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What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

Need easy ideas for what to serve with Sloppy Joes? Serve the sandwiches hot and fresh with one of these tasty side dishes to complete your meal or potluck.

Four images showing what to serve with sloppy joes.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are an easy-to-make American comfort food made with simple ingredients. And if you’re wondering what to serve with Sloppy Joes – get ready to whip up one of these delicious sides.

Vegetable Side Dishes

1. Homemade Coleslaw

Homemade coleslaw in a bowl.

Our homemade coleslaw incorporates cabbage, carrots, mint, cilantro, scallions, and an umami-rich dressing for coleslaw you’ll want to serve with everything!

2. Carrot Fries

Carrot fries on a plate.

Make tasty carrot fries in the oven or air fryer for an easy, delicious side dish! And there are many seasoning options to turn the simple vegetable into a crave-worthy side. Try our Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe!

Photo Credit: I Heart Vegetables

3. Zucchini and Squash

A scoop of zucchini and squash on a fork.

You will love easy air fryer zucchini and squash! By preparing summer squash in the air fryer, they come out perfectly roasted—tender and lightly golden. These healthy veggies are a great addition to summer meals, and they’re ready in 15 minutes! 

More Air Fryer Vegetables:

4. Vinegar Coleslaw

Vinegar coleslaw in a serving bowl.

Tangy, sweet, and crunchy – homemade Carolina vinegar coleslaw is a perfect side dish for savory main entrees like sloppy Joes.

5. English Pea Salad

A bowl of English pea salad.

Old-fashioned English pea salad is simple and easy to make. With fresh peas, crunchy vegetables, and a creamy dressing, this colorful salad may become your new favorite side.

Photo Credit: Entirely Elizabeth

6. Corn on the Cob

A serving dish of corn on the cob.

Few things are as satisfying as a buttery corn on the cob, and learning how to make it is easy. Follow these easy steps for how to cook corn on the cob on the stovetop, grill, microwave, and oven.

7. Mashed Cauliflower

Mashed cauliflower in a bowl.

Mashed cauliflower and sloppy Joe sandwiches are a match made in heaven! The creamy cauliflower is an excellent way to balance the messy-goodness of Sloppy Joe’s.

8. Roasted Zucchini

Roasted zucchini on a plate.

Roasted zucchini is ready to eat in 20 minutes, about the same time it takes to prepare the filling for a Sloppy Joe; it sounds like a perfect side dish if you’re asking me.

Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon

Potato Side Dishes

9. Southern Potato Salad

Southern potato salad in a bowl.

Old-fashioned Southern potato features fork-tender potatoes dressed in a creamy, seasoned sauce.

If you prefer a lighter side dish, try this healthy potato salad recipe with full-fat yogurt. 

10. Roasted Potatoes

Roasted potatoes on a serving plate.

Make perfectly seasoned and irresistibly crispy roasted potatoes in the oven. These versatile potatoes go with anything from beef ribs and grilled tandoori chicken to Sloppy Joes.

11. Sweet Potato Fries

Air fryer sweet potato fries in a fry cup.

Cooking frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer is one way to make crispy restaurant-quality french fries at home. Sweet potato fries cook in 12 minutes, so they’re perfect for a quick and easy entree like Sloppy Joes.

12. Sesame Fries

A plate of sesame fries.

For a perfect golden brown, generously sprinkle oven-baked sesame fries with toasted sesame seeds before baking.

Photo Credit: Plant Based on a Budget

13. Red Potatoes

A plate of air fryer red potatoes.

Greek air fryer red potatoes with bright lemon flavor are an effortless side dish to pair with chicken, steak, and Sloppy Joes – of course!

14. Potato Chips

A baking sheet of cooked potato chips.

Homemade potato chips are easy to make at home, and since chips are a classic pairing for Sloppy Joe’s, this side dish is a good way to impress your guests.

Photo Credit: My Therapist Cooks

15. Home Fries

A plate of air fryer home fries.

While air fryer home fries often go by the name breakfast potatoes, these restaurant-quality potatoes are a great side dish for lunch or dinner.

16. Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries

A plate piled high with shoestring sweet potato fries.

Transform plain sweet potatoes into a tasty snack or side dish everyone will enjoy. 

