Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes – 49g Protein, 46% Daily Vitamins, and a 93% Spoonacular Score
Sloppy Joes are pure childhood nostalgia – a sweet‑tangy, gloriously messy heap of ground meat in a bun. But the classic version leans hard on refined sugar and white bread, and it usually forgets vegetables exist. This Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes remake fixes all that. It swaps ground turkey for beef, sneaks in finely diced sweet potato for fiber and vitamin A, and keeps the sauce tangy with tomato paste and apple cider vinegar. It’s gluten‑free, dairy‑free, paleo, primal, and absolutely packed with flavor. Eleven home cooks have already made it and joined the fan club. A 93% spoonacular score says the algorithm is just as smitten.
“I made these for my kids and they didn’t even notice the sweet potato. They just said it was the best Sloppy Joe ever. I’ll take that win.”
Why Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes Work
The challenge with lightening up Sloppy Joes is keeping that signature saucy, satisfying texture without loads of brown sugar and ketchup. This version uses finely grated sweet potato that melts right into the ground turkey as it cooks. It adds natural sweetness, body, and a serious nutrient boost – one serving covers nearly half your daily vitamin A. The sauce gets its depth from a double hit of tomato (paste plus crushed tomatoes), balanced with apple cider vinegar and a touch of maple syrup. The result is a filling that’s thick enough to stay on the bun, not run down your wrist, and complex enough to make you forget the original.
Each serving delivers a staggering 49 grams of protein, 18 grams of fat (mostly from the turkey), and 46% of your daily vitamins and minerals. At 679 calories, it’s a substantial meal that will keep you full for hours. And with a cost of $4.82 per serving, it’s still cheaper than takeout – and infinitely more satisfying.
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes
📋 Shopping List – Serves 4
- 1 lb ground turkey – 93/7 lean works best
- 1 medium sweet potato – Peeled and finely grated (about 2 cups)
- 1 yellow onion – Diced
- 3 cloves garlic – Minced
- 1 green bell pepper – Diced
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 (15 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 gluten‑free hamburger buns – Or lettuce wraps for paleo
All ingredients are naturally gluten‑free and dairy‑free. For Whole30, use compliant crushed tomatoes and omit maple syrup.
Ingredient Notes
Ground turkey. 93/7 is ideal – enough fat to stay juicy, not so much that you need to drain it. Ground chicken or lean beef both work well.
Sweet potato. A box grater is your friend here. Grating (not dicing) ensures the sweet potato cooks quickly and practically disappears into the sauce. Orange sweet potatoes (the standard grocery variety) are perfect.
Tomato paste. Don’t skip it. The concentrated umami is what gives this Sloppy Joe its deep, slow‑cooked flavor. A little tube of tomato paste is worth keeping in the fridge for recipes like this.
How to Make Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes
1. Sauté the Aromatics
Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil, then the onion and bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
2. Brown the Turkey
Add the ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until no longer pink, about 5 to 7 minutes. If there’s excess fat, drain it off (though with 93/7 there usually isn’t).
3. Add Sweet Potato and Seasonings
Stir in the grated sweet potato, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, until the sweet potato begins to soften.
4. Build the Sauce
Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the meat and vegetables. Cook for 1 minute to caramelize the paste slightly. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, and maple syrup. Stir to combine.
5. Simmer
Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook another 5 to 10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened to your liking. Taste and adjust salt and vinegar.
6. Serve
Toast the buns if desired. Pile a generous scoop of the Sloppy Joe mixture onto each bottom bun, top with the other half, and serve immediately.
🍠 Pro Tips for Perfect Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes
- Grate, don’t chop. Finely grated sweet potato dissolves into the sauce. Diced sweet potato stays in chunks and doesn’t meld the same way.
- Don’t rush the simmer. That 20‑minute simmer isn’t just for show – it lets the flavors marry and the sauce thicken naturally.
- Make it ahead. Like all Sloppy Joes, this one tastes even better the next day. Make a double batch and eat it all week.
- Freeze the leftovers. Portion into freezer bags and freeze flat. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently.
Serving Suggestions
A Sloppy Joe is a meal in itself, but a few thoughtful sides round it out:
- Coleslaw. A tangy, crunchy slaw is the classic partner – it cuts through the richness.
- Sweet potato fries. Double down on the theme. Bake or air‑fry them while the Sloppy Joes simmer.
- Pickles. Dill pickles or bread‑and‑butter pickles add acidity and crunch.
- A simple green salad. Lightly dressed with lemon vinaigrette.
Recipe Variations
Once you’ve mastered the base, try these easy twists:
- Classic Sloppy Joes (All‑Beef): Substitute ground beef for turkey and add a tablespoon of Worcestershire (skip for Whole30).
- Spicy Sweet Potato Joes: Add 1 diced jalapeño with the onion and a pinch of cayenne with the chili powder.
- Lentil Sloppy Joes (Vegetarian): Replace turkey with 2 cups cooked brown lentils. Use vegetable broth instead of water.
- BBQ Sweet Potato Joes: Swap the crushed tomatoes for 1 cup of your favorite dairy‑free BBQ sauce and reduce the maple syrup to 1 teaspoon.
Storage and Leftovers
The filling keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. It also freezes like a dream – portion into airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
The 93% Spoonacular Score – What It Really Means
A 93% score on Spoonacular is elite. It places this recipe in the top tier of the platform’s ratings, reserved for dishes that are exceptionally well‑liked, nutritionally impressive, and cost‑effective. The algorithm rewards its sky‑high protein (49g!), massive vitamin coverage (46% DV), and glowing user feedback – eleven cooks, all of whom said they would make it again. That’s a 100% return rate. When 93% meets unanimous approval, you know you’ve found a permanent addition to your rotation.
🍔 The Final Verdict
Sweet Potato Sloppy Joes take a beloved childhood classic and make it something you can feel genuinely good about eating. It’s hearty, saucy, and packed with nutrients – but it never sacrifices flavor for health. Eleven home cooks have already discovered this. The algorithm says 93%. Your family will rate it even higher.
Filed under: American · Ground Turkey · Paleo · Gluten‑Free · Dairy‑Free · High Protein · Sloppy Joes