What Goes With Sloppy Joes? 16 Side Dish Ideas

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Last Updated on April 2, 2024 by Share My Kitchen

A classic sandwich, homemade Sloppy Joes, will instantly transport you back to your childhood. These will allow you to reminisce about the fun times you had while enjoying a delicious, messy meal. But what goes with sloppy joes?

These 16 side dishes are perfect for Sloppy Joes, whether you’re hosting a family dinner, a game night or a get-together with friends.

Let’s get started!

16 EASY SIDES THAT GO WITH SLOPPY JOES

1. Baked Beans

The most iconic combination ever is Sloppy Joe’s and baked bean. Although it is unsure who invented the idea, these two foods really complement one another. This side dish can be made in a few minutes. Simply add bacon bits and brown sugar to the beans, and bake.

2. Potato Chips

What’s better than a bag of potato chips for your Sloppy Joe’s? Chips are crispy and light, making a contrast to the softness of the sandwich. You can use the chips to pick up the meat bits that may fall from your sandwich. Or you can enjoy them as nachos, and add some meat sauce to the chips. Tasty! But the most important thing is that it is almost effortless to prepare: simply open the bag and place the chips in a bowl.

However, you can make your own potato chips if you prefer a healthier and guilt-free option. Add thinly sliced potatoes with salt, pepper and paprika, and then put in the oven. That’s it!

3. Tater Tots

Cheese is one of the best things to go with potatoes. These two ingredients are a match made in Heaven. So, you can make your Sloppy Joes even better by making cheesy tater tots for your friends. These two dishes are delicious and so flavorful that you will want to make more.

4. Mac and Cheese

These two ingredients are perfect for each other. The sweet and savory Sloppy Joe is perfect for the cheesy mac. It’s instant classic comfort food that everyone will love.

Quick Tip: Use rich cream instead of milk to make your mac and cheese extra creamy, or refer to these milk substitutes if you ran out of milk. Also, a combination of half-milk and half cream is another variation you can consider.

5. Potato Salad

The classic potato salad is a great side dish that will never disappoint. It is filling, creamy, tender, and incredibly simple to make.

Tip for making your salad: boil the potatoes whole, do not cut them yet. Doing this preserves the potatoes’ sweetness.

When they are cooked and cooled to room temperature, mix them with pickles, dijon mustard, your choice of vegetables, and some mayonnaise and sour cream dressing.

6. Sweet Potato Hash

Start with potatoes, then move to sweet potatoes! Sweet potato hash is sweet and starchy, which blends well into the sandwich’s flavors. Besides that, the sweet potato chunks are a great contrast to the softness of Sloppy Joes.

7. Dill Pickles

Dill pickles’ spicy and crunchy flavor contrasts with Sloppy Joes. These pickles are easy to make in your kitchen.

Cucumbers are required. Begin preparing by cutting the cucumber in half, lengthwise. Then, use your spiralizer to create perfectly shaped vegetables. Spiralize some red onions, too.

Add the onion and cucumber spirals to a jar, and add some chopped dill fronds. Then pour vinegar and water onto the pot and season it with salt and pepper.

Close the lid tightly and place it in the refrigerator for between 30 minutes and 4 hours.

8. Macaroni Salad

This side dish is perfect if a hungry crowd is waiting to be fed. It is filling and delicious, just like Sloppy Joes; thus, making them a fantastic combination.

9. Pasta Salad

Pair your Sloppy Joe dinner with a rustic pasta salad to give it an Italian flair. Imagine a bowl of penne pasta with cucumbers, basil, black olives, and cherry tomatoes, then drizzle it with red wine vinegar. This is a great dish to accompany your delicious sandwich.

10. Corn on the Cob

Everyone eating will most likely make a mess because of the Sloppy Joes. So while you’re at it, serve some corn on your cob. These are equally enjoyable to eat and their flavors taste delicious together!

If you have the time and patience, you can make your corn Mexican-style and make an elote. But it’s easy to make, so don’t worry.

Begin preparing by slathering cold butter on the corn ears. Then, grill the corn for about 15 to 20 minutes. As you are grilling, mix mayonnaise and chili powder. Once the corn is done grilling, coat it with the chili-mayo mixture. Then finally, add crumbled cotija cheese—cilantro and paprika to your corn.

11. Coleslaw

Coleslaw and Sloppy Joes are an excellent pair. The coolness of coleslaw is a great contrast. It’s sweet, creamy, and delicious. It will undoubtedly remind you of a summer picnic.

12. Stuffed Peppers

Although Sloppy Joes are always the main course, these Stuffed Poblano Peppers might be so perfect that they outshine the actual sandwich.

To stuff your peppers, you will need to add grains such as brown rice or white rice and quinoa for the base. Then add your favorite beans and vegetables, and garnish with cheese and cilantro. Please put them in the oven, and they’re ready to go!

13. Garlic Bread

Also commonly known as a great way to clean up the mess on your plate. A sandwich paired with bread? Yes, it works! This is especially useful when feeding hungry people. Plus, they’re great for any occasion, whether you buy them at your local bakery or make them yourself.

14. Onion Rings

This classic side dish will make your dinner more enjoyable. The crunchy onion rings balance the sandwich’s softness. Plus, they’ll bring out the child in you, just like the Sloppy Joes! A tip when making onion rings: add cornstarch to the batter to make them extra crispy. You can also add beer to the batter for an exciting twist.

15. Mashed Cauliflower

This side dish is perfect for those who love mashed potatoes but are trying to live healthier. Although mashed cauliflower might not taste the same, it’s equally delicious. That is a guarantee!

When selecting cheese, cream cheese and goat cheese are great choices. This will result in a light-textured mashed cauliflower. Enjoy it with a tender and savory Sloppy Joe to experience pure happiness.

16. Waffle Fries

This classic side dish is a must-have for any list. Sloppy Joes and fries are a superior combination. Fries are crispy and salty, which is a great way to balance the tenderness of the sandwich. Also, fries are a great way to soak up the Sloppy Joe mess.

What Will You Serve With Your Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes can be made quickly and are very affordable.

Invite your childhood friends and enjoy a fun time reminiscing about the good times while you want this deliciously sweet and savory sandwich.

Of course, it’s a great meal all by itself. But you can always make it even more delicious for your guests.

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