Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Craving a hearty, comforting meal? Try this crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet! After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting that perfect crispy edge. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Smothered Chicken and Beef Stir Fry with Vegetables (30-Minutes).
Why This Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy edges and melted cheese on top
- Hearty, comforting flavors in every bite
- Ready in just 30 minutes for a quick weeknight dinner
- Better than takeout and perfect for meal prepping
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.
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can Manwich Original Sloppy Joe sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: Green onions, sliced
- Optional: Diced tomatoes
- Optional: Sour cream
📝 Ingredient Notes
- ground beef: You can substitute ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
- potatoes: I recommend using a waxy potato like Yukon Gold for this recipe.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Gives the perfect crispy edge and is great for high heat cooking. → See on Amazon
- Meat thermometer — Ensures your ground beef is cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add potatoes and onions: Add diced potatoes and onions to the skillet. Cook until potatoes are tender and onions are translucent.
- Add seasonings: Stir in salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Add Manwich sauce: Pour the Manwich sauce over the beef and potato mixture. Stir to combine.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the skillet. Let it melt for a few minutes.
- Serve: Serve hot, topped 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. Cook the beef in batches if needed to prevent steaming.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy edges, let the skillet cook undisturbed for a few minutes after adding the cheese.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe gluten-free, use a gluten-free Manwich sauce.
- Pro tip: For a spicy version, add a diced jalapeño when cooking the onions and potatoes.
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 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can brown the beef and cook the potatoes and onions ahead of time. Store separately in the fridge and combine when ready to serve.
Freezing Crispy 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 15-20 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Add a little water to the skillet to prevent drying out.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with crumbled tempeh or a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Best substitution: If you don't have Manwich sauce, you can make your own sloppy joe sauce using ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and vinegar.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your potatoes are not tender, you can cover the skillet and let them steam for a few minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant-read thermometer — Ensures your ground beef is cooked to a safe temperature, preventing foodborne illnesses. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 medium potatoes, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can Manwich Original Sloppy Joe sauce
Seasonings
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Optional Toppings
- Green onions, sliced
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
Instructions
- Brown the beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add potatoes and onions: Add diced potatoes and onions to the skillet. Cook until potatoes are tender and onions are translucent.
- Add seasonings: Stir in salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Add Manwich sauce: Pour the Manwich sauce over the beef and potato mixture. Stir to combine.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the skillet. Let it melt for a few minutes.
- Serve: Serve hot, topped with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with crumbled tempeh or a plant-based ground meat alternative.
- Best substitution: If you don't have Manwich sauce, you can make your own sloppy joe sauce using ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, and vinegar.
- Make-ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your potatoes are not tender, you can cover the skillet and let them steam for a few minutes.
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 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Add a little water to the skillet to prevent drying out.
- Make ahead: You can brown the beef and cook the potatoes and onions ahead of time. Store separately in the fridge and combine when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 550
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 28g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet – Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, you can make this recipe ahead of time and reheat in the oven or microwave. See storage notes for details.
This could be due to overcooking or not using enough sauce. Be sure to monitor your cooking time and use enough sauce to keep the potatoes moist.
While you can cook the potatoes in the air fryer, the sloppy joe mixture is best cooked on the stove top. Combine the two in a skillet for the best results.
Yes, you can use frozen potatoes for this recipe. Cook them according to package instructions before adding to the skillet.
The best way to reheat this dish is in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 15-20 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave, but be careful not to overheat.
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!
