Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Skillet Recipe

Introduction

This Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Skillet is a comforting, hearty dish that combines savory beef with crispy tater tots and melty cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it delivers all the classic sloppy joe flavors in a fun, easy-to-make one-pan meal.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lb. lean ground beef
• ½ onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¾ cup ketchup
• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp prepared mustard
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 30 to 40 frozen tater tots
• 1 ½ cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
• 2 tbsp sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.
2. Step 2: In an oven-safe skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, for about 3 minutes. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic, cooking until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Drain excess fat and return the skillet to the stove.
3. Step 3: Stir in the ketchup, water, brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly.
4. Step 4: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the beef mixture. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy.
5. Step 5: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven, sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the tater tots, and return to the oven. Bake an additional 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Garnish with sliced green onions before serving.

Tips & Variations

• For extra flavor, try adding a splash of barbecue sauce to the beef mixture instead of ketchup.
• Use turkey or chicken instead of ground beef for a leaner option.
• Swap Colby Jack cheese with cheddar or Monterey Jack for different cheese flavors.
• Add chopped jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce if you prefer a spicier skillet.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place portions in a microwave-safe dish and heat until warmed through, or reheat in a 350 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes to keep the tater tots crispy.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use a regular skillet instead of an oven-safe one?

It’s best to use an oven-safe skillet so you can transfer the dish directly to the oven without extra steps. If you don’t have one, you can cook the beef mixture in a regular skillet, then transfer to a baking dish before topping with tater tots and baking.

What can I serve with Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Skillet?

This dish is quite filling on its own, but you can serve it with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables to balance the richness.

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Skillet Recipe

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This Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Skillet is a delicious one-pan meal combining savory ground beef cooked with a flavorful sloppy joe sauce, topped with crispy baked tater tots and melted colby jack cheese. Perfect for a comforting family dinner that’s quick to prepare and satisfies both kids and adults alike.

• Author: mia
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Beef Mixture

• 1 ½ lb. lean ground beef
• ½ onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¾ cups ketchup
• ½ cup water
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp prepared mustard
• pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Topping

• 30 to 40 frozen tater tots
• 1 ½ cups colby jack cheese, shredded
• 2 tbsp green onions, sliced

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s ready to crisp up the tater tots.
2. Cook the Ground Beef and Vegetables: In an oven-safe skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef for about 3 minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and minced garlic, cooking until the beef is no longer pink and the vegetables are tender. Drain any excess fat from the skillet.
3. Make the Sloppy Joe Sauce: Return the skillet to medium-low heat and stir in ketchup, water, brown sugar, chili powder, prepared mustard, red pepper flakes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix well and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, coating the beef mixture.
4. Add the Tater Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer evenly over the beef mixture in the skillet.
5. Bake the Skillet: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the tater tots are browned and crispy on top.
6. Add Cheese and Finish Baking: Carefully remove the skillet from the oven, sprinkle the shredded colby jack cheese evenly over the tater tots, then return the skillet to the oven. Bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
7. Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven, garnish with sliced green onions, and serve immediately. Enjoy your hearty and flavorful meal!

Notes

• You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
• For extra spice, increase the amount of red pepper flakes.
• Use your favorite cheese if you prefer something other than colby jack; cheddar works great too.
• Make sure to use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring food to another dish for baking.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated, but the tater tots may lose some crispiness.

Keywords: Sloppy Joe, Tater Tot Skillet, Ground Beef, One-Pan Meal, Comfort Food, Easy Dinner