Give a healthy makeover to a nostalgic classic with these Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls! This quick and easy dish is perfect for weeknights and combines flavor-packed sloppy joes with roasted sweet potatoes, crisp romaine lettuce and tangy pickled red onions. It’s totally paleo and whole30 friendly, but you wouldn’t even know it!
Prior to making this recipe, I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I had a sloppy joe. It’s definitely been a few years! Looking back on my childhood, sloppy joes weren’t the most exciting meal, but that was probably because my mom was making them with one of those seasoning packets.
And I understand, the seasoning packets are super convenient, but homemade sloppy joes taste way better and are honestly not that much harder! It’s just a little bit of chopping, sautéing, and whisking . By the end, you’ll have such a satisfying, comforting and nostalgic dinner that you can actually feel good about because it’s made from healthy, wholesome ingredients.
These easy paleo sloppy joe bowls are the perfect way to use up that ground beef you randomly bought at the grocery store but have no idea what to do with. They are quick and easy enough for a weeknight dinner yet impressive enough to make for a backyard BBQ. Nobody will even know they’re paleo! Enjoy 🙂
Why You’ll Love these Easy Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls
- This meal is super weeknight friendly, and can be ready in just about 30 minutes!
- These paleo sloppy joe bowls are a healthier twist on a classic, nostalgic dish.
- The homemade sloppy joe sauce is made with simple, wholesome ingredients and is totally paleo, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free and Whole30 friendly.
- This is a high-protein dinner filled with a bunch of sneaky veggies!
- It’s a flexible recipe and can be made with any ground meat that you prefer.
What You Need to Make these Easy Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls
For the Paleo Sloppy Joes:
- Ground Beef: I actually used an ancestral blend of grass-fed ground beef and organ meats, to sneak in extra nutrients. But this recipe will work perfectly with whatever ground meat you prefer – beef, bison, venison, turkey, etc!
- Green Bell Pepper: It doesn’t really matter what color it is, but green is most traditional in sloppy joes. A great way to sneak in extra veggies!
- Yellow Onion: 1/2 large yellow onion, or 1 small onion.
- Garlic: Fresh minced of course!
- Tomato Sauce: The base of this sloppy Joe sauce is a 15oz can of tomato sauce – the ingredients should be minimal – just tomato puree and some seasonings.
- Tomato Paste: This provides depth of flavor and also thickens up the sauce a bit.
- Coconut Aminos: Coconut aminos are a gluten free, soy free alternative to soy sauce so they’re perfect for a paleo/whole30 diet! They add a little bit of saltiness and sweetness, in the same way that Worcestershire does in traditional sloppy joes.
- Coconut Sugar: Coconut sugar, or brown sugar, provides additional sweetness, but feel free to omit this if you’re doing Whole30.
- Yellow Mustard: Just a touch! You can omit it if you don’t have any on hand.
- Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika, Kosher Salt & Black Pepper: Season this paleo sloppy joe mixture with some pantry staples that will add smokiness and depth of flavor.
- Water: Depending on how thick or thin you like your sloppy joes, add a bit of water (or broth) to the mix.
For the Roasted Sweet Potatoes:
- Sweet Potatoes: To serve 4 people, you’ll likely need 1-2 medium sweet potatoes. Either wash them super well, or peel them, before slicing.
- Avocado Oil: Avocado oil is my go-to for roasting because it has a much higher smoke-point than olive oil. Measure with your heart!
- Kosher Salt: Simply season the sweet potatoes with salt.
For Serving:
- Romaine Lettuce: I like serving these paleo sloppy Joe bowls with some chopped for romaine lettuce for additional veggies and nutrients.
- Pickled Red Onions: I always have pickled red onions hanging around in my fridge, and they add some really great tang here! This is the recipe I use to make quick pickled red onions, but you can also buy them pre-made from the grocery store.
How To Make these Easy Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls
Soak the Sweet Potatoes:
First, start by cutting your sweet potato into ¼” slices and then in half (to create half moon shapes). Add the sweet potato to a large bowl with cold water and allow them to soak for 30+ minutes. This soaking step is optional, but helps them get a little crispier! If you’re making this on a weeknight, I won’t judge you for skipping it.
Roast the Sweet Potatoes:
Next, while the sweet potatoes are soaking, preheat your oven to 425F. Then, drain off the water and pat sweet potato dry really well. Transfer to a baking sheet, drizzle with avocado oil, and season with kosher salt. Toss to combine, then spread out evenly on the baking sheet. Transfer to the oven to bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway if desired (I usually don’t because I’m lazy).
