Sloppy Joe’s in a Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
These sloppy joe bowls with glazed roasted sweet potatoes are a healthy twist on a classic comfort food. Made with lean ground beef or turkey, caramelized sweet potatoes, and crunchy slaw, this protein-packed recipe is perfect for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner.
Creator: Leslie Stokes
If there’s one recipe that screams nostalgia, it’s sloppy joes. They’re messy, saucy, and totally comforting. But instead of piling them onto a bun, I turned them into a sloppy joe bowl with roasted sweet potatoes — and honestly, I might never go back. This recipe is so good it made it into both of my cookbooks, just served in different ways, one being these bowls!
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is everything I love about comfort food, just reimagined in a healthier way. Instead of bread or fries, the base is a caramelized sweet potato half. When you roast them cut-side down, they glaze themselves in the oven — no sugar required. Then you add a scoop of saucy sloppy joe meat, a pile of crunchy coleslaw, and optional pickled onions for a tangy bite.
It’s hearty, filling, and naturally gluten-free, plus it hits over 35 grams of protein per serving.
Meal Prep Friendly
As a busy mom, I’m all about recipes that double as dinner and meal prep. These bowls are perfect for that. Roast the sweet potatoes while you cook the sloppy joe mixture, then portion everything into containers. They’ll last up to 4 days in the fridge, and all you need to do is reheat and eat.
Customization Ideas
Protein: Use ground beef for richness, ground turkey for leaner macros, or ground chicken for a lighter version.
Toppings: Add avocado slices, shredded cheese, or even a drizzle of ranch or chipotle aioli.
Low-carb option: Swap the sweet potato for cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
How to Serve Sloppy Joe Bowls
Family dinner: Serve in a big spread with toppings so everyone can customize their bowl.
Meal prep containers: Pack one roasted sweet potato half, sloppy joe mixture, and coleslaw in each. Add pickled onions in a separate container so they stay crisp.
Game day food: Turn the sloppy joe mixture into sliders or use it as a nacho topping — it’s super versatile.
Final Thoughts
This recipe takes everything we love about classic sloppy joes and makes it meal-prep friendly, healthier, and just as satisfying. The glazed sweet potato halves are a total game-changer — soft, caramelized, and the perfect partner for that rich, tangy meat sauce.
So whether you’re prepping for the week or feeding a hungry family, these Sloppy Joe Bowls with Roasted Sweet Potatoes are a guaranteed hit.
Tips for this Meal Prep
Sloppy Joe’s in a Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
Base:
- 2 large sweet potatoes cut in half
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of sea salt
Sloppy Joe Mixture:
- 1 ½ lbs ground beef turkey, or chicken
- ½ cup green bell pepper finely diced
- ½ cup onion finely diced
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp mustard
- 3 Tbsp ketchup
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- ¼ tsp paprika
- 2 Tbsp coconut aminos
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
Toppings:
- 6 cups coleslaw mix without dressing
- 1/4 cup mayo or greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup pickled onions optional, for serving
Let's Make It
- Roast sweet potatoes: Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut sweet potatoes in half, rub with olive oil and salt. Place cut-side down on a baking sheet. Roast 30 minutes, until caramelized and fork-tender.
- Cook sloppy joe base: Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, sauté 3–4 minutes. Add ground meat and cook until no longer pink.
- Add sauce: Stir in garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, tomato paste, chili powder, vinegar, paprika, coconut aminos, pepper, and salt. Simmer 5–10 minutes until thickened.
- Make the coleslaw: Mix all of the ingredients for the coleslaw together and set aside.
- Assemble bowls: Place one roasted sweet potato half in each bowl. Top with 1 cup coleslaw mix, 1 cup sloppy joe mixture, and pickled onions if desired.
- Serve or store: Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator up to 4 days for meal prep.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving, using lean ground beef + ½ roasted sweet potato)
465 calories
35 g protein
32 g carbs
18 g fat
5 g fiber
