Sloppy Joes are loose ground meat cooked in a sweet-tart tomato sauce. The meat is then piled on a bun. Essentially, a sloppy joe is a sandwich consisting of ground beef or pork, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings served on a hamburger bun.
The dish originated in the United States during the early 20th century. They come in all shapes and sizes. They can be little sliders or can require nearly three hands to hold onto them because they are well sloppy!
Whether you like your Sloppy Joe a little more on the sweet and savoury side, there is no denying the appeal of this well-loved favourite. The base can vary, and they can be made with beef, turkey chicken or meatless and vegan.
Fact is that there is no “wrong way” of making a Sloppy Joe as long as it is messy then you on the right track! And of course, you want everything you have on your plate to be as good too.
As with any other dish as soon as you know the best thing to serve with it, then the beloved sandwich gets better. So, what goes with Sloppy Joes? We will start with the side dishes.
There are excellent combinations that help sop all that meaty goodness. There are contrasting additions that brighten up and lighten up the meal without detracting from all that decadence.
Baked Potato Chips With Salt And Vinegar
The chips not only taste great together wit the Sloppy Joe but also make a super useful tool to scoop the messy bits that fall off your sandwich.
Picnic Salads
Col “picnic salads” such as coleslaw or potato salad are natural side dishes to Sloppy Joes. You could choose to do the mayonnaise-based dressings or vinegar-based dressings to adorn the salads. Feel free to also experiment with add-in ingredients and nonstandard recipes.
Veggies n Dip
Your minds may pretty much get covered with the sloppy sauce so you may use crunchy veggie sticks like baby carrots, celery stalks even broccoli florets to take with the Sloppy Joe sauce that is probably still on the plate.
For the Dip, you could go with the sour cream, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, garlic, minced dill and parsley.
Avocado Salad
Just what exactly does not go with Avocado? It’s a great side dish for almost any meal that you can get your hands on. Get your creamy, rich avocado cubes mixed with cheese, tomatoes and herbs.
Cauliflower Mash
Cauliflower is rising to become another flavorful side dish mashed with two pieces of cheese. The dish retains its light texture because of the cheese, which is the tangy goat cheese and mild cream cheese so that it does not weigh your plate down.
Tater Tots
Nothing better goes with potatoes than cheese. Those two are indeed a match made in heaven. So why not make yourself and your friends some cheesy tater tots to go with your Sloppy Joes? Both dishes are so decadent and flavorful, and you surely must make more.
Dill Pickles
The spiciness and crunchiness of dill pickles offer an excellent contrast to your Sloppy Joes. They’re easy to prepare at home, as well! You’ll need cucumbers, of course.
Slice the cucumbers in half, lengthwise, and use your spiralizer to create beautifully shaped veggies. Then, take some red onions and spiralize them as well.
Corn On The Cob
It’s going to get messy so, break out a bib and a tall pile of clean napkins! You could just put a spoonful of buttered corn kernels beside that Sloppy Joe and call it a meal. And sure, the flavours would pair and contrast beautifully.
Since your hands are already deliciously dirty, why not steer into the sloppy curve and make some equally messy and decidedly delicious corn on the cob? And while you’re at it, should you throw in some Mexican flavours for added fun and taste?
French Fries
Ever-popular and classic is the French fry. There’s a reason that French fries are always such a staple with hot sandwiches. The flavours and textures pair splendidly.
French fries are also a no-brainer when it comes to serving them with Sloppy Joes. Again, they’re also great for scooping up bits of leftover sauce and stray pieces of beef.
Baked Beans
Savoury, delicious beans seasoned with brown sugar and bacon come together perfectly with meat and tomatoes. Hence, making it one of the best sides for Sloppy Joes.
Onion Rings
Here’s another standard side dish that will make your dinner even more exciting. Onion rings bring a nice crunch to the meal, which levels out the softness of the sandwich.
If you want the onion rings to be extra crispy, be sure to add cornstarch in the batter. Also, give it an exciting twist and add beer to the mixture.
Sloppy Joes As Appetizers
Do you know you could switch it up and serve the Sloppy Joes as appetizers? You do not necessarily need to stick to side dishes only. A cheese plate with mild cheeses and fruit along with crispy crackers are the perfect lead-in to the meal.
Think, cheddar, provolone, and goat cheese as a creamy warm-up before the main course. Platters of crudité with bright cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and celery are also flavour boosters for the sweet sauce and meat.
Also, a large bowl of salad bursting with different types of lettuces and loads of veggies, together with a glass of red wine or sherry vinegar vinaigrette would be the perfect palate opener for your messy two-handed meal.
In conclusion, Sloppy Joes aren’t just a childhood favourite from the twentieth century. They’re also a classic comfort food that wants to be on the table in this new decade!
