Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes Recipe
If you are looking for a comforting, hearty, and healthy weeknight dinner, you have come to the right place. This Sloppy Joe Sweet Potatoes Recipe is the ultimate crowd-pleaser for busy families and hungry kids. It is incredibly savory, slightly sweet, and packed with wholesome ingredients.
Equipment
- Large baking sheet for roasting potatoes
- Sharp chef's knife and cutting board
- Large skillet or non-stick pan
- Wooden spoon or sturdy spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Fork for poking the potatoes
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
- Medium sweet potatoes – 4, scrubbed clean
- Lean ground beef – 1 pound, or ground turkey
- Medium yellow onion – 1/2, finely diced
- Green bell pepper – 1/2, finely diced
- Garlic cloves – 2, minced
- Tomato sauce – 1/2 cup
- Tomato ketchup – 1/2 cup
- Yellow mustard – 1 tablespoon
- Brown sugar – 1 tablespoon
- Worcestershire sauce – 1 tablespoon
- Smoked paprika – 1/2 teaspoon
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Bake the Sweet Potatoes
- Preheat your oven to 400°F before you start prep. Poke the clean sweet potatoes all over with a fork. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes until tender.
Sauté the Aromatics
- Heat your large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the pan. Cook for about five minutes until the vegetables become soft and translucent.
Brown the Meat
- Add the ground beef and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook the meat until it is fully browned. Make sure to break it up with your wooden spoon as it cooks.
Drain Excess Grease
- Carefully tilt the skillet to pool the hot grease to one side. Use a large metal spoon to remove the extra fat. This keeps your filling from becoming too oily.
Add the Sauce Ingredients
- Pour the tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce into the skillet. Stir the mixture thoroughly to combine all the delicious flavors together.
Simmer the Sloppy Joe Mixture
- Turn the heat down to low. Let the beef mixture simmer gently for ten minutes. Stir occasionally until the sauce thickens and coats the meat beautifully.
Assemble the Loaded Potatoes
- Cut a deep slit down the center of each baked sweet potato. Fluff the warm inside flesh gently with a fork. Spoon a generous amount of the warm meat mixture inside.
Notes
- Try a different protein: You can easily swap the ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or pork. This simple change keeps the dish light while preserving the amazing flavor.
- Make it vegetarian: Use canned brown lentils or a plant-based meat substitute instead of beef. The savory sloppy joe sauce works incredibly well with vegetarian proteins.
- Speed up potato cooking: If you are short on time, microwave the poked sweet potatoes for eight minutes. This cuts your cooking time down significantly.
- Add a cheesy topper: Sprinkle a handful of shredded cheddar cheese over the hot meat filling. Let it melt completely for an extra indulgent and comforting twist.
- Boost the spice level: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the meat. This balances the sweet potato with a wonderful kick.
- Store ingredients separately: Keep the baked sweet potatoes and the meat filling in separate airtight containers. This prevents the potatoes from getting soggy in the fridge.
- Keep in the fridge: Store your leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days. The flavors in the meat filling actually improve after sitting overnight.
- Freeze the meat mixture: You can freeze the cooked sloppy joe meat for up to three months. Simply thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat on the stove: Warm the meat filling in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of water if the sauce looks too thick.
- Reheat potatoes in the oven: Warm the sweet potatoes in a 350°F oven for ten minutes. This restores their soft texture without making them mushy.