And don’t forget the dipping sauces like, ancho aioli, ranch dressing, sos czosnkowy, and bbq aioli.

Photo Credit: Midwestern Home Life

Classic Sides for Sloppy Joes

17. Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs without vinegar on a plate.

Enjoy a vinegar-free version of the classic appetizer. These deviled eggs without vinegar are a perfect savory side dish for gatherings and get-togethers like holidays, birthdays, barbecues, or picnics. 

18. Baked Beans with Hamburger

Baked beans with hamburger in a serving bowl.

Sweet, savory, and smoky – homemade baked beans with hamburger are an easy and satisfying side when you don’t know what to serve with Sloppy Joes.

19. Fruit Salad

A bowl of fruit salad.

Fruit salad tossed in a sweet citrus dressing is a light and delicious side dish that complements the savoriness of the sandwiches.

Photo Credit: I Heart Eating

20. Pasta Salad

Gluten free pasta salad in a serving bowl.

Enjoy gluten-free pasta salad brimming with plenty of fresh greens flavored with homemade pistachio pesto. The mouth-watering salad is a perfect side dish for any meal, including piping hot Sloppy Joes.

21. Egg Salad

Egg salad with pickles in a bowl.

Combine perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, pickles, and simple seasoning to make a creamy egg salad with pickles.

Salad Side Dishes

22. Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad

Avocado cucumber tomato salad in a serving bowl.

Complete with fresh herbs, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, and creamy avocado, this salad is an easy, light side dish. 

23. Pressgurka

Pressgurka arranged on a plate.

Are you still deciding what to serve with Sloppy Joes? Pressgurka is a quick pickled salad that is the perfect combination of sweet and sour.

Pair the cucumbers with savory dishes like meatballslamb roast, and Sloppy Joe sandwiches.

24. Vegetable Chopped Salad

Vegetable chopped salad in a serving bowl.

Eating vegetables is effortless with vegetable chopped salad. Finely cut cabbage, kale, carrots, and radishes are the base for the salad recipe you can serve with any dressing.

Salad Dressing Recipes:

25. Cucumber Carrot Salad

Cucumber carrot salad in a bowl.

Refreshing cucumber and carrot salad cuts through the richness of Sloppy Joes.

More Side Dishes for Sloppy Joes

26. Mac and Cheese

A serving of mac and cheese.

Who doesn’t love a pot filled to the brim with creamy mac and cheese? It’s the ultimate comfort food! And if you’re looking for the creamiest, cheesiest side dish, this one-pot Dutch oven mac and cheese is the way to go.

27. Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower

Turmeric roasted cauliflower in a serving bowl.

Add nutty flavor to your plate with turmeric roasted cauliflower. It is an easy, flavorful, and fuss-free side dish.

Even More Side Dish Ideas for Sloppy Joe’s:

  • Onion Rings
  • Mac Salad
  • Waffle Fries
  • Corn Casserole
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Tater Tots
  • Fried Green Tomatoes
  • Baked Potatoes

What is the Best Way to Serve Sloppy Joes?

Once the Sloppy Joe filling is piping hot, spoon the beef mixture onto a sesame seed bun, buttery Texas toast, or soft Hawaiian rolls (like the ones I use to make brisket sliders). Then, finish your sandwich with delicious toppings.

Upgrade boring Sloppy Joes by piling them high with pickle slices, tangy coleslaw, pickled yellow onion, crispy bacon, thick tomato slices, fried egg, cheese slices, and BBQ sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I serve with sandwiches besides chips?

If you’re still trying to figure out what to serve with Sloppy Joes, there are plenty of options! While classic sides like potato chips or french fries are a good choice, don’t limit yourself.

• Seasonal fruit such as berries, melon, oranges, grapes, pineapple, or apple slices are a great option.

• Tangy dill pickles or pickled onions like sumac onions provide a nice crunch. 

• Pair the sandwich with piping hot soup such as chicken noodles, carrot pumpkin, tomato, or potato soup.

• Slice colorful vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes. Serve them with a side of hummus or beetroot dip.

What’s the difference between a Sloppy Joe and a sloppy Jane?

A Sloppy Jane is a Sloppy Joe made with ground turkey instead of ground beef for a lighter option.

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