Prepare the Paleo Sloppy Joe Sauce:
While the sweet potato is roasting, whisk together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, coconut sugar, coconut aminos, chili powder and paprika in a large bowl. Set aside.
Sauté the Ground Beef & Veggies:
Next, bring a large pan to medium-high heat. Then, add ground beef and saute, breaking apart with your spatula, until just browned (about 4-5 minutes). Next, add in the onion and bell pepper. Season with kosher salt & black pepper and sauté for 5 more minutes. Add garlic, stir, and cook for 1 more minute.
Add Sloppy Joe Sauce & Simmer:
Then, pour in the sauce mixture and stir. Add in the water, as needed, to get it to your desired consistency. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
Finally, serve the paleo sloppy joe mixture alongside the roasted sweet potato, some chopped romaine and pickled red onions. Enjoy!
Other Ways to Serve Paleo Sloppy Joes:
I love serving these easy paleo sloppy joes in bowl-form, paired with some roasted sweet potato, romaine lettuce and pickled red onions. Feel free to add in any other toppings you like, such as pickles, sliced jalapeños or avocado!
If you’d rather enjoy these in a more traditional way, try serving them with sweet potato “buns” AKA roasted sweet potato rounds. In this situation, I would recommend that you buy wider sweet potatoes, and cut them into thicker slices. Roasting time may vary slightly from what’s listed in the instructions.
You’re also welcome to serve these paleo sloppy joes on a bun/roll! There aren’t many paleo buns available at grocery stores, but I’ve definitely seen recipes for them online.
How Should I Store Leftover Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls?
These Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls make for great leftovers, or a meal prep lunch option! I would recommend storing each of the elements separately and even waiting to chop the romaine lettuce until you’re ready to eat. This will stay good in the fridge, stored in an airtight container, for about 4 days.
To re-heat, simply add your sloppy joe mixture and roasted sweet potatoes to a microwave-safe dish and microwave for about 1 minute, or until warmed through.
Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.
Looking for More Paleo Recipes?
- Healthy Deconstructed Hamburger Bowls
- Dutch Oven Carnitas Bowl Recipe
- Easy Thai Red Curry Shrimp with Veggies
- Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Sheet Pan Dinner
Easy Paleo Sloppy Joe Bowls
Equipment
- baking sheet
- 2 large bowls
- whisk
- large pan
- spatula
Ingredients
For the Paleo Sloppy Joes:
- 1 lb ground beef *
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- ½ large yellow onion diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- kosher salt & black pepper to taste
- 1 can tomato sauce (15oz)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar or brown sugar (omit for Whole30)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ cup water
For the Roasted Sweet Potato:
- 1-2 medium sweet potatoes
- avocado oil
- kosher salt
For Serving:
- chopped romaine lettuce
- pickled red onions
Instructions
- If you have extra time, start by cutting your sweet potato into ¼" slices and then in half (to create half moon shapes). Add the sweet potato to a large bowl with cold water and allow them to soak for 30+ minutes. The soaking is optional, but helps them get a little crispier!1-2 medium sweet potatoes
- While they're soaking, preheat your oven to 425F. Then, drain off the water and pat sweet potato dry really well. Transfer to a baking sheet, drizzle with avocado oil, and season with kosher salt. Toss to combine, then spread out evenly on the baking sheet. Transfer to the oven to bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway if desired (I usually don't because I'm lazy).avocado oil, kosher salt
- While the sweet potato is roasting, whisk together the tomato sauce, tomato paste, coconut sugar, coconut aminos, chili powder and paprika in a large bowl. Set aside.1 can tomato sauce, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 tbsp coconut sugar, 1 tsp yellow mustard, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp smoked paprika
- Bring a large pan to medium-high heat. Then, add ground beef and saute, breaking apart with your spatula, until just browned (about 4-5 minutes). Next, add in the onion and bell pepper. Season with kosher salt & black pepper and sauté for 5 more minutes. Add garlic, stir, and cook for 1 more minute.1 lb ground beef, 1 green bell pepper, ½ large yellow onion, 3 garlic cloves, kosher salt & black pepper
- Then, pour in the sauce mixture and stir. Add in the water, as needed, to get it to your desired consistency. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.¼ cup water
- Serve the paleo sloppy joe mixture alongside the roasted sweet potato, some chopped romaine and pickled red onions. Enjoy!chopped romaine lettuce, pickled red onions
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @munchinwithmaddie_ on Instagram and/or hashtag it #munchinwithmaddie.