Sloppy Joes… don’t we all have fond childhood memories of those saucy sandiwches? They’re great on their own, and even better with a perfectly paired side dish.
We’ve compiled this list of the best Sides for Sloppy Joes, so you always know what to have alongside that gooey goodness.
You’ll find the usual suspects like tater tots and pickles, as well as a ton of new ideas you may not have thought of.
Go through all of these sides, and you’ll never wonder “what to serve with sloppy joes?” again!
The Best Sides for Sloppy Joes:
1. Caesar Salad
We’re starting our list of sides for sloppy joes with very classic and easy salad.
Perhaps the most famous and popular salad on the planet, Caesar is so simple, yet so tasty. All you need is lettuce, croutons, parm cheese, and an awesome dressing. We have it for you!
It has a nice crunch, and gives your sloppy joes some great freshness.
2. Steak Fries
These easy baked Steak Fries are a breeze to make, and go with just about anything. They may be the perfect side dish.
You’ll love these tasty potato wedges, which are perfectly seasoned, then baked to crispy perfection.
3. Wedge Salad
How about this classic wedge salad. Fresh, crispy and delicious.
Topped with cool and cream blue cheese dressing, it’s the perfect salad to have alongside your sloppy joe.
4. Three Bean Salad
This easy Three Bean Salad recipe is a summertime potluck classic. But it goes so well with so many things, we love it all year long!
Fresh green beans are mixed with garbanzo beans and kidney beans, then all get tossed with a tangy dressing. It’s tasty, budget friendly, and a surefire hit. Great side for sloppy joes!
5. Fried Green Tomatoes
More than just a movie, fried green tomatoes are a famous Southern appetizer or side dish.
This recipe shows you how to make them nice and crispy every time!
6. Watermelon Salad
This gorgeous watermelon ball salad is sure to be a hit. It’s flavors are heightened by feta cheese, pistachio and a lemon-honey vinaigrette.
This cool and refreshing salad is a perfect contrast to that savory goodness.
7. Latkes
These potato latkes are light, delicate and well seasoned. The grated potatoes and onions fry up with lacy, golden brown, crisp edges that fan outwards.
They’re like fries taken to the next level!
8. Coleslaw
There are a lot of Coleslaw recipes out there, but this is the best hands down! Just a quick chop and mix is all it takes to make this iconic side dish.
This Classic Coleslaw is essential for all your upcoming cookouts and potlucks. It’s creamy and crunchy, and goes with all of your summertime favorites.
9. Rainbow Pasta Salad
Every get together and potluck star… Pasta salad. Make it prettier by adding all kinds of different colors.
Quick, easy, and very colorful, it goes great with sloppy joes.
10. Sweet Potato Fries
You’re just going to love these sweet potato fries! They’re baked, not fried, for less grease and less mess.
If you need a finger-food side, definitely give these fries a try!
11. Corn Casserole
This easy 5 ingredient Corn Casserole is a great southern style side dish, and takes next to no effort. Seriously, just mix up the ingredients, then stick it in the oven.
The sweet corn flavors go great with sloppy joes.
12. Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad with Pesto
Spring and summer demand colorful, light, refreshing salads. So here it is our Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad, but with major flavor bender… delicious basil pesto dressing.
This flavorful salad is sure to become one of your favorites!
13. Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, buttery, fluffy mash! Everybody’s favorite something you grew up on… that made-’em-a-million-times, tried and tested family affair.
This time, try it with the slight little flavor twist of goat cheese. Yum level achieved!
14. Mexican Street Corn Salad
Are you a fan of elote? Mexican Street Corn Salad, AKA Elote Salad, is an easy and tasty side dish, bursting with flavors. It’s another one of our favorite accompaniments to sloppy joes.
15. Lazy Sweet Potato Mash
This recipe is so easy to make, we call it lazy. Sometimes, it’s okay to be lazy, and if you need all the time you can get, then this one’s for you.
