Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes (Print version)
Spiced beef Sloppy Joe filling over roasted sweet potatoes for a wholesome, comforting American dinner.
# What goes in:
→ Vegetables
01 - 4 medium sweet potatoes
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Meats
05 - 1 lb ground beef (ground turkey or plant-based mince may be substituted)
→ Sauces & Liquids
06 - 1 cup tomato sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free variety if needed)
09 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
10 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
11 - 1/2 cup beef or vegetable broth
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
15 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Toppings (optional)
17 - Chopped fresh parsley
18 - Shredded cheddar cheese
# Cooking steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Prick each sweet potato several times with a fork and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until fork-tender when pierced.
02 - While the sweet potatoes roast, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until thoroughly browned and no pink remains. Drain any excess fat if needed.
03 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the vegetables have softened and become fragrant.
04 - Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and brown sugar. Season with smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, and black pepper. Pour in the broth, stir to combine, and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes until thickened and flavors meld.
05 - Once the sweet potatoes are done, remove them from the oven. Split each one open lengthwise and fluff the interior flesh with a fork.
06 - Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture generously over each opened sweet potato. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or shredded cheddar cheese if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
# Tips from flavorandfeast:
01 -
- Sweet potatoes bring a natural sweetness that balances the tangy, savory Sloppy Joe sauce better than any bread ever could.
- It comes together mostly on the stovetop while the oven does the hard work, making weeknight cooking feel almost effortless.
02 -
- Do not rush the sweet potato roasting because undercooked centers will feel dense and fibrous rather than fluffy and soft.
- Letting the sauce simmer the full 10 minutes is what transforms it from soupy to thick and clingy, so resist the urge to skip ahead.
03 -
- Choose sweet potatoes that are similar in size so they all finish roasting at the same time and you are not left waiting on one stubborn potato.
- Toasting the spices for 30 seconds in the pan before adding the liquid ingredients deepens their flavor dramatically and takes almost no extra effort.