Sloppy Joe Bowls
A toss-it-all-together dinner bowl kind of situation is one of my favorite ways to pull together a meal on those busy nights when I don’t want to think about making anything too complicated but I still want something nourishing and satisfying. These sloppy joe bowls are my newest creation, and I just love how they’re super easy, healthy, but also totally taste like comfort food!
We’re skipping the buns and piling that savory ground beef mixture over roasted sweet potatoes, crunchy coleslaw, and punchy pickled toppings instead.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
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It’s a healthy, high-protein dinner that still delivers big comfort food energy.
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Comes together super quickly—great for weeknights or meal prep.
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Totally customizable—switch up the protein, base, or toppings to make it your own.
Big flavor, minimal fuss, and it all fits in a bowl. Let’s go!
(Want more dinner bowl inspiration? Take a look at my viral ground beef cottage cheese and sweet potato bowls, ground beef burrito bowls, bang bang salmon bowls, and Korean veggie bibimbap bowls!)
Ingredients
Prefer a printable recipe card? No worries! You’ll find one at the bottom of this post. I’m also going to cover more about the ingredients I selected and why, some photos to help demonstrate the various stages, and ideas for variations and substitutions in case you want to shake things up a little.
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Sweet potatoes: These roast up beautifully and add natural sweetness that pairs perfectly with the savory beef mixture.
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Ground beef: I use lean ground beef (like 90/10) to keep things balanced. You can swap in ground turkey or plant-based meat if you like.
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Coleslaw (prepared or store-bought): Adds crunch and freshness. Use a vinegar-based slaw for a tangy contrast, or creamy if that’s more your vibe.
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Pickles: The briny bite cuts through the richness and gives it that classic sloppy joe zing.
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Pickled red onion: Tangy and vibrant—these add a little bite and a pop of color.
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White onion: Classic base flavor for the sloppy joe filling. Yellow onion works too!
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Olive oil: For roasting the sweet potatoes, and for sautéing the onions and beef.
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Tomato sauce: This is the base of our sloppy joe sauce—smooth, rich, and easy.
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Mustard: Brings a bit of sharpness and zip. Yellow mustard is great, but Dijon works in a pinch.
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Ketchup: Sweet and tangy, this helps give that nostalgic sloppy joe flavor.
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BBQ sauce: Adds depth, smokiness, and a little sweetness. Use your favorite brand!
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Salt: Half goes on the potatoes, half in the meat sauce. Always season as you go!
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Fresh cilantro, for garnish: Totally optional, but I love the herby freshness it adds at the end.
How To Make Sloppy Joe Bowls
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss your sweet potato chunks with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and ½ teaspoon of salt, then spread them out in a single layer. Roast for about 30 minutes, or until they’re golden and fork-tender.
- While that’s going, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Toss in the ground beef and cook until it’s browned and cooked through—around 7 to 10 minutes. If there’s extra grease, go ahead and drain it off.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and the rest of the salt. Bring it to a simmer, then reduce the heat and let it bubble gently for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then until it thickens up nicely.
- Now to build your bowls: Start with the roasted sweet potatoes, then add a scoop of coleslaw. Pile on that saucy sloppy joe mixture, then top it off with pickles, pickled red onions, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
- Grab a fork and dig in!
Variations & Substitutes
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Swap the protein: Use ground turkey, chicken, or even lentils or plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version.
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Change the base: Not a fan of sweet potatoes? Try white rice, brown rice, quinoa, or even mashed cauliflower.
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Make it spicy: Stir in a pinch of chili flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce to the sloppy joe mixture for some heat.
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Add cheese: A sprinkle of shredded cheddar, pepper jack, or even crumbled feta over the top is always welcome.
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Tex-Mex twist: Add a little taco seasoning to the beef and top with guacamole, black beans, or corn salsa.
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Low-carb option: Serve over a bed of sautéed cabbage, cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles.
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Bowl bar for a crowd: Set up a build-your-own bowl bar with roasted veggies, slaw, sauces, and toppings so everyone can customize their own.
Sloppy Joe Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes cut into 1” pieces
- ½ lb ground beef
- 1 ½ cups coleslaw prepared or store-bought
- ¼ cup pickles
- ¼ cup pickled red onion
- ½ medium white onion chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil divided
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp mustard
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup BBQ sauce
- 1 tsp salt divided
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss your sweet potato chunks with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and ½ teaspoon of salt, then spread them out in a single layer. Roast for about 30 minutes, or until they’re golden and fork-tender.
- While that’s going, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until soft and translucent. Toss in the ground beef and cook until it’s browned and cooked through—around 7 to 10 minutes. If there’s extra grease, go ahead and drain it off.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, and the rest of the salt. Bring it to a simmer, then reduce the heat and let it bubble gently for about 10 minutes, stirring now and then until it thickens up nicely.
- Now to build your bowls: Start with the roasted sweet potatoes, then add a scoop of coleslaw. Pile on that saucy sloppy joe mixture, then top it off with pickles, pickled red onions, and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.
- Grab a fork and dig in!
These Sloppy Joe Bowls are proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re serving them up for a cozy family dinner or meal prepping a couple of easy lunches, they hit the spot every time. Don’t forget to pile on the pickles, and if you’ve got any leftovers—they’re just as good the next day. Enjoy!
