Are you trying to decide what to make with sloppy joes for dinner? This list of side dishes is a combination of favorites and classic dishes that make the rounds at picnics and backyard BBQs.
Mix and match your favorite sides from this list to create an endless selection of delicious possibilities.
Best Side Dishes To Serve With Sloppy Joes
1. Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
When it comes to family favorites, tater tots are loved by adults as well as kids. It’s one side that everyone loves. This delicious tater tot casserole is creamy and cheesy and will be a hit served with sloppy joes.
It is a long-time favorite dish of potluck dinners and reheats well for leftovers the next day. Add your favorite toppings to make this dish your own.
It can stay in the fridge for a day or two if you don’t eat it all up before then. Potatoes don’t freeze well, so it is not recommended to freeze leftovers.
2. Quebec Maple Baked Beans
There is nothing tastier than slow-cooked baked beans.
This delightful dish is made from scratch and cooked long and slow in a crockpot. They take several hours to cook on low, so you will need to start early in the day to have it ready by dinner time.
It will be worth every minute, though. The recipe uses brown sugar, molasses, and pure maple syrup. It is rich and hearty and tastes even better served as leftovers the day after.
In fact, baked beans taste better the longer they sit in your fridge. They should keep in the fridge for 3 – 4 days but are not suitable for freezing.
3. Homemade Potato Chips
You can choose store-bought chips or make your own. Making your own homemade potato chips is more fun and tastes better than chips in a bag.
The chips from the store are thin and break easily. Homemade chips are a little sturdier and make good scoops for any sloppy joe filling that is still on your plate at the end of your meal.
Another good reason to make your own is that you can make them as thin or thick as you like, and control how much salt goes into making them. If you want a healthy option without preservatives, then try this recipe.
There are only 3 ingredients: potatoes, oil, and salt.
4. Homemade French Fries
Homemade French fries are everyone’s guilty pleasure. Thin and crispy served with catsup or your favorite sauce, this side dish is one that no sandwich should be without.
Do you love restaurant-style French fries that are hot and extra crispy?
This recipe will show you the secret to making your french fries extra crispy. You’ll never want fast food fries again after tasting these.
SEE ALSO: How To Make Waffle Fries
5. Macaroni Salad
Who doesn’t love macaroni salad? It is served at more picnics than any other dish because it is a classic, and classics never go out of style. This recipe uses mustard, but if your family doesn’t like it, you can always leave it out.
It’s crunchy from the celery, carrot, and green peppers in it. The mayonnaise gives it a creamy feel, and the vinegar gives it a tangy kick.
No matter how you make it, macaroni salad is always a hit with adults and kids of all ages. This dish will last in the fridge a day or two but not much beyond that. The mayo tends to get watery the longer it stays in the fridge.
6. Cabbage Coleslaw
This quick and easy dish goes well with all types of main dish meals. It’s cold and refreshing and is excellent served with sloppy joes or burgers.
The recipe uses coleslaw mix, but if you can’t find it in the grocery store, you can make your own by shredding a head of cabbage and a couple of carrots.
The ingredients are all simple items you probably have in your kitchen already, except maybe the coleslaw mix. Coleslaw should take about 5 minutes to prepare, so you can do it last or make it earlier and let the flavors mingle a little longer.
7. Beer Battered Onion Rings
Onion rings are the second-best side dish next to french fries. These two go hand-in-hand. Crispy, fried onion rings make a great addition to any dinner meal. You’ll want to make these hot and fresh just before serving.
These will stay good in the fridge for a few days if you have any leftovers. You can reheat them in the microwave or pop them in the oven to crisp them up a bit the next day. Serve hot with catsup or your favorite dipping sauce.
8. Cheesy Stuffed Peppers
Bell peppers stuffed with cheese, rice, and tomatoes are the answer to what goes with sloppy joes.
The rice absorbs all the flavors from the peppers and tomatoes, and the melting cheese makes this a great combination.
Related | What To Serve With Stuffed Peppers
If you’re tired of the usual potato side dishes, this is it. If you have any sloppy joe sauce left on the plate, it can be scooped up into the rice and finished off in the last bite.
Stuffed peppers will stay good in the fridge for up to 4 days and can be made ahead and reheated before serving.
9. Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade macaroni and cheese with parmesan cheese and toasted bread crumbs are the perfect accompaniment to any meal. Smooth and creamy cheese sauce with a crunchy topping makes this dish an old classic favorite.
There are many recipe variations on this dish using two different kinds of cheese and various toppings. Feel free to experiment if you like.
This recipe takes under 1 hour to prepare and is great as leftovers. It reheats well and will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Related | What Goes With Macaroni And Cheese
10. Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a pretty basic dish, and all you need for it is corn, butter, and salt. You can wrap your corn, dehusked, in tin foil and cook them on the barbecue grill or boil them in a pot. Either way, they will come out delicious.
If you want to dress them up, add more flavorings or top with shredded or crumbled cheese and let it melt for a minute or two in the microwave.
Related | Reheat Corn On The Cob
Serve hot with butter. You can also pair this with other choices on this list for a filling and delicious meal.
11. Dill Pickles
The last thing to make a sloppy joe sandwich complete is a side of dill pickles. You can choose slices, spears, or grab a whole one right out of the jar.
These tangy sour pickles are just what is needed to give your meal a little pep. No recipe is required, as you can pick these up at any grocery store.
Related | How Long Do Pickles Last?
Try out any of these great recipes the next time you’re wondering what to make with sloppy joes, a sandwich, or a burger. Any of these flavor combinations will be downright delicious.
