Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes
These sweet potato sloppy joes turn a nostalgic comfort food into a satisfying, feel-good dinner. You’ll load up baked sweet potatoes with a rich, savory filling and pile on your favorite bowl toppings for a meal that hits every craving.
They’re high in protein, full of flavor, and easy to prep any night of the week.
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Why you’ll love sweet potato sloppy joes
- Low effort. Roast the sweet potatoes while you prep a quick, flavorful sloppy joe filling on the stove.
- High in protein. Each serving packs over 30 grams of protein (bonus: it’s got fiber too) to help you stay full and support your goals.
- Seriously satisfying. These stuffed sweet potatoes taste just like the classic sloppy joes you grew up with — comforting, flavorful, and secretly nutritious.
Ingredient notes
Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and detailed recipe.
- Sweet potatoes: Use extra-large sweet potatoes and cut them in half so the bottoms caramelize and the sweet potatoes cook a little faster. Keep the skin on for more fiber — and serve a whole potato per person if you’re extra hungry.
- Cooking spray: Lightly coat the sweet potatoes before baking to help them cook evenly. Avocado or olive oil spray adds a more nutritious touch.
- Salt and pepper: Used to season both the sweet potatoes and the sloppy joe filling.
- Lean ground beef: A higher-protein, lower-fat option that keeps the filling satisfying without being heavy.
- White onion: Adds sweetness and flavor to the mix. Yellow or red onion work just as well.
- Green bell pepper: Adds classic sloppy joe flavor. Feel free to swap in any bell pepper you have.
- Paprika: Adds a warm, smoky note to round out the flavors in the filling.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic adds depth. This is the kind of ingredient you need to measure with your heart, so use as much as you like.
- Ketchup: The base of the sauce, adding sweetness and tang.
- Yellow mustard: Balances the ketchup with a little sharpness and bite.
- Worcestershire sauce: Brings umami and richness to the filling.
- Parmesan cheese: Stir into the filling and sprinkle on top for salty, savory flavor. Any sharp cheese like aged cheddar works too.
Nutritious upgrades
- More protein: Add an extra half pound of meat.
- Less fat: Use extra lean ground beef and drain any excess fat once the beef browns. Or, use lean ground chicken or turkey instead.
- Extra fiber: Add half a can of drained and rinsed black beans or lentils before your sloppy joe mix simmers. You’ll get a boost of plant protein with this addition too.
- Dairy-free: Leave out the parmesan cheese, or swap for nutritional yeast.
How to make baked sweet potato sloppy joes
Step 1: Spray and season sweet potatoes and bake for 40-50 minutes at 400 F.
Step 2: Crumble beef in a large pan.
Step 3: Add veggies and seasonings and cook until veggies are soft.
Step 4: Stir in garlic.
Step 5: Add remaining ingredients for the filling and simmer.
Step 6: Stir in parmesan and then assemble your sloppy joe boats.
Topping ideas
Add toppings right before serving to customize your sloppy joe sweet potatoes and add extra satisfaction.
- Diced chives
- Sliced green onion
- Pickled red onion
- Freshly grated parmesan
- Grated sharp cheddar (this melts and gets super gooey and delicious)
- Garlic dill pickle slices
- Fresh jalapeno slices
- Pickles sliced jalapeno
- Diced avocado
- Hot sauce
Top tips
- Bake your sweet potatoes thoroughly. They should be easily pierced with a fork and noticeably soft all the way through. If you’re questioning if they’re ready, cook them for another 10-minutes and check again.
- Prep filling while your sweet potatoes are baking. Prep the filling and leave it to simmer until your sweet potatoes are cooked — the timing works perfectly.
- Add lots of toppings. Toppings add satisfaction and interest to the sloppy joe bowls. Don’t be shy with the toppings, and feel free to add your own.
Common questions
Can I use a full sweet potato for each person?
Yes! You are welcome to use one full sweet potato per person. For minimal effort, roast them whole — but still coat them with cooking spray and seasonings before baking since you’re eating the skin. You may need an additional 10-20 minutes in the oven. Or, you can still slice them in half and cook as instructed.
Can I use white potatoes instead?
Yes, feel free to swap sweet potatoes with white potatoes, yellow potatoes, or russet potatoes. You could also serve the sloppy joe mix over frozen waffle fries or tater tots.
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Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes
These sweet potato sloppy joes are baked, protein-packed, and full of flavor. Serve as hearty bowls for an easy, satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 large sweet potatoes, cut in half lengthwise
- cooking spray
- salt and pepper
Sloppy Joe
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 white onion, diced small
- 1 green bell pepper, diced small
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- ¾ cup Ketchup
- 2 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, or sharp cheddar
Optional Toppings
- parmesan cheese, diced chives, pickle slices, fresh or pickled jalapenos
Equipment
- large saute pan or pot
Instructions
- Position oven rack to the middle and pre-heat to 400F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Spray sweet potato halves with cooking spray on all sides. Coat with salt and pepper.
- Place sweet potatoes flat side down onto prepared sheet pan. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until they can be easily pierced with a fork and totally cooked through.
- While the sweet potatoes are cooking, prepare the sloppy joe mix. Pre-heat a large saute pan or pot to medium.
- Add beef and crumble with a spatula.
- When the beef is half pink, add onion, bell pepper, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions and peppers are tender and cooked through.
- Add garlic and stir. Cook until just fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
- Add Ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cover with a lid. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Turn off the heat. Stir in parmesan until melted and combined.
- Assemble bowls: Place sweet potato half flat side up. Scoop sloppy joe mixture over top. Add toppings and enjoy!
Notes
- Fridge storage: Let everything cool before transferring to food containers. Store sweet potatoes, sloppy joe mix, and toppings separately. You can refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Freezer storage: Store your sloppy joe filling in the freezer and re-heat on the stove when you’re ready to serve. I recommend preparing the baked sweet potatoes fresh for best results. Store for up to 3 months in the freezer.
- Re-heat: My favorite way to re-heat the sweet potatoes is in the air fryer at 400 F for 5-6 minutes. You could also re-heat the sweet potatoes in a 400 F oven wrapped in foil for 10 minutes, or until heated through. The sloppy joe filling can be re-heated on the stove over medium heat, or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Calories: 477kcal, Carbohydrates: 55g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 15g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 1518mg, Potassium: 1262mg, Fiber: 7g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 25069IU, Vitamin C: 34mg, Calcium: 210mg, Iron: 5mg
