Sloppy joes are a classic American dish that has been enjoyed for decades. They are a favorite for kids and adults alike.
Sloppy Joes are made with ground beef and a tomato-based sauce that is served on top of a hamburger bun. While the traditional recipe calls for ketchup, mustard, and pickles to top the sloppy joes, they can also be served with other side dishes.
Here, we have some great side dishes to serve with sloppy joes.
26 Best Side Dish To Serve With Sloppy Joes
1. Sweet Potato Fries
These fries have all the flavor of regular fries without any of the carbs! They’re great with any sandwich or burger, and they’ll add an extra punch of flavor to your sloppy joes without adding any extra calories.
2. Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is always a good idea—it’s just so versatile! You could make this as a side dish for any meal, but it would be especially tasty with sloppy joes since avocado and tomato are both ingredients in that dish. Plus, it’s super easy to make: just toast some bread, mash up an avocado with salt and pepper until it reaches your desired consistency (I like mine pretty chunky), spread it on top of the toast, and top with whatever other toppings you like (I love cilantro), and voila! You’ve got yourself a delicious meal that’s ready in less than 10 minutes!
3. Potato salad
Potato salad is an excellent choice for serving with sloppy joes because it complements the flavors well. Potato salad is usually made with mayonnaise and mustard; these ingredients also pair well with sloppy joes!
4. Pasta Salad
A pasta salad made with barbecue sauce can be a good complement to this dish as well. The tanginess of the dressing will help cut through some of the heaviness of the meat in this dish. It’s also easy to make ahead of time so that it’s ready when guests arrive at your house!
5. Hamburgers
A sloppy joe is just not complete without a hamburger! The additional flavor of the steak-like flavor of the hamburger makes it easy to add to meals without making them too heavy.
6. Potato Chips
Potato chips are a great side dish to serve with sloppy joes. They’re salty and crunchy, and if you buy them in bulk, they’re inexpensive as well. Plus, potato chips soak up a lot of the sauce from the sloppy joes so you don’t have to worry about them getting soggy or falling apart during dinner service.
7. Roasted Green Beans
If you want to go for something a little healthier than potato chips, roasted green beans are a great option. They’re easy to make (just toss them in olive oil and salt), they look pretty on the plate, and they can be served alongside any meat dish you could think of!
8. Glazed Carrots
Glazed carrots are a classic side dish for any kind of meatloaf or casserole, so they’re perfect for serving with sloppy joes. They’re also really easy to make — just boil some carrots, then toss them in butter and brown sugar once they’ve cooled down. You can even roast them in the oven if you want!
9. Baked Parmesan Zucchini
Baked Parmesan zucchini is another one of those recipes that can be used as an accompaniment to any number of dishes — it goes especially well with meatloaf or casseroles, but it also works great with sloppy joes. It takes just over 30 minutes from start to finish, so it’s perfect if you need something quick and easy.
10. Asparagus With Lemon-Tahini Sauce
This recipe is super simple, but it makes a really big difference when added to your sloppy joe. The acidity of the lemon juice helps cut through the fat of the sloppy joes, making this a real crowd-pleaser.
11. Baked Cheesy Corn
It’s perfect for kids — and a lot of adults. It takes just 30 minutes from start to finish and works great with dinner or lunch, as well as sloppy joes. The cheese melts in your mouth and becomes crispy at the edges, creating a great balance of textures that goes quite well with meatloaf or casseroles.
12. Spinach Apple Salad
A fresh spinach apple salad pairs well with sloppy joes because it’s both light and filling at the same time. The apples provide a natural sweetness that offsets the saltiness of the meat and sauce — making it an especially good option for kids who might not like the taste of the meat itself.
13. Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Sloppy joes are ideal for roasting because they tend to be on the dry side without any sauce or gravy to moisten them up. Roasted brussels sprouts are another great option for roasting as they have a similar texture when cooked properly — crisp on the outside, and soft on the inside.
14. Creamy Coleslaw
Creamy coleslaw is a nice change from traditional coleslaw, which tends to be made with vinegar, oil, and veggies. The creamy dressing for this version contains mayonnaise and sour cream, making it easy to serve with sloppy joes. You can make them both early in the day and simply keep them chilled until you’re ready to eat.
