Prep Tips:

• Frozen diced butternut squash is a great shortcut. There’s no need to thaw it completely before cooking.
• If you can't find extra lean ground beef, brown the beef separately and drain off the excess grease before adding it to the vegetables.
• Chop the butternut squash very finely so it blends into the sloppy joe mixture and is less noticeable to picky eaters.
• Cauliflower rice works especially well because its small pieces disappear into the saucy mixture as everything cooks.

Variations:

• Swap the slider rolls for regular hamburger buns or any other type of roll you have on hand.
• For a slightly different flavor, try adding a little smoked paprika or chili powder to the seasoning.
• You can adjust the amount of brown sugar slightly depending on how sweet you like your sloppy joes.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve these as a fun kid-friendly lunch or dinner alongside oven fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots.
• Add fresh fruit or a simple veggie side for an easy, well-rounded meal.
• These sliders are great for parties, game days, or casual family gatherings because they're easy to pick up and eat.
• Set out extra ketchup, mustard, or sliced pickles so everyone can customize their sandwiches.
• For a fun family dinner, serve the sloppy joe mixture with a variety of small rolls and let everyone build their own sliders.

Storage:

• Store leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3–4 days.
• For longer storage, freeze the cooked sloppy joe mixture for up to 6 months in a freezer-safe container.
• Thaw frozen sloppy joe mixture in the refrigerator before reheating, then warm it gently in a skillet or microwave until heated through.
• Store the meat mixture separately from the slider rolls so the bread doesn't become soggy.