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