Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – The best of both worlds in one pan! After making this many times, I discovered the trick to getting the potatoes perfectly crispy is to cook them separately first. This hearty, comforting meal is ready in just 30 minutes and is better than takeout. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates with Walnuts and Mint and Mini Pancake Kebabs.
Why This Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Easy to make with simple ingredients
- Crispy potatoes and juicy sloppy joe mixture
- Comforting and hearty, perfect for busy weeknights
- Better than takeout and customizable with your favorite toppings
What You'll Need for Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- ground beef
- potatoes
- onion
- bell pepper
- tomato sauce
- BBQ sauce
- chili powder
- cumin
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- Optional: shredded cheese
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sour cream
- Optional: avocado
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for perfectly crispy potatoes and sloppy joe mixture. → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensures ground beef is cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes and cook in a large skillet until crispy and golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, cook ground beef with onions and bell peppers until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Add tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and seasonings to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- Step 4: Return crispy potatoes to the skillet and gently stir to combine with the sloppy joe mixture.
- Step 5: Top with shredded cheese and cook until melted and bubbly. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the skillet when cooking the potatoes. Cook them in batches if necessary to ensure they become crispy.
- Pro tip: For a spicier version, add diced jalapeños to the skillet with the onions and bell peppers.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe gluten-free, ensure your BBQ sauce is gluten-free.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
Freezing Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with crumbled tofu or tempeh.
- Best substitution: No substitutions for the potatoes, as they provide the perfect crispy texture.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the potatoes are not crispy, try cooking them separately in a separate skillet until golden brown and crispy before adding them to the sloppy joe mixture.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality BBQ sauce — Enhances the flavor of the sloppy joe mixture and ensures a delicious, tangy taste. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- ground beef
- potatoes
- onion
- bell pepper
- tomato sauce
- BBQ sauce
Seasonings
- chili powder
- cumin
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
Optional Toppings
- shredded cheese
- green onions
- sour cream
- avocado
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes and cook in a large skillet until crispy and golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, cook ground beef with onions and bell peppers until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Add tomato sauce, BBQ sauce, and seasonings to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- Step 4: Return crispy potatoes to the skillet and gently stir to combine with the sloppy joe mixture.
- Step 5: Top with shredded cheese and cook until melted and bubbly. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with crumbled tofu or tempeh.
- Best substitution: No substitutions for the potatoes, as they provide the perfect crispy texture.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the potatoes are not crispy, try cooking them separately in a separate skillet until golden brown and crispy before adding them to the sloppy joe mixture.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 28g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 48g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 80mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, this recipe can be made ahead and reheated for a quick and easy meal. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze individual portions for up to 2 months.
If the potatoes are not crispy, try cooking them separately in a separate skillet until golden brown and crispy before adding them to the sloppy joe mixture. Don't overcrowd the skillet when cooking the potatoes and cook them in batches if necessary.
Yes, you can make this recipe in the oven. Cook the potatoes and sloppy joe mixture separately in a large oven-safe skillet until heated through. Then, combine the two and top with shredded cheese. Broil in the oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with crumbled tofu or tempeh.
Yes, to make this recipe gluten-free, ensure your BBQ sauce is gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
