Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes (Printable Version)
Spiced beef Sloppy Joe filling served over roasted sweet potatoes for a wholesome, comforting American meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables
01 - 4 medium sweet potatoes
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Meats
05 - 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
→ Sauces & Liquids
06 - 1 cup tomato sauce
07 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
08 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (gluten-free certified)
09 - 2 tbsp ketchup
10 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
11 - 1/2 cup beef broth
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 tsp chili powder
14 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
15 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
16 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Toppings
17 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 40–45 minutes until fork-tender and easily pierced with a paring knife.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until fully browned and no pink remains. Drain and discard excess rendered fat.
03 - Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic to the browned beef. Sauté for 4–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and translucent.
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 beef broth, stir thoroughly to combine, and bring to a simmer.
05 - Reduce heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the meat evenly.
06 - Remove the baked sweet potatoes from the oven. Slice each one lengthwise down the center and fluff the interior flesh with a fork.
07 - Spoon the hot Sloppy Joe filling generously over each split sweet potato. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and shredded cheddar cheese as desired. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It gives you all the nostalgia of a Sloppy Joe without the heavy bun, and somehow that makes it feel like you are getting away with something.
- The sweet potato naturally balances the tangy, savory filling in a way bread never could.
02 -
- Do not rush the simmer step because that ten minutes is when the sauce transforms from watery to rich and cohesive.
- Pricking the sweet potatoes thoroughly prevents them from bursting in the oven, which I learned after a small volcanic mess.
03 -
- Let the filling sit off the heat for two minutes before spooning it onto the potatoes so it thickens slightly and does not run everywhere.
- Choose sweet potatoes that feel heavy for their size because lighter ones tend to be dry and stringy inside.