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What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

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Need the perfect side dishes for sloppy joes? Whether you're planning a cozy family dinner, a summer barbecue, or a potluck gathering, knowing what to serve with Sloppy Joes can transform your meal from good to unforgettable. Just like the classic companions to hamburgers and hot dogs, the sides should complement their rich and meaty flavor.

Square image showing different recipe ideas for what to serve with sloppy joes.
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24 Ideas for What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

The classic sloppy joe sandwich is always a hit in my home and a crowd-pleaser when I pack it for potlucks! The combination of browned ground beef, green bell peppers, and onions in a hearty tomato sauce always hits the spot!

While ground beef is typically used in most sloppy joe recipes, pork can also be used. My mother shared her memory of childhood sloppy joes, which reminded me that my lovely Grandma Janet occasionally over-cooked a roast beef (gasp!). When she did, she would grind up the tough and beyond well-done roast beef meat and use it for her sloppy joes!

Whatever meat you choose, here are some of my favorite side dishes to serve! All these sides are great with your sloppy joe sandwiches, whether it's a comfort food family dinner, potluck, or an easy game night meal!

Plus, my favorite desserts for serving after you enjoy your dinner. They're perfect for summertime or any time of the year!!

Best Vegetable Side Dishes to Serve With Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

The best vegetable sides for a great messy sloppy joe sandwich include quite a few of my summertime favorites! Fresh from the garden is always best, but my garden isn't set up here at the property.

Yet. Lots of garden boxes and a chicken coop are in the works for summer 2024!!

1. Corn On The Cob

I think the way you prepare your corn on the cob is pretty easy to do, so it comes down to what's the most flavorful. This milk butter version of boiled corn on the cob leaves your corn nicely tender, with an even butter coating.

Corn on the cob is a great finger food to serve with sloppy joes for lunch or dinner!

Milk Butter Boiled Corn on the Cob
I love serving up my tasty milk butter boiled corn on the cob for any family meal but especially with something hot of the grill. It's just as easy as boiling or steaming corn on the cob, but this version is so superbly sweet and soft that you will make it your new 'go-to' method of cooking your corn.
Check out this recipe
Halved sweet corn cobs shown in the water, milk, and butter mixture that they were boiled in on the stovetop.

2. Green Beans

Another wonderfully easy vegetable side dish is green beans! I love, love, love green beans with garlic and bacon. It's like peas and carrots, foods that just really belong together.

These quick and easy pan-seared green beans are a go-to veggie side for family dinners any night of the year.

Garlic Green Beans with Bacon
These garlic green beans are a tasty vegetable side dish that goes well with a variety of main dish entrees! With 8 hearty servings, it's a wonderful holiday recipe because it's easy to prepare and great for serving a crowd! After all, who doesn't love buttery pan-fried garlic green beans with bacon?
Check out this recipe
wide overhead closeup of garlic green beans with bacon.

3. Summer Squash & Zucchini

One of my all-time favorite foods of summertime has got to be squash! I'm more of a summer squash fan, even though I also love many of the winter squash varieties as well.

My Grandma Janet's home had an amazing perennial herb garden and a well-landscaped yard. It wasn't a huge yard, so she didn't fully garden there. But she always had a few plants of the yellow crookneck squash. Thus, the beginning of my love story with the deliciously tender yellow squash.

Since my family only eats yellow squash to make me happy, I usually combine it with zucchini, as I have here in this sauteed squash and zucchini side dish. Top it with Parmesan cheese or not; it's still so wonderfully tasty!

Sauteed Zucchini and Yellow Squash
Sautéed zucchini and yellow squash with garlic and Parmesan cheese is one of the absolute easiest ways ever to enjoy your abundant crop of summer squash. These are two of my favorite veggies, and they are absolutely delicious when pan-fried with garlic and then tossed in Parmesan. Your entire family will enjoy this healthy, easy side dish.
Check out this recipe
Square image of sauteed zucchini and yellow squash.

