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Close-up of a baked Cheesy Tater Tot Sloppy Joe Skillet in a glass dish, featuring golden crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese over a savory ground beef filling.

Cheesy Tater Tot Sloppy Joe Skillet

Hilary PARKER
Get ready for the ultimate comfort food mashup! This Tater Tot Sloppy Joe Skillet combines a zippy, homemade sloppy joe sauce with the golden, crispy crunch of tater tots. It’s a budget-friendly, one-pan wonder that feeds the whole family and practically guarantees empty plates. Best of all? You can whip this up in just 45 minutes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 450 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Sloppy Joe Filling:

  • 1 lb lean ground beef 90% lean recommended
  • 1/2 medium yellow or sweet onion diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper diced
  • 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar packed
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

For the Topping:

  • 1 8-oz package sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided use)
  • 1 30-oz package frozen tater tots (use about 2/3 of the bag)
  • Optional Garnish: Sliced green onions or parsley

Instructions
 

  • Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish (or have your oven-safe skillet ready).
  • Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onion, and bell pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat, until the beef is browned and veggies are tender. Drain excess fat.
  • Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir well and simmer for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and looks glossy.
  • Assemble: Transfer the beef mixture to your baking dish (or smooth it out if using an oven-safe skillet). Sprinkle roughly 1 1/4 cups of the cheddar cheese over the meat layer.
  • Top with Tots: Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the cheese. Top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
  • Bake: Bake for 25 minutes until the tots are golden brown and crispy, and the cheese is bubbly.
  • Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to help the layers set. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Make-Ahead: You can assemble the beef and cheese layers in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add the frozen tots right before baking (you may need to add 5-10 minutes to the cook time if baking from cold).
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to crisp the tots back up.
  • Variations: For a spicy kick, try swapping cheddar for Pepper Jack cheese. You can also stir in frozen corn or peas with the sauce for an extra vegetable boost.

Nutrition

Calories: 450kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 20gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 9gFiber: 3gSugar: 12g
Keyword Easy Tater