Sloppy Joes are a nostalgic family favorite. My version sneaks in extra veggies for a little extra nutrition without sacrificing that kid-friendly sweet-and-tangy flavor. Stash a batch of the filling in your freezer for easy last-minute dinners!

A sloppy joe sandwich with seasoned ground beef on a sesame bun, served on a white plate with a side of greens.

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The tastiest Sloppy Joes, ever!

My Sloppy Joe recipe tastes just like the sandwiches you enjoyed as a kid. Sweet, tangy, beefy, tomato-y, and messy but WORTH IT.

But adding shredded carrots or sweet potatoes makes the classic even better.

Not only does it inject some more nutrients into your Sloppy Joes, it also adds sweetness since these veggies are naturally sweet. And that means you don’t need as much sugar.

Other than those veggie additions, this is a classic recipe for Sloppy Joes, made with everyday ingredients.
It’s also fantastic for meal prep. Cook the filling in advance and refrigerate it for a few days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Serve up these Sloppy Joes with a side of Homemade Fries and you’ve got a kid-friendly dinner that you’ll actually enjoy too. (Because one can only make so many chicken nuggets and boxes of mac and cheese a week.)

Ground beef and diced vegetables cooking in a skillet, stirred with a wooden spoon for sloppy joe filling

Key Ingredients

You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here’s a quick overview of the key players.

The Usual Veggies. Onion and bell pepper (either green or red) add flavor and a little bit of texture.
The Sneaky Veggies. Shredded carrots or sweet potato practically melt into the filling. No one will suspect!
Lean Ground Beef. I used 90%. Although I haven’t tested it myself, I think ground turkey would also work well.
Seasonings. Chili powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, and ground mustard.
Flavor Bombs. Tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and red wine vinegar are responsible for that signature Sloppy Joe flavor: sweet, tangy, umami, and all-around irresistible.
For Serving. Hamburger Buns and sliced cheddar, pepper Jack, or American cheese if you’d like. Tangy pickled veggies are also fab on Sloppy Joes—try my Easy Refrigerator Pickles, Pickled Jalapeños for some zip and zing, or Pickled Red Onions.

Tips for the Most Scrumptious Sloppy Joes

Cook the Tomato Paste Until It Darkens. It sounds like a small thing, but it’s a small thing that makes a big difference! When you cook the tomato paste, it caramelizes and develops the flavor to make your Sloppy Joes extra delish.
Drain Off the Grease If Needed. With 90% ground beef, I didn’t feel that the grease needed to be drained off, but if you use ground beef with a higher fat percentage, you may want to pour off some of the grease to keep your sloppy filling from being too sloppy.
Shred the Carrots Yourself. If you opt for carrots over sweet potatoes, I highly recommend using a box grater to shred them yourself. The pre-grated carrots from the grocery store are usually dry and flavorless, and they’re also not shredded as finely, so they won’t be as sneaky.

A sloppy joe sandwich on a plate with a side of leafy green salad topped with crumbled cheese.

More Ways to Use Sloppy Joe Filling

If you have leftovers, it’s easy to reinvent them into something new and different.

Make Sloppy Joe Potatoes. Spoon the filling over a Baked Potato and sprinkle cheese and sliced green onions on top.
Use It as a Pizza Topping. Instead of sauce, spread the Sloppy Joe filling onto Whole Wheat Pizza Dough and add shredded cheddar or pepper jack.
Try It in a Bowl. A la my Ground Beef Cottage Cheese Bowl.
Make It a Grilled Cheese. This is a great way to use a small amount of extra filling because you can’t pile on too much!
Spoon It Over Fries. Like Chili Cheese Fries, but with Sloppy Joe filling.
Tacos or Quesadillas. Why not?!

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