4. Garden Salad

A simple green salad or garden salad is a light, healthy side dish to enjoy with your sloppy joes! It's easy to make and can be served with everyone's favorite dressing flavors to keep the whole family happy.

Grab a plate and chop up some iceberg, green leaf, or romaine lettuce, then add some sliced cucumbers and cherry tomatoes for a great salad!

Green Garden Salad with Vinaigrette
This Green Garden Salad with Vinaigrette perfectly complements any lunch or dinner entrée. Bursting with fresh, customizable vegetables, this classic salad is delicious and incredibly easy to prepare. In just a few minutes, you can whip up both the salad and the homemade dressing, making it an ideal, quick addition to your meal.
Check out this recipe
Wide side image of a green garden salad.

5. Coleslaw

Cool and creamy coleslaw is a fantastic contrast to your sloppy joes! It's another super easy salad side dish for your dinner.

All it takes is to whip up a quick sauce and toss it with the cabbage, and you have some tangy-but-not-too-sweet coleslaw!

Southern Coleslaw
Southern coleslaw is a classic quick and easy side dish with crunchy veggies that are tossed with a flavorful, creamy dressing! It's the perfect addition to sandwiches, tacos, fried fish, and so much more. This Southern coleslaw isn’t just for the summertime—it’s great for anytime you want a quick, delicious side!
Check out this recipe
Square image of Southern coleslaw in a white bowl.

The Best Potato Sides to Eat With Sloppy Joes

The responsible mom in me likes to talk about vegetable sides, but the kid who grew up enjoying school lunch sloppy joes knows that potato sides are awesome! Everyone agrees that their favorite side is one or more of these potato side dishes!

6. French Fries

Who doesn't love some french fries with a toasty hot sandwich?! They're a wonderful finger food to dip into your favorite dipping sauce while enjoying a meaty sandwich.

While simple french fries are a very popular choice, they're still runner-up to the next potato side on our list!

Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
Air fryer frozen french fries are the best and easiest way to enjoy golden, crispy, fast-food-style fries at home! The fries are done in just minutes, and there's no mess like with deep frying. Pop open a bag of frozen fries while your air fryer heats up, and get ready to serve the freshest french fries ever with your lunch or dinner!
Check out this recipe
wide image of air fryer frozen french fries served with ketchup.

7. Tater Tots

This may be the number one pick amongst family and friends for 'what to serve with sloppy joes'! While many foods were mentioned in common by everyone I asked, this round potato snack had the most votes.

I totally get why, too! The shape of the tater tots makes them perfect for cleaning up your plate after the sloppy joe filling has overflowed from your sandwich buns.

For an easy variation and a bunch of cheesy goodness, top the tater tots with cheese when cooking and serve up some cheesy tater tots instead. More yumminess!

Crispy Air Fryer Tater Tots
These easy air fryer tater tots are the quickest way to get perfectly crisp tater tots when using frozen tater tots. No matter the air fryer model you use, your air-fried tater tots are sure to become a go-to favorite!
Check out this recipe
Large square angled overhead image of air fryer tater tots on white plate.

8. Chips & Dip

French Onion Dip
This delicious homemade French Onion Dip requires only sour cream, dried minced onion, and seasoning to make this flavorful appetizer dip! No worries if you don't have French onion soup mix on hand! You can make this completely from scratch version and still have a delicious dip for chips, crackers, bread, and veggies!
Check out this recipe
wide angled overhead image of french onion dip in wooden bowl.

The simplest side ever! Pop open a bag or make some crispy air fryer potato chips, and you have an easy meal everyone loves!

Serve your chips on the plate or in a family-size bowl for everyone to grab more. Adding some dip, like my flavorful French onion dip or sour cream chip dip, is optional but delightful!!

My daughter loves using Fritos to scoop up the mess she makes when enjoying hearty, sloppy Joe sandwiches! She gets it from her Dad!

9. Mashed Potatoes

Creamy or buttery and fluffy mashed potatoes are another great potato side dish that goes extremely well with your sloppy joe sandwiches!

