Here are 20+ of the best sides for sloppy joes that pair perfectly with homemade sloppy joes. These quick and easy recipes are guaranteed to become a family favorite!
If you found yourself here looking for what sides are best for sloppy joes, then you’ve come to the right place.
Sloppy joes are the ultimate comfort food aren’t they? Invented sometime in the early 20th century, Sloppy joe sandwiches are a delicious classic comfort food that most of us have enjoyed from time to time.
A soft hamburger bun is loaded with seasoned lean ground beef to create a classic sandwich dripping in delicious sloppy joe sauce that everyone loves.
But what sides can you serve with sloppy joes to make the meal even better?
We’ve gathered up 22 of the best sides for sloppy joes that will complement your favorite sloppy joe recipe perfectly!
If you are looking for sides that are quick and easy, sides that can be made ahead of time or sides that will go well with your homemade sloppy joes, then this post has plenty of suggestions!
We have gathered 22 side dishes recipes including everything from classic macaroni salad, french fries and potato salad to more unique ideas like sweet potato hash, cheesy tater tots and slow cooked black beans. There’s something here for everyone!
So get out your favorite sloppy joes recipe because it’s about to become sloppy joe night!
Related: The Best Sides For Fish: 19+ Quick And Easy Recipes You Need To Try
22 Best Sides For Sloppy Joes
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#1 Seasoned French Fries
Try pairing these delicious oven baked french fries from Spend With Pennies with your sloppy joe dinner this week. These perfectly seasoned and crispy oven baked (or air fryer) fries are a much healthier option that are a perfect companion for sloppy joes.
#2 Classic Potato Salad
One of our favorite side dishes to pair with a sloppy joe meal is a classic potato salad. A Spicy Perspective knocks it out of the park with her family favorite potato salad. Yukon gold potatoes are the secret to this great side dish. Tossed with a delicious dressing made from mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, cider vinegar and the perfect blend of spices this is the perfect recipe for family gatherings where your main dish is classic sloppy joes.
#3 Onion Rings
Another of the best sides for sloppy joes is crispy onion rings. These ultra-light and crispy beer-battered onion rings from Just A Taste are a great option to pair with sloppy joes any night of the week. These tasty onion rings are a family favorite and they’re sure to become one of your favorites too! Serve this classic comfort food with loads of ketchup or sour cream for dunking!
#4 Macaroni Salad
And, since we’re on a classic side dish kick we wanted to let you in on a little secret: this classic macaroni salad recipe is the BEST pasta salad we’ve ever had and we know its going to become one of your favorite sides too. There’s really no wrong way to make this since it’s the perfect recipe for macaroni salad. Make this easy side dish in advance and enjoy it as a cold salad for lunch or serve it warm alongside your sloppy joe dinner.
#5 Green Beans
Sloppy joe sandwiches pair beautifully with green bean salad. If finding a healthier option of sides for sloppy joes is a priority then this simple green bean salad from Recipe Tin Eats is a must try. This light and fresh salad uses simple ingredients (olive oil, red onions, lemon and garlic) to create a delicious green bean salad that will compliment your sloppy joes perfectly. This salad is so good you’ll want to eat the leftovers for lunch with a side of garlic bread the next day!
#6 Sweet Potato Fries
If you are looking for a delicious and easy side dish to serve with your sloppy joe dinner, then this sweet potato fries recipe from Dinner Then Dessert is just what you need. These crispy fries made with sweet potatoes have the perfect balance of savory and sweetness that will compliment any meal perfectly!
#7 Deep Fried Dill Pickles
If you love dill pickles then you are going to love this great side dish for deep fried pickles from Lil’ Luna. Panko bread crumbs are seasoned with garlic powder (onion powder would work well too!) and Italian seasoning to create a tasty coating that gets perfectly crips. These delicious pickles are one of the best sides for sloppy joes because they are quick to prepare and delicious! Yum!
#8 Roasted Pepper Salad
If you’re looking for sides that are more unique than the typical sides then this roasted pepper salad from Tori Avey is just what you need. This colorful side dish combines roasted sweet red, yellow and green bell peppers (any color work but we love roasted green peppers combined with red and orange), crushed garlic, good quality olive oil and salt to taste! So easy and so good, this salad is one of the best sides for sloppy joes!
#9 Sweet Potato Hash
Sweet potato hash is a great side dish to serve with sloppy joes. This recipe from Build Your Bite is simple to make and only requires a few ingredients that you can easily find in your pantry or grocery store. Sweet potatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil and salt are all you need to make this delicious side dish that will be a hit with your family!
#10 Mediterranean Salad
If you are trying to find the right sides for sloppy joes that are on the lighter and healthier side then you’ve gotta try this epic Mediterranean salad from Love and Lemons. Loaded with roasted chickpeas, crispy cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and topped with a zesty herbed dressing, this salad is both delicious and filling! This salad makes a great lunch or dinner option, especially with mains like this lightened ground turkey sloppy joe recipe!
