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These air fryer hand pies give the classic a mess-free spin. Featuring a saucy beef filling tucked in a flaky crust, these sloppy joes are perfectly portable!
Let’s make sloppy joes hassle-free and put them where they belong—in your hand!
These handheld pies are perfect for on-the-go cravings, and you won’t believe how simple they are.
You don’t even need to use the oven!
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These air fryer unsloppy joes aren’t the only portable pies you can make at home. Ghanaian meat pies and peach mango pies are favorites in Africa and Asia! Why not try them for yourself?
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Hand Pies Recipe
- These air fryer sloppy joes are ready in under 30 minutes with 7 simple ingredients.
- These air fryer sloppy joe pockets are mess-free, utensil-free, and perfect for gatherings and travels.
- You can make a big batch of these air fryer hand pies and just reheat them on busy days.
Ingredients And Substitutions
Store-bought pie crusts – These sloppy joe hand pies are almost too easy, thanks to store-bought pie dough. But if you’re up for a little extra effort, here’s a reliable pie crust recipe you can make in a blender.
Ground beef – Use 80/20 ground beef so the filling for your air fryer sloppy joe pockets is perfectly juicy and flavorful. If you want it slightly leaner, 85/15 ground beef is a great choice without making the filling too dry.
Canned sloppy joe sauce – This canned sauce is popular for a reason! But, of course, you can make your own sauce from different condiments.
Shredded cheddar cheese – Cheese balances the savory-zesty meat filling. Colby Jack cheese is another fantastic option.
Salt and pepper – The seasonings and other add-ins are up to you! Diced jalapenos would add a nice kick.
Cooking spray – For that golden brown finish on the flaky crust!
Tips For Making This Recipe
No Cookie Cutter? No Problem!
You can use a small plate as a guide and cut around it with a paring knife if you don’t have a cookie cutter.
Get Perfectly Flaky Air Fryer Hand Pies
To avoid soggy pies, chill the crust before use and cool the sloppy joe filling before assembly.
Must-Try Serving Ideas
Skip the boring sides and serve these mini sloppy joe pies with crispy accordion potatoes, Cafe Rio salad, air fryer corn ribs, or oven-baked pasta chips!
Air Fryer Sloppy Joes Recipe FAQs
What is the difference between sloppy joes and sloppy janes?
While both sandwiches are sloppy because of their loose meat fillings, a sloppy jane is considered leaner because it uses ground turkey instead of beef. It also usually has additional veggies!
How to make sloppy joe hand pies less watery?
Make sure that you drain the browned ground beef! The excess fat can make the delicious filling for these air fryer savory hand pies watery.
What is the best meat for sloppy joes?
You can’t go wrong with ground beef, but you can also use ground pork for a richer flavor or ground turkey for a leaner option. Just adjust the cooking time as needed.
What is a good ground beef substitute for vegetarian sloppy joes?
You can use tofu or TVP for a vegetarian filling. To make things easier, just check out these awesome vegetarian sloppy joes made from lentils!
How do you store leftover air fryer hand pies?
Cool the air fryer meat pies completely and refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 4 days. These air fryer sloppy joes are also freezer-friendly for up to 2 months. To serve, thaw the leftover hand pies overnight and reheat in the air fryer until crispy.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
- Nigerian Meat Pie
- Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese
- Bacon Wrapped Smokies
- Turkey Bacon Ranch Sliders
- Prosciutto Mascarpone Honeyed Arugula Bruschetta
I found this recipe for Sloppy Janes that I HAVE to try!
Yay! You have made it this far, and I am so glad! Hey – If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below.
Air Fryer Hand Pies
Ingredients
- 1 15-oz box store-bought pie crusts
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 15-oz can Sloppy Joe sauce
- 4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients for your air fryer hand pies.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Roll out the refrigerated pie crusts and cut out circles with a round cookie cutter.
- Brown the ground beef in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Drain any grease and season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat, then add the sloppy joe sauce. Stir, bring to a simmer, and cook for a few more minutes until the mixture thickens. Set aside to cool completely.
- Place a tablespoon of the ground beef mixture in the center of one circle.
- Top with some shredded cheddar cheese, then place another circle of dough over it.
- Crimp the edges with a fork to secure the hand pie. Spray with cooking spray. Repeat with the remaining pie crust circles and filling.
- Place the air fryer sloppy joes in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- You can use a small plate as a guide and cut around it with a paring knife if you don’t have a cookie cutter.
- To avoid soggy pies, chill the crust before use and cool the sloppy joe filling before assembly.
- Skip the boring sides and serve these mini sloppy joe pies with crispy accordion potatoes, Cafe Rio salad, air fryer corn ribs, or oven-baked pasta chips!
Nutrition
PIN FOR LATER!