My garlic red skin mashed potatoes are tasty but unbelievably wonderful when some sloppy joe meat is mixed in with them!

Red Skin Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Red skin mashed potatoes with roasted garlic and cream cheese are a classic holiday side dish and a staple for great family meals! The smooth, rich potatoes still have a few lumps to enjoy all of the wonderful textures of your red potatoes. If you're feeling the need for delicious mashed potatoes, then this dish is your next obsession!
Check out this recipe
These delightfully creamy Garlic Red Skin Mashed Potatoes are loaded with roasted garlic and cream cheese for the ultimate silky texture with just enough lumps to let the red skin potato flavor shine!

10. Potato Salad

Many versions of potato salad would be an excellent side dish for your sandwiches! From a classic mayonnaise-based potato salad to something fun like a baked potato salad. Yum!

Loaded Baked Potato Salad
My loaded baked potato salad includes all of your favorite baked potato toppings mixed together, and it's so easy to make! This potato salad makes for a wonderful summer side dish to bring to potlucks and cookouts. However, you can serve it year-round, and you won't hear any complaints!
Check out this recipe
Wide closeup on the loaded baked potato salad with green onion garnish.

11. Sweet Potato Fries

These delicious fries can be super quick and easy if you bring home a bag of ready-to-bake, cut fries! They're delicious in the air fryer, too!

If you have sweet potatoes, you can cut them into fries and bake or fry them. The sweet potatoes cook quickly, and the flavor pairs very well with sloppy joes!

Pair them with this sweet potato fry dip.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Baked sweet potato fries are a perfect side dish for everything from burgers to chicken tenders, pork chops, fried fish, and so much more! They're crispy and perfectly balanced with sweet, salty, and savory flavors! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces as an easy and delicious appetizer!
Check out this recipe
Wide image showing sweet potato fries.

Pasta Sides That You Need With Sloppy Joes

There are some fantastic pasta side dishes that pair exceptionally well with savory sloppy joe sandwiches! All of these classic pasta dishes are household staples in my home and are easy to make.

12. Mac & Cheese

Cheesy mac & cheese is an excellent side dish to serve with your sloppy joe dinner!

The creamy deliciousness that makes this such a comfort food classic works so very well with the hearty beef sandwiches!

Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese
This Southern baked macaroni and cheese is a wonderfully creamy and extra cheesy side dish that everyone will love. Made with a minimum of three kinds of cheese to make the best mac and cheese that is sure to be a family favorite. You'll be bringing it along to every potluck, cookout, and holiday!
Check out this recipe
My easy to make Southern Baked Macaroni and Cheese is the best creamy mac and cheese that your family is sure to love!!

13. Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is as simple as cooking up your pasta! Mix a bit of Italian dressing with your favorite Italian-inspired ingredients like mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, red onion, and maybe some thin-sliced zucchini or bell peppers.

Toss your cooked pasta with the dressing and ingredients, then refrigerate and serve!

Tuna Pasta Salad
My creamy tuna salad with pasta is a relatively healthy main course or side dish that is perfect for any occasion! Bow tie noodles, tuna, red onion, and Greek yogurt are all featured in this incredibly easy dish!
Check out this recipe
Best tuna salad with pasta served in white bowl on light background.

14. Macaroni Salad

My grandmother's classic macaroni salad includes cooked macaroni pasta, mayo, vinegar, sugar, mustard, celery, red and green bell peppers, and carrots.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss with the pasta once it's cooled.

Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Hawaiian macaroni salad is a delectable side dish that includes chilled pasta, mayonnaise, vinegar, and pineapple juice! This popular pasta salad is the perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and savory. Bring it to your next barbecue, potluck, or picnic and it's sure to be a new favorite!
Check out this recipe
Wide closeup image of the Hawaiian macaroni salad after being chilled.

More Tasty Sloppy Joe Side Dishes

Depending on what you have on hand, if you have any picky eaters in the house, or just want something that falls outside of 'the usual' sides that are served with sloppy joes, here are some more great ideas! A couple of easy fried sides and a couple that are deliciously wonderful BBQ and picnic-type sides!

