Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes
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Growing up, these Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes were a weeknight favorite in our house, and honestly, they still are! Now that I’m a busy working mom myself, I completely understand why my mom loved making them. They’re incredibly easy, use simple pantry staples, and when you’re really in a pinch, you can even cook the potatoes in the microwave instead of waiting on the oven.
I like to bulk up the sloppy joe filling with thinly sliced zucchini and plenty of crunchy tri-color coleslaw. Zucchini mixed with BBQ sauce might sound a little unexpected, but trust me, it works! It adds a little extra veggie goodness without taking away from the sweet, smoky, saucy sloppy joe flavor.
We almost always have Russet potatoes on hand because they’re so versatile and comforting. We love them in our Instant Pot Baked Potato Soup, Crispy Potato Pancake, Copycat Panera Rustic Baked Potato Soup, and these Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, and they’re just as delicious loaded up with this sloppy joe mixture.
Table Talk with Tawnie
My mom made this recipe for us growing up and now it’s one of those recipes I’m making for my family – my kids love it, and my meat and potato loving husband thoroughly enjoys it, too! It’s an easy, cozy, weeknight dinner – I make it with ground turkey or ground beef and it’s always a success!
- Russet potatoes: Medium to large Russet potatoes are perfect for baking. Their high starch and low moisture content give you that fluffy, tender center and crisp skin we love! Just keep in mind that cooking time will vary depending on the size of the potato.
- Onion: Yellow or white onion both work well here and add a little extra savory flavor to the sloppy joe mixture.
- Spices: Garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper keep the seasoning simple but flavorful. Feel free to add any of your favorite spices or seasonings, too!
- Ketchup + BBQ sauce: We love the combination of ketchup and BBQ sauce for a sweet, tangy, smoky flavor. Some sloppy joe recipes use brown sugar, mustard, or sweet chili sauce, but this combo is our favorite. Use your favorite brands!
- Zucchini: Adding finely grated zucchini is a great way to sneak in extra veggies, and I promise no one will even notice😉
- Tri-color coleslaw: This might be my favorite addition! The crunchy coleslaw adds a fun texture and makes the sloppy joe filling feel a little more substantial and extra delicious.
- Ground turkey: We use lean ground turkey for a lighter option, but ground beef works just as well if you prefer.
Step by Step Directions
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Cook the potatoes
Scrub and dry the potatoes, then pierce each several times with a fork. Rub with olive oil and a generous amount of kosher salt, and bake for 45-60 minutes or until fork-tender.
Cook the turkey
In a large skillet, add the onion and cook until softened. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned and cooked through.
Add the veggies and sauce
Stir in the grated zucchini, coleslaw, and seasonings. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Then add the ketchup, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until the mixture thickens. Feel free to add more ketchup or bbq sauce to make the mixture saucier.
Assemble
Slice the baked potatoes and add the sloppy joe mixture. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and return to the oven for a few minutes, until the cheese is nice and melted.
Enjoy!
Top with sliced green onions and sour cream and enjoy!!
Expert Tips
- Choose evenly sized potatoes: Try to pick Russet potatoes that are similar in size so they cook at the same rate. Medium to large potatoes work best.
- Don’t skip the potato prep: Pricking the potatoes a few times with a fork allows steam to escape as they bake.
- Let the filling simmer: Once the sloppy joe mixture comes together, let it simmer for a few minutes so the flavors have time to meld and the sauce thickens enough to really cling to the meat.
- Build your potatoes while they’re hot: Slice the baked potatoes open and fluff the insides with a fork before piling on the sloppy joe mixture. The fluffy potato soaks up all that delicious sauce!
- Make it meal prep-friendly: Prepare the baked potatoes and sloppy joe mixture ahead of time for an easy, flavorful lunch or dinner throughout the week.
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Variations / Substitutions
- Balance the sweetness: If you find the sauce a little too sweet, stir in a touch of Dijon mustard for a little tang and extra depth of flavor.
- Switch up the protein: Ground beef or ground chicken can easily be used in place of the ground turkey.