15. Steamed Broccoli
A great side dish option for sloppy joes is steamed broccoli. This vegetable is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C and calcium. It also contains fiber, which helps to lower blood cholesterol levels, along with omega-3 fatty acids.
16. Fruit Salsa
Fruit salsa makes a great side dish for sloppy joes because it’s tasty and nutritious. This dish combines chopped fruit with vegetables for a sweet and savory combination that kids will love. You can make your own or buy it already prepared at the grocery store.
17. Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Asparagus is a natural pairing for sloppy joes since both are earthy and flavorful vegetables that stand up well to meat dishes. Bacon adds some extra smoky flavor to this dish.
18. Blackberry Crisp
Blackberries contain antioxidants that may help prevent cancer and heart disease. They also add a sweet, tart flavor that complements the savory flavor of sloppy joes perfectly.
19. Pineapple Bars
These pineapple bars are a great way to cool down in the summer heat. They also happen to be delicious with sloppy joes! The pineapple in these bars gives them a sweet flavor that pairs well with the savory beef and tomato sauce in sloppy joes.
20. French Fries
French fries are another classic American food that makes an excellent side dish for sloppy joes. They’re a great way to add some crunch and texture to this messy meal without adding too much grease or calories. Plus, who doesn’t love french fries?
21. Mac And Cheese
Mac and cheese is the ultimate side dish. It’s warm, comforting, and delicious. It’s also easy to make and super versatile. You can make it with just about any style of pasta you like and add any number of vegetables or meats to it. Plus, you can change up the flavor by adding different cheeses or spices.
22. Onion Rings
If your family loves onion rings, serve them up as a side for sloppy joes. Sloppy Joes are sweet and savory, so they pair well with the salty goodness of onion rings. They’re also both easy to make at home, so if there’s no time for a trip to the store, you can still get these two tasty dishes on the table in no time flat!
23. Potato Salad
This classic side dish is a great accompaniment to any main course. It’s also one of the easiest recipes to make, as it requires no cooking at all! Potato salad is a great way to use up leftover potatoes, and it can be made with any combination of ingredients that you like. Serve this dish with any kind of barbecue, or simply with some grilled chicken or fish.
24. Sweet Potato Hash
Sweet potatoes are often used in place of white potatoes in many dishes because they contain more vitamins (especially beta carotene). Plus, they have a rich, sweet flavor that goes well with just about anything! This hash is made with sweet potatoes and bacon, but you could easily swap out the bacon for another type of meat if you prefer. Serve this hash alongside your favorite breakfast foods or even on top of toast for breakfast sandwiches!
25. Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is a classic side dish to serve with sloppy joes, and it’s easy to make. The ingredients are simple: uncooked elbow macaroni, mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, sweet pickle relish (or regular diced sweet pickles), and sometimes minced onion.
To make macaroni salad, cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well and cool (I usually run cold water over it until it’s room temperature). Toss with some mayonnaise or Miracle Whip until coated evenly. Add some sweet pickle relish (or diced sweet pickles) and chopped onion if desired. Chill until ready to serve.
26. Slaw
Slaw is another great side dish that works well with sloppy joes because it adds some crunch and texture while balancing out the softness of the sandwich. It also adds color and makes the meal look really pretty! (Plus, it’s super easy.)
Conclusion
The best side dish to serve with sloppy joes is a classic: potato salad.
Sloppy joes are basically meatloaf on a bun, so they go great with other meat dishes. Potato salad is the perfect complement to sloppy joes because it’s also made from potatoes and has diced pickles in it. This allows for a balanced meal where you can have your meat and potatoes too!
Potato salad is also the perfect side dish because it can be made in advance and eaten cold or at room temperature (which means you won’t have to worry about heating up anything). It’s easy to make, too—all you need are a few simple ingredients, like vinegar, salt, pepper, celery seed… maybe even some mustard if you’re feeling adventurous! And since this dish doesn’t require any cooking time or special equipment, there’s no reason not to try it out next time you’re making sloppy joes for dinner tonight!