15. Onion Rings

Truly super quick onion rings! They're made by Alexa, which is my favorite brand of frozen onion rings. I do love making these homemade, but sometimes even I want a simple meal.

Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
I'm absolutely loving these Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings for how incredibly easy and super crispy they turn out in just minutes! The ease of getting as-good-as-deep-fried foods in these air fryers is just amazing. I love the ease of cleanup and both hubby and I love these perfectly crisped onion rings with a big, juicy burger!!
Check out this recipe
large square image of crispy air fryer frozen onion rings stacked 8 high with dip on the side.

16. Fried Dill Pickles

My fried dill pickle chips are amazing! I made these in the air fryer using those large Kosher dill pickles, and they came out super crispy with that tangy dill pickle center.

They're part of a finger-food-themed lunch or dinner with your sloppy joe sandwiches. Of course, a simple dill pickle slice on the side is always a hit!

Air Fryer Pickles
Crispy air fryer pickles are a delicious and healthier way to enjoy this popular fried dill pickle appetizer! The whole family will love the crunchy Panko bread crumb coating on this tangy pickle snack! Serve it up with your favorite dipping sauce for a 'better than' deep-fried dill pickle treat!
Check out this recipe
Air fryer pickles in a picnic basket, being dipped in sauce.

17. Baked Beans

I think anything barbecue, like these baked beans, compliments a sloppy joe superbly! The sweet and savory flavors are a match for the flavors in a sloppy joe sandwich.

Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
Baked beans with ground beef and bacon are a satisfying side dish for BBQ dinners and cookouts! Baked beans are made sweet with brown sugar. They are made even better with added smoky flavors from hickory-smoked bacon and liquid smoke!!
Check out this recipe
Super easy barbecue baked beans loaded with hearty, beefy flavors and smoky richness with just a touch of delicious sweetness!!

18. Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts

Another barbeque side that just pairs well with sloppy joes!

These easy-to-make BBQ brussel sprouts are wrapped in bacon for a delicious side that can qualify as finger-food if you want it to. Just keep the napkins handy 🙂

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Brussel Sprouts
These BBQ bacon wrapped brussel sprouts combine crispy bacon, sweet honey, and fresh brussel sprouts for a delicious side dish! You'll never want to go back to eating plain brussel sprouts again. In fact, these are so tasty that they will become a new go-to side for anytime you fire up the grill!
Check out this recipe
Best bbq bacon wrapped brussel sprouts served on white platter.

Best Desserts to Have With Sloppy Joes

Whether you choose the simple fruit salad, classic ambrosia salad, or an amazing fruit dessert, these are all perfectly suited to match the flavors of your sloppy joe meal! All of my tasty fruit desserts are amazing and wonderfully suited to summertime meals.

Or go with the classic no-bake cookie that has been served at potlucks and family gatherings for...well, forever. They travel well, and there's no need to turn on the oven!

19. Fruit Salad

A fresh salad of summertime fruit that's a light option after such a hearty, savory meal. Simply wash and slice your favorite fruits, then mix with citrus juice ( orange, lemon, or lime ) and a touch of honey.

Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad
This Greek yogurt fruit salad recipe is a delightfully refreshing, creamy fruit dessert that's quick and easy to make. Greek yogurt is combined with honey syrup and lime juice, then tossed with a medley of fresh seasonal fruit to make a salad that'll cool you off on hot summer days. Whether you are hosting a BBQ or need a dish to enjoy by the pool, this healthy dessert will surely be a huge hit.
Check out this recipe
Wide image showing Greek yogurt fruit salad.

20. Ambrosia Salad

A creamy fruit salad that combines Cool Whip and sour cream with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, miniature marshmallows, coconut, and maraschino cherries.

It's an absolutely delicious dessert salad to serve after your meal!

