add lean ground turkey to the skillet and use a spatula to break up the meat. Cook thoroughly until no longer pink and fully cooked through. Drain off any excess fat if necessary.
- Simmer the sloppy joe mixture: Add ketchup, crushed pineapple (drained), water, distilled white vinegar, yellow mustard, dark brown sugar, kosher salt, black pepper, and paprika to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
- Toast the buns: While the mixture simmers, toast the Hawaiian hamburger buns until lightly golden.
- Broil with cheese: Preheat the oven broiler and move the oven rack to the second highest position. Place the bottom halves of the toasted buns on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil. Spoon desired amount of sloppy joe mixture onto each bun, then top with a slice of pepper jack cheese. Broil for about 1 minute or until the cheese melts, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Assemble and serve: Remove from broiler. Top the cheesy sloppy joe mixture with thinly sliced red onion and pickled jalapeños. Cap with the top halves of the buns. Serve immediately with fries or potato chips if desired.
Notes
- This recipe uses lean ground turkey for a healthier twist on traditional sloppy joes.
- Adjust jalapeño quantity and remove seeds/ribs to control the heat level.
- Broiling the cheese melts it perfectly—watch closely to avoid burning.
- Pickled jalapeños add a nice tang and extra heat but can be omitted if preferred.
- Nutrition info is approximate and should be used as a general guideline only.