- Add more veggies: Toss in your favorite vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, bell peppers, or mushrooms for an extra boost of veggies.
- Make it spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes, a dash of hot sauce, or your favorite spicy BBQ sauce to give the sloppy joe mixture some heat.
Storage / Freezing
- Store sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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Sloppy Joe Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4 medium russet potatoes
- 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil (divided)
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef
- 1 small zucchini (grated or julienned (optional))
- 2 cups tri color coleslaw mix
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup BBQ sauce or sweet chili sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Sliced green onions
- Other optional toppings: sour cream, creme fraiche, or chives
Last step! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Cook the potatoes: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Scrub and dry the potatoes, then pierce each several times with a fork. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place the potatoes on the baking sheet, rub with olive oil and a generous amount of kosher salt. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until fork-tender Start Timer. (The time varies based on the size of potatoes).4 medium russet potatoes, 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil
- Cook the turkey: Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp. olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for ~3 minutes Start Timer, until softened. Add the ground turkey and cook for 5-7 minutes Start Timer, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.1 small yellow onion, 1 lb. ground turkey or ground beef
- Add the veggies and seasonings: Stir in the grated zucchini, tri color coleslaw, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes Start Timer, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini and slaw softens a bit.1 small zucchini, 2 cups tri color coleslaw mix, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, Salt and pepper
- Make it saucy: Stir in the ketchup, BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 5-8 minutes Start Timer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens. Feel free to add more ketchup or bbq sauce to make the mixture saucier.3/4 cup ketchup, 1/3 cup BBQ sauce or sweet chili sauce, 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp. yellow mustard
- Assemble: Slice the baked potatoes lengthwise and fluff the insides with a fork. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture over each potato and sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes Start Timer, if desired, to melt the cheese.1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Serve: Top with sliced green onions and sour cream and serve warm.Sliced green onions, Other optional toppings: sour cream, creme fraiche, or chives
Notes
- Store sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Make baked potatoes in advance to speed up the cook time when you’re ready to eat!
- Add different veggies (chopped broccoli, spinach, etc.)
- This recipe was updated in October 2026 with new photos.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is automatically calculated. It should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Kroll’s Korner can’t make any guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
📸 Photography by Lorena Masso
The sloppy Joe
Mix was delicious and healthy. We would have liked buns better but probably just needed to salt and pepper the inside of the potatoes for more flavor. It’s a great week night meal and makes good use of your left over Cole slaw mix!
Another delicious meal from Krolls Korner! My husband said, “How does she do it?!” ◡̈ This was delicious & the perfect comfort food after a long week.
Well this made me smile so much 🥹 So glad you both loved it! It’s a family fave in our house too 🥰
This was east and yummy! Perfect for an easy weeknight meal. Both my husband and I loved it.
Aw I am so glad!! Such a good go to. Thank you so much!
I’ve made this recipe so many times over the past two years! It’s my go-to when I want some comfort food. I always add in extra grated veggies to bulk up the sloppy joe mixture and make it last longer throughout the week. Yum!
Hi Claire! Thanks so much for popping in to leave a comment. So glad you love this recipe. It’s what a basically grew up on in my house, such a great weeknight meal! Love that you bulk it up with more veg too, great idea!! xo, Tawnie
I was so anxious to try this sloppy potatoes,I couldn’t wait for the weekend, it was awesome, topped it with some cheddar cheese, thanks tawnie????✌????????,Robert from Clovis
Thank you!
This looks so delicious! I am definitely making this one!
Thank you so much Erin!
Great photos! I just love the styling!
Thank you Amy!!
Love this idea — I “stuff” spaghetti squash so much, I forget about the potato! 🙂
I need to get back on my spaghetti squash game! Thank you!
This is such a fun and creative meal! I am currently loving stuffed potato anything. These look perfect for a barbecue 🙂
Yes, agreed! Thank you so much!
Love this spin on sloppy joes! I have a special place in my heart for potatoes lol.
Thanks so much Rebecca! haha they are certainly a staple food in my house!! <3