Bold, smoky, sweet, and packed with flavour — this Sloppy Joe Sweet Potato Bowl is a fresh twist on a comfort food classic. Savoury seasoned ground pork is simmered in a tangy sloppy joe-style sauce and paired with roasted sweet potatoes and smoky black beans for the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Finished with crunchy coleslaw, pickled onions, fresh cilantro, and a creamy avocado lime crema, every bite is hearty, colourful, and satisfying. A delicious weeknight meal that brings together wholesome ingredients with bold, comforting flavours.
Sloppy Joe Sweet Potato Bowl with Smoky Black Beans + Avocado Crema
Ingredients
Beans and Sweet Potato
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ lb sweet potato peeled and diced
- 2 cups or 1 can 19oz/540 ml black beans, drained & rinsed
For the Pork
- 1 lbs lean ground pork
- ½ large yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Worcestershire
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Avocado Crema
- 1 avocado
- ¼ cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- Juice of a lime
- Pinch of salt
- Water to thin
To Serve
- 3 cups coleslaw mix
- ¼ cup pickled onions or sliced pickles*
- Chopped fresh cilantro
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425 F. Combine oil, sugar, and spices in a small bowl. Place sweet potato and black beans on a large baking sheet, drizzle with the oil-spice mixture and toss well to coat.
- Spread sweet potatoes and black beans in an even layer. Transfer baking sheet to the oven and roast, stirring occasionally, until sweet potato is tender, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven.
- Meanwhile, preheat a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork, onion, and spices. Stir to combine, then cook, breaking apart the meat with a spoon, until browned and crumbly, 5-6 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and stir to coat the meat, then add water, ketchup, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer, then lower heat and continue to cook, 2-3 minutes, until sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from heat.
- While the pork mixture cooks, blend avocado, Greek yogurt, lime juice and salt in a blender or food processor until smooth. To serve, divide coleslaw mix between bowls, then top with “Sloppy Joe” pork, sweet potatoes, beans, pickled onions or pickles, avocado crema and cilantro. Enjoy!
You can find pickled onions in the pickle and olive section at your local grocery store.
