This Classic, Saucy Sandwich Filling Transforms Mashed Potatoes Into A Hearty Meal

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

There's always enough room on the plate for a side of mashed potatoes, right? Creamy, fluffy, and hard to beat — but why are they often relegated to a side dish? Put those potatoes center stage by making a whole meal using just two additional ingredients: some ground beef and a can of sloppy Joe sauce.

This potato-meets-meat dish is somewhat reminiscent of shepherd's pie, but it's so much simpler. A canned sauce, such as Manwich, costs less than $2 on Amazon. When paired with ground beef — 85% lean is the best for Sloppy Joes – it fully transforms the flavor. (For next-level flavor, use ground chorizo.) 

From there, just add a hearty scoop of mashed potatoes to the center of a plate, spoon the sloppy Joe meat over top, and dinner is served. The starchy potatoes replace the starchy bread, which is what typically encases the sloppy Joe meat — and if you want to build even more flavor, there are plenty of ways to do it.

While so much flavor is in the sauce, you might have a few items in your pantry or refrigerator that will give this even more of a flavor boost. Finely chop some onions, then let them sauté alongside the ground beef. If you have garlic, add that in, too. Season the meat as it cooks. You can use anything from salt and pepper to more robust seasonings like thyme or paprika.

For some balance, mix a few veggies into the meat as well. You'll hardly notice them over the flavorful sauce, but they'll turn this into a meal that will fill you up further. Frozen broccoli, a can of black beans, or a can of peas and carrots can slyly make its way into this meat-forward dish.

Add a little extra butter and cream to the mashed potatoes to get them nice and hearty, or break out the immersion blender for an extra-creamy texture. Another alternative is to use a flavored store-bought container of mashed potatoes, such as garlic-infused one, as the base instead. This meal can be as simple or as complex as you choose, but it's easy to keep it low effort without sacrificing flavor.