This Cheesy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet is the ultimate family-friendly comfort meal that combines two dinner favorites into one pan. Crispy, air-fried potatoes are tossed with a sweet and savory homemade Sloppy Joe meat sauce, then topped with a generous layer of melted cheddar cheese.
With a hearty beef filling and golden, seasoned potato chunks, this dish is a satisfying twist on the classic sandwich that requires no buns.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: A nostalgic mix of sweet, tangy tomato-based meat sauce seasoned with BBQ and mustard, paired with savory garlic-paprika roasted potatoes.
- Texture: The air fryer ensures the potatoes stay crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, holding up perfectly against the saucy ground beef and gooey cheese.
- Time: 15 minutes prep, 20 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It involves air frying potatoes while simultaneously making a quick skillet sauce.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need an air fryer to get the potatoes perfectly crisp. You will also need a large skillet to brown the beef and simmer the sauce. Important: Ensure your skillet is oven-safe for the final broiling step. The ingredients rely on fresh potatoes, ground beef, and a collection of pantry condiments to create the signature Sloppy Joe flavor.
Ingredient Notes
- Potatoes – You need 5 small/medium sized potatoes. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes work best here. Cubing them ensures they cook quickly and get crispy edges.
- Ground Beef – Lean ground beef (1 lb) provides the hearty base.
- Onion & Garlic – Chopped onion and minced garlic build the aromatic foundation of the sauce.
- Sauce Base – A combination of tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and BBQ sauce creates that classic, tangy, sweet-savory Sloppy Joe taste without using a can of pre-made sauce.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Adds a deep umami punch that balances the sweetness of the ketchup and BBQ sauce.
- Spices – You will season the potatoes and the meat separately with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper for maximum flavor.
- Cheddar Cheese – Shredded cheddar melts beautifully under the broiler to tie the potatoes and meat together.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Vegetables – Diced green bell peppers are a classic addition to Sloppy Joes and can be sautéed right along with the onions.
- Spice – If you like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture.
- Sweet Potatoes – You can swap the white potatoes for sweet potatoes for a different flavor profile; just keep an eye on them in the air fryer as they can caramelize faster.
How to Make Cheesy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet
- Prep Potatoes: Peel, wash, and cut the potatoes into bite-sized cubes.
- Season Potatoes: Toss the potato cubes with the olive oil and a sprinkle of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. (I don’t use exact measurements for this part just coat them well).
- Air Fry: Cook the potatoes in the air fryer at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, shaking the basket around at least a couple of times while they cook to ensure even browning.
- Brown Beef: Once the potatoes are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef and chopped onion. Add the salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika to the meat.
- Make the Sauce: Add the minced garlic, Worcestershire, tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and bbq sauce to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer: Let the meat mixture simmer on low heat until the potatoes are ready. This allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Combine: Add the crispy air-fried potatoes to the skillet with the sloppy Joe mix and stir gently to combine.
- Melt Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top. Put the skillet in the oven under the broil setting just long enough to melt the cheese.
- Serve: Enjoy hot!
Pro Tip: Make sure your skillet is oven-safe before putting it under the broiler! If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the mixture to a baking dish before adding the cheese, or simply cover the skillet with a lid on the stovetop to melt the cheese.
Recipe Tips
- Uniform Cubes: Cut your potatoes into similar-sized cubes so they air fry evenly. If some are large and some are small, the small ones will burn before the large ones are tender.
- Shake the Basket: Don’t forget to shake the air fryer basket halfway through. This prevents the potatoes from sticking together and ensures every side gets crispy.
- Drain Grease: If using a higher fat ground beef, drain the excess grease before adding the tomato sauce and condiments to keep the dish from being oily.
FAQs
- Can I make this without an air fryer? Yes. You can roast the seasoned potatoes in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 30-40 minutes until crispy, then proceed with the recipe.
- Can I use ground turkey? Absolutely. Ground turkey is a great lean substitute for beef in this recipe.
- How do I store leftovers? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Serving Suggestions
- Green Veggie: A side of steamed green beans or roasted broccoli adds a nice fresh contrast to the heavy skillet.
- Pickles: Serve with dill pickle slices on the side for that authentic burger-shop vibe.
- Corn: Sweet corn is a classic pairing with Sloppy Joes.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can peel and cube the potatoes ahead of time; store them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge to prevent browning (drain and dry well before air frying).
- Sauce Base: The meat sauce can be made a day in advance and reheated while the potatoes cook.
Cheesy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 Servings 1x
Description
This Cheesy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet is the ultimate family-friendly comfort meal that combines two dinner favorites into one pan. Crispy, air-fried potatoes are tossed with a sweet and savory homemade Sloppy Joe meat sauce, then topped with a generous layer of melted Cheddar cheese. With a hearty beef filling and golden, seasoned potato chunks, this dish is a satisfying twist on the classic sandwich that requires no buns.
Ingredients
The Crispy Potatoes
- 5 small/medium potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold), peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika (measure to taste)
The Sloppy Joe Meat Sauce
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- 1–2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon mustard (yellow or Dijon)
The Topping
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
Prep Potatoes
Peel, wash, and cut the potatoes into uniform bite-sized cubes.
Season
Toss the cubes in a bowl with the olive oil and a generous sprinkle of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
Air Fry
Cook the potatoes in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for about 20 minutes. Tip: Shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crispiness.
Brown Beef
While potatoes cook, heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef and chopped onion.
Season
Add the 1/2 tsp salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika to the meat. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Make Sauce
Add the minced garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, and BBQ sauce to the skillet.
Simmer
Stir well and let simmer on low heat until the potatoes are finished. This allows the sauce to thicken.
Combine
Add the crispy air-fried potatoes into the skillet with the Sloppy Joe mixture. Stir gently to coat the potatoes in the sauce.
Melt Cheese
Sprinkle the shredded Cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
Broil
Place the skillet in the oven under the broil setting for just a few minutes, watching closely until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve
Remove carefully (handle will be hot!) and serve immediately.
Notes
No Air Fryer? You can roast the seasoned potato cubes in the oven at 400°F for 30–40 minutes until crispy, then proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Skillet Safety: Ensure your skillet is oven-safe before placing it under the broiler. If not, transfer the mixture to a baking dish before adding the cheese, or simply cover the skillet with a lid on the stove to melt the cheese.
Potato Prep: Cut the potatoes into uniform sizes. If some are large and some are small, the small ones will burn before the large ones are tender.
Vegetable Add-in: For extra nutrition and crunch, sauté a diced green bell pepper along with the onion in step 3.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Skillet
- Method: Air Fryer & Stovetop
- Cuisine: American Comfort
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/5 of Skillet
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: sloppy joe skillet, air fryer potatoes, ground beef recipes, one pan dinner, kid friendly meals, cheesy potato skillet, homemade sloppy joes
