Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes (Printable Version)
Spiced beef Sloppy Joe filling served over roasted sweet potatoes for a comforting, gluten-free dinner.
# What You Need:
→ 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 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
09 - 2 tbsp ketchup
10 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
11 - 1/2 cup beef or vegetable broth
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
14 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
→ Toppings (optional)
17 - Chopped fresh parsley
18 - Shredded cheddar cheese
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Prick each sweet potato several times with a fork and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake for 40–45 minutes until fork-tender when pierced.
02 - While the sweet potatoes roast, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, until evenly browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
03 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 4–5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in 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 simmer for 10 minutes until the mixture thickens.
05 - Once baked, split each sweet potato open lengthwise and fluff the interior flesh with a fork.
06 - Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture generously over each sweet potato. Garnish with chopped parsley or shredded cheddar cheese if desired. Serve immediately.
# Helpful Hints:
01 -
- The natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes balances the smoky, tangy beef filling in a way no bun ever could.
- It comes together with one skillet and a baking sheet, which means minimal cleanup on busy weeknights.
02 -
- Do not skip pricking the sweet potatoes before roasting, unless you enjoy the sound of small explosions inside your oven.
- Let the sauce simmer the full 10 minutes because cutting it short leaves the filling watery and the flavors underdeveloped.
03 -
- Choose sweet potatoes that are roughly the same size so they all finish roasting at the same time and nobody gets a rock hard one.
- A pinch of hot sauce stirred into the filling at the end wakes up every flavor without making it spicy.