Easy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout

Craving a hearty, comforting meal? Try this Easy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet! After making this many times, I’ve perfected the balance of tender potatoes and juicy ground beef in a rich, tangy sauce. The trick I discovered is using a mix of fresh and canned tomatoes for the best flavor. This Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet is so cozy and better than takeout. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy BBQ Chicken Flatbread Recipe and Easy Cinnamon Roll Casserole recipe (7 ingredients!).

What You'll Need for Easy 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.

• 2 lbs potatoes, diced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sour cream
• Optional: Shredded cheese, for serving

How to Make Easy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced potatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and golden, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Step 2: Push potatoes to one side of the skillet. Add ground beef to the other side. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
3. Step 3: Stir in diced onion, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and paprika. Cook until onions are translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Step 4: Stir in diced tomatoes (with juice), tomato sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and let cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Step 5: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with green onions and sour cream if desired.

Storing & Reheating Easy 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 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the potatoes and ground beef mixture up to a day ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to combine and cook.

Freezing Easy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout

Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, try adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to the Sloppy Joe sauce.
• Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute white vinegar or lemon juice.
• Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated, but the potatoes may lose some of their crispiness.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or beef broth. If it's too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to reduce.

Easy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout

⏱

Prep

20 mins

🍳

Cook

30 mins

⏳

Total

50 mins

🍽

Serves

4-6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 lbs potatoes, diced
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

Seasonings

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sour cream
• Shredded cheese, for serving

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced potatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender and golden, about 15-20 minutes.
2. Step 2: Push potatoes to one side of the skillet. Add ground beef to the other side. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
3. Step 3: Stir in diced onion, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and paprika. Cook until onions are translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
4. Step 4: Stir in diced tomatoes (with juice), tomato sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and let cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Step 5: Stir in shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with green onions and sour cream if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, try adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to the Sloppy Joe sauce.
• Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute white vinegar or lemon juice.
• Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead and reheated, but the potatoes may lose some of their crispiness.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If your sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or beef broth. If it's too thin, let it simmer uncovered for a few more minutes to reduce.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Stir halfway through.
• Make ahead: You can prepare the potatoes and ground beef mixture up to a day ahead. Store separately in the fridge until ready to combine and cook.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 25g
• Fat: 20g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 750mg
• Cholesterol: 80mg
• Sat. Fat: 10g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy 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!