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Sloppy Joe Potato Skillet

Sloppy joe potato skillet with crispy pan-fried potato cubes topped with tangy-sweet sloppy joe beef sauce and melted cheddar. One pan dinner that delivers all the sloppy joe flavor without buns, with pickles and onion on top.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620

Ingredients
  

ground beef
  • 1.5 lb ground beef
onion
  • 1 onion diced (plus extra for serving if desired)
green bell pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
garlic
  • 3 clove garlic minced
ketchup
  • 0.333 cup ketchup
yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper
  • 0.25 tsp salt and pepper to taste
russet potatoes
  • 4 medium russet potatoes diced and pan-fried
cheddar cheese
  • 1.5 cup shredded cheddar cheese
dill pickles
  • 0.5 cup dill pickles for serving
diced white onion for serving
  • 0.5 diced white onion for serving

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Pan-fry the potatoes
  1. Heat the cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and pan-fry the diced russet potatoes in oil for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden and crispy. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then set the potatoes aside.
Cook the sloppy joe beef
  1. In the same skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onion and diced green bell pepper over medium-high heat, stirring until the beef is cooked through. Drain excess fat, then add the minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
  2. Stir in the ketchup, yellow mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar, then simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Keep the heat steady so the mixture reduces and coats the meat.
Combine and melt cheddar
  1. Return the crispy potatoes to the skillet and toss until the potatoes are coated with the sloppy joe meat sauce. Spread everything into an even layer for better melting.
  2. Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top, cover the skillet, and heat for 2 minutes until the cheddar is melted and bubbly. Turn off the heat and let it rest briefly so the sauce clings to the potatoes.
Serve
  1. Serve hot with dill pickles and diced white onion on top. Add a few extra pickles if you like the tangy-sweet flavor to pop.

Notes

Pro tip: don’t overcrowd the skillet when pan-frying the potatoes—work in batches if needed to keep them crisp. Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium heat until hot and the potatoes regain some texture. Freezing isn’t recommended because the potatoes can soften noticeably. For a lighter option, use lean ground beef (or ground turkey) so the sauce stays rich with less fat.