Ambrosia Salad Recipe
Ambrosia salad is an easy, creamy fruit dessert that features Cool Whip, pineapple, mandarins, cherries, mini marshmallows, and more! It's a delightfully refreshing dish to bring to your next potluck, family gathering, or party with your friends. Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or need a simple dessert to make in a pinch, this fruit salad recipe is sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike!
Check out this recipe
Wide image of Ambrosia Salad in a bowl.

21. Blackberry Crisp

One of my summertime favorite desserts! This blackberry crisp is a super easy dessert to make that everyone loves!

The fresh blackberries are long-awaited and make a stunning crisp, but don't let the winter weather stop you from enjoying this classic dessert year-round!

Frozen berries can easily be used in place of the plump berries of summertime so that you can enjoy this treat all year long!

Blackberry Crisp
This is the perfect blackberry crisp recipe that I have been baking since my early childhood, exactly how my Granny Janny made it. For 40+ years, this berry crisp has been a summer tradition for my family and I just love sharing the dish with you. The buttery oatmeal topping combines with the tangy but sweet blackberries for a quintessential summer dessert.
Check out this recipe
Best blackberry crisp recipe spooned out of baking dish and ready to serve.

22. Pineapple Bars

It's one of my most requested potluck recipes! Everyone loves these sweet and perfectly tangy pineapple bars! Their shortbread cookie crust is the perfect pairing for the luscious pineapple filling!!

Pineapple Bars
My pineapple bars recipe is sure to be your new any day favorite dessert if you love fresh or canned pineapple and tender shortbread! Canned pineapple works in a pinch, but cut up half of a whole fresh pineapple and get ready to be hooked for life on this sweet and tangy treat!! The layered crust, filling, and topping are divine as-is but amazing with a little bit of a sweet drizzled icing!
Check out this recipe
Wide closeup on sliced pineapple bars with icing.

23. Apple Dump Cake

It's a snap to make this cake mix recipe when all you need is a 9 x 13 baking pan and 3 ingredients!

Top off this buttery apple dump cake with a generous scoop of ice cream for the perfect dessert after your sloppy joes!!

Apple Dump Cake Recipe (Cake Mix Cobbler)
My incredibly tasty apple dump cake is a super easy dessert, despite the not-so-great name. Apple pie filling, cake mix, and butter are layered in a 9 x 13 pan and baked until golden. This is a perfect go-to dessert for last-minute entertaining.
Check out this recipe
This 3 ingredient apple dump cake, or apple cobbler dump cake, is an incredibly tasty dessert that you can have ready to serve in no time at all!

24. No-Bake Cookies

This is another nostalgic childhood recipe that is worth repeating over and over again!

The fudgy deliciousness that no-bake cookies are known and loved for is so easy to make that you can let the kids make this no-bake dessert while you make dinner!

Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies are super easy to make rich and fudgy cookies with just 7 ingredients! This stove-top treat is ready in only 30 minutes without turning the oven on to bake! Plus, they're an extremely popular cookie that everyone loves!
Check out this recipe
cooled and set chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies are ready to eat, stacked here in a set of five cookies with some assorted cookies in the background

That rounds out all of my favorites to include with a sloppy Joe dinner, even though I'm sure I'll think of more that would be equally perfect! I hope you enjoy your savory, beefy, sloppy joes and get a chance to try out some tasty new sides!

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5 from 33 reviews

What To Serve With Sloppy Joes

Need the perfect side dishes for sloppy joes? Whether you're planning a cozy family dinner, a summer barbecue, or a potluck gathering, knowing what to serve with Sloppy Joes can transform your meal from good to unforgettable. Just like the classic companions to hamburgers and hot dogs, the sides should complement their rich and meaty flavor.
Author | Angela Latimer
Servings: 1
Prep 5 minutes
Cooking 15 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
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Ingredients
 

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions
 

  • Select the appetizers, sides, and desserts for your sloppy joe lunch or dinner meal.
  • Gather the equipment and ingredients needed to prepare the recipes.
  • Serve and enjoy your sloppy joe dinner!
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course 4th of July, Appetizers, BBQ, Dinner Recipes, Side Dish
Cuisine American
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5 from 33 votes (33 ratings without comment)

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