Sloppy Joes and Sweet Potatoes

Homemade Sloppy Joes are SO easy to make and when you pair them with sweet potatoes, it’s the perfect combination of tangy and sweet! No canned sauce here!

Classic Sloppy Joes

Ahh the infamous sloppy joe! So many memories from child hood; the canned, store-bought sauce, soft buns, I remember the first time I saw homemade Sloppy Joes being made. We were at Jeff’s Aunt Judy’s house. She asked if we wanted Sloppy Joes, pulled out 3 ingredients, and got to cooking.

I remember sitting there chatting with her and just sort of watching her do her thing. She began by frying up the ground beef, tossed in some brown sugar, then squirted some ketchup into the pan, mixed it up, and shut the heat off.  

I was thinking “Wait, whaaaahhh? That’s it??” It looked like Sloppy Joes, but maybe what I thought were Sloppy Joes was different than what they were to other people??

But then out came the hamburger buns and we scooped some sauce onto them and took a bite.

FRIENDS.

It is the REAL DEAL.

And my days of buying canned sauce mix were history. WHY WOULD I BUY IT?? This stuff is AMAZING! That sweet tomato-based sauce just takes you back. It’s an American classic and a great recipe.

Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe

I have to say, this is probably the best sloppy joes recipe I have ever had. Forget the pre-made sauce version. This will be your new sloppy joe mix.

When I’m in a rush, I make a quick version using just those 3 original ingredients: ground beef, brown sugar, and ketchup. But when I want the version with the veggies, this recipe below is the one I turn to. Over the years, I have doctored the recipe just a little bit to include some bell peppers and onion like the classic sloppy joes, but the basis of the simple sauce is still the same.

Simple ingredients that you likely have in your pantry or fridge, and homemade. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

This homemade Sloppy Joes recipe is so easy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t made them before…and I bet you’ll make them this way from now on!

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

We like to have these on a toasted hamburger bun, sometimes with mac & cheese, other times with mashed potatoes. We have also had them with french fries, tater tots, with a side salad, potato salad, and even sweet potato fries.

Our favorite way to have it though, is on top of roasted sweet potatoes. The combination of the tangy sauce with the sweetness of the potatoes is out of this world.

Substitutions and Variations

If you’d prefer to use tomato sauce, substitute 1:1 for the ketchup.

Want a little more heat? Add red pepper flakes or a dash of cayenne pepper.

Can I use ground turkey or chicken? Absolutely, but I like ground beef the best!

Like your sloppy joes a little more saucy? Double the sauce ingredients – and don’t forget to have plenty of napkins on hand!

Ingredients in Sloppy Joes

Here’s all you’ll need to make sloppy joes and roasted sweet potatoes:

• Sweet Potatoes
• Olive Oil
• Salt
• Ground Beef
• Medium Onion
• Green Bell Pepper
• Red Bell Pepper
• Fresh Garlic
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Yellow Mustard
• Brown Sugar
• Ketchup or tomato sauce
• Salt and Black Pepper

How to Make Sloppy Joes and Sweet Potatoes

As I said, this is our favorite way to enjoy Sloppy Joes but if you’re not into sweet potatoes and just want the tried and true bun-version, skip the potatoes.

I’m giving you instructions on both, so you can easily omit roasting.

We have made these Sloppy Joes with ground beef, ground chicken, and ground turkey; they are all delicious!

Roast Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. On a large baking sheet, toss cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil & season with salt.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes, toss, then bake for another 15-20 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and set aside.

Making the Sauce

1. While potatoes are baking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. To the skillet add the ground beef, onions and peppers and cook beef until meat is no longer pink. Drain if necessary.
3. Add the garlic, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, ketchup, salt & pepper to the browned beef mixture and stir until simmering. Simmer for about 3 minutes.
4. Once hot, remove from heat, then serve the sloppy joe sauce atop sweet potatoes.
5. Notes: We had some leftover sauteed mushrooms so I added those; feel free to add your favorite veggies or some hidden veggies, use regular potatoes, and make this your own! You can’t go wrong with this comfort dish! 

Want to keep things super simple and make Aunt Judy’s 3 Ingredient Sloppy Joes? It’s a family favorite and perfect for picky eaters. If you’re looking for an easy meal, and I bet this will become one of your favorite recipes when you’re in a hurry! Forget the canned stuff – this easy recipe is the real deal.

1lb ground beef

3 Tbsp Brown Sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

Recipe Updated 12/16/22

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Steak and Sweet Potato Skillet