#11 Savory Fruit Salad
The classic recipe for sloppy joe is often a heavy hearty sandwich (think ground meat + tomato sauce + tomato paste + brown sugar + Worcestershire sauce + hamburger bun) so something lighter like a savory fruit salad can be a nice change. This recipe from Spend With Pennies is perfect for summer picnics or potlucks! The salad features juicy fruit like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries mixed with savory ingredients like spinach, pecans and feta cheese. So good, this salad will be one of the best sides for sloppy joes when you are looking for something fresh and light!
#12 Simple Green Salad
A delicious meal doesn’t have to be complicated or involve large amount of cook time. When you’ve got your sloppy joe meat sauce bubbling away ( use an Instant Pot to save even more time) throw together this simple tossed green salad from Creme de la Crumb. A little bit of prep is required but it’s so worth it! This delicious green salad is a great addition to a dinner that serves sloppy joe meat as a main!
#13 Classic Coleslaw
We love classic coleslaw and have managed to find the best easy coleslaw recipe for you to try. This Memphis-style southern creamy coleslaw from Barefeet in The Kitchen is the perfect side dish for sloppy joes. We like to swap cider vinegar for red wine vinegar which gives this classic coleslaw recipe just the right amount of tang! After making this delicious dish from scratch you’ll never reach for the coleslaw mix again!
#14 Cheesy Tater Tots
If you’re looking for sides for sloppy joes that are easy and kid-friendly, then tater tots are the way to go! This recipe from Family Fresh Meals is super simple – just frozen tater tots, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and a few spices. These cheesy tater tots will be a hit with both kids and adults alike! If feeding sloppy joes to kids consider creating little sliders which is a great way to serve smaller kid-friendly portions.
#15 Homemade Potato Chips
Don’t reach for a bag of potato chips when you can easily make your own at home! We just love these quick and easy homemade potato chips that are dusted in parmesan cheese from Damn Delicious. These homemade potato chips are so good they might just become one of your favorite sides for sloppy joes!
#16 Spinach Dip and Vegetables
We love serving spinach dip and loads of crisp raw vegetables as a side for sloppy joes. This classic Knorr Spinach dip recipe is a great healthy option that will have you craving veggies! Creamy spinach dip pairs perfectly with crispy vegetables as one of the easiest and best sides for sloppy joes. The best thing about it is it requires zero cooking!
#17 Mac N Cheese
Classic Mac n Cheese can also be served as a side. In fact, it’s one of the best sides for sloppy joes. This recipe for gooey, creamy macaroni and cheese from Mom On Time Out is perfect as a side dish alongside sloppy joes and any meat-based main! This baked mac n cheese includes cheddar and gruyere cheeses along with freshly grated parmesan. The great thing about this recipe is the addition of seasoned crispy panko crust on top which makes this recipe sheer perfection.
#18 Baked Beans
Baked beans are another of the best classic sides for sloppy joes and this recipe from How Sweet Eats is the perfect one to try. These homemade baked beans are slow cooked in bacon grease which gives them an amazing flavor. One of the great things about this easy baked bean recipe can be made ahead of time so it’s perfect for potlucks or gatherings where you’ll be serving sloppy joes as a main!
#19 Corn On The Cob
Grilled corn on the cob is a must for any summer barbecue and it’s also perfect as a side for sloppy joes. This recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen is simple but delicious – just grill your corn and brush with an easy-to-prepare lemon dill butter. If you’re looking for sides for sloppy joes that are quick, easy and so satisfying, look no further than corn on the cob!
#20 Waffle Fries
We love sides for sloppy joes that we can make in bulk and sides like waffle fries are perfect example. This recipe from Southern Cast Iron produces crispy waffle fries that you’ll want to dunk in ketchup! Plus, this waffle fry recipe is a good reason to pull out your crinkle cutter from the back of your pantry.
#21 Cauliflower Mash or Rice
Cauliflower mash or rice is a great choice for anyone looking for sides for sloppy joes that are lower in carbohydrates. This recipe from Once Upon A Chef is super easy to make – just cauliflower, stock, thyme, salt and garlic powder. If you’re looking for sides for sloppy joes that are healthy and delicious, give cauliflower mash or cauliflower rice a shot!
#22 Jalapeno Poppers
If you’re looking for sides for sloppy joes with a bit of a kick, then jalapeno poppers are the way to go! This recipe from Dinner At The Zoo is easy to follow and will produce delicious jalapeno poppers that everyone will love. Stuffed with cream cheese and then wrapped in bacon these little spicy little bites are a perfect side for slopply joes!
Final Words
Making sides for sloppy joes doesn’t have to be hard – in fact, it can be downright easy with recipes like these best sides for sloppy joes! With so many delicious and varied options to choose from, there is sure to be a recipe here that will become a family favorite!
So next time you are whipping up a batch of sloppy joes, skip the plain boring white rice and head straight back to this post for some delicious inspiration.
Sloppy joes are an easy dinner idea that the whole family will enjoy. We hope that these best side dishes for sloppy joes will inspire you to create a meal that everyone will love.
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