Classic Sloppy Joes with Shoestring Fries

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-25 · Updated 2026-05-25

Ground beef simmered in a tangy tomato sauce, served on soft hamburger buns with a side of crispy shoestring fries — a messy, kid-friendly dinner classic. This American-inspired kid-friendly recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs lean ground beef, yellow onion, green bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 medium, finely chopped yellow onion
• 1/2 cup, diced green bell pepper
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 4 hamburger buns
• 16 oz frozen shoestring fries
• 2 tbsp olive oil

The sheet pan we’d roast this on → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Spread 16 oz frozen shoestring fries on a baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil, and toss to coat. Bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crispy.
2. Step 2: While fries bake, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb lean ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, for 5 minutes until browned.
3. Step 3: Add 1 medium finely chopped yellow onion and 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper to the skillet. Cook for another 4 minutes until vegetables soften.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3/4 cup ketchup, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the beef.
5. Step 5: Toast 4 hamburger buns in the oven for 3 minutes during the last few minutes of fries baking.
6. Step 6: Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the bottom halves of the buns, cover with the top halves, and serve immediately with the shoestring fries.