The sweet potato is simply cooked in the microwave and mashed up, to make a dish that’s easy and delicious.
16. Squash Casserole
This squash casserole is a popular southern side dish that will go great with your sloppy joe.
Mildly flavored sweet squash folded into a creamy, cheesy sauce and topped with buttery cracker topping. People will be going for seconds and thirds!
17. Antipasto Pasta Salad
This easy and addictively delicious Antipasto Pasta Salad is the perfect contender as hearty side dish for sloppy joes. Make a huge batch and you are all set.
18. Dirty Rice
Dirty Rice is a famous dish in Creole and Cajun cuisines. White rice gets a “dirty” color from bits of meat and a generous dose of seasonings.
It’s a super delicious recipe that’s packed with flavor.
19. Macaroni Salad
Macaroni Salad is another one of the staple sides for fried fish.
This version is extra creamy and extra tangy. Make a big batch, and enjoy the leftovers for days!
20. Green Bean Almondine
This dish not only makes your humble green beans fancy, but it’s absolutely delicious and elegant in its simplicity.
Vibrant French style green beans tossed with brown butter, toasty almonds (that’s where almondine comes from), shallots, garlic and a squeeze of lemon to brighten it in the end.
21. Maque Choux
Give your corn a Louisiana style makeover with this Cajun Maque Choux! Corn is sautéed in bacon grease with Cajun or Creole seasoning, along with other flavor enhancers.
This recipe is perfect for summer, when corn season is at its peak.
22. Creamed Corn
Here’s another great corn based side dish for sloppy joes…
After you try this easy Creamed Corn recipe, you will never, ever go back to canned. Made with fresh corn (though you can use frozen), it’s so creamy and full of flavor.
23. Cowboy Caviar (Chili Lime)
Cowboy caviar is a great sloppy Joes side dish and it’s a combination of dip, a side salad, and a bean salsa. The only way to truly describe it, is to make it and try it yourself!
24. Tater Tots
Tater tots are one of the most perfect side for sloppy joes. This air fryer version will give you tater tots that taste just like deep fried, but they are way healthier.
And all this happens in just 15 minutes. Win, win!
25. Mac and Cheese
This mac and cheese is super rich and cheesy. Everyone needs a great mac and cheese recipe in their repertoire, and this is it!
You’re going to love the creamy cheesiness alongside your sloppy joes.
Get the Recipe @ dinneratthezoo
26. Bacon Avocado Potato Salad
The bacon/avocado combo of this potato salad will fill your taste buds with delicious, creamy flavor.
It’s very well dressed and the addition of the eggs and avocados combine to make a burst of salty, crispy, tangy, and crunchy flavors.
Get the Recipe @ lecremedelacrumb
27. Pink Lemonade
If you want something cool and refreshing to pair with your sloppy joe, pink lemonade is a sure win!
There are different additives to give it the color, but this recipe uses cranberry juice to keep it natural.
28. Bloomin’ Onion Garlic Bread
This bloomin’ onion garlic bread is an easy to make side that’s outrageously cheesy and delicious.
Two different types of cheese are baked between the fresh bread, which helps make this bread even more impressive.
29. Onion Rings
These onion rings are easy and only take a few ingredients. They make a great sloppy joe side dish for people who eat onions.
30. Baked Zucchini Fries
Looking for something crispy and crunchy? Try these baked zucchini fries! They’re easy to make and oh-so-good!
So there you go, thirty great sides for sloppy joes. Which one will you try first?
Check out these other great recipe collections!
Sandwich Recipes
Kid Friendly Recipes
Salad Recipes
Pasta Salad Recipes
Lunch Ideas
Finger Food Recipes
30 BEST Sides for Sloppy Joes
This collection of Sides for Sloppy Joes includes all of the classics like pickles and chips, as well as some new great ideas!
Ingredients
- see individual recipe for specific ingredients
Instructions
- pick a recipe that looks delicious.
- cook according to directions to make great side dish for your sloppy joes.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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