Description
These Sloppy Joes Baked Sweet Potatoes combine the hearty, savory goodness of classic sloppy joes with the natural sweetness and nutrition of baked sweet potatoes. This recipe offers a healthier alternative to traditional sloppy joes by swapping out bread for nutrient-rich sweet potatoes, making it gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30, and Paleo-friendly. Perfect for a comforting meal that’s packed with flavor and wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Sweet Potatoes
- 4 medium (7 oz each) sweet potatoes, washed and dried
Sloppy Joe Filling
- 1/2 lb 93% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (such as Montreal Steak)
- 1/3 cup chopped carrot
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 1/3 cup chopped mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 8 oz can tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 1/3 cup water
Garnish
- 1 chopped scallion
Instructions
- Cook the Sweet Potatoes: Poke holes all over each sweet potato with a fork to allow steam to escape during cooking. You can cook them by microwaving for 7 to 10 minutes, using a slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours, or baking in an oven preheated to 425°F for about 45 minutes until tender.
- Prepare the Meat Mixture: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and seasoned salt, cooking while breaking the meat apart into small pieces until browned. Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrot, mushrooms, and red bell pepper to the skillet.
- Simmer the Filling: Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, then add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Stir everything together, cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until the carrots are tender and the flavors meld.
- Assemble and Serve: Slice the cooked sweet potatoes open lengthwise and sprinkle each with a pinch of salt. Top each potato with 1/2 cup of the sloppy joe meat mixture and garnish with chopped scallion. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Using baked sweet potatoes instead of bread makes this classic dish healthier and gluten-free.
- This recipe is Whole30, Paleo, dairy-free, and naturally gluten-free.
- You can cook the sweet potatoes using a microwave, slow cooker, or oven based on your available time and preferences.
- Seasoned salt, like Montreal Steak seasoning, adds a nice depth of flavor but can be adjusted to taste or substituted with your preferred seasoning blend.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7 oz potato, 1/2 cup meat mixture
- Calories: 259 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 586 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 5.5 g
- Protein: 15.5 g
- Cholesterol: 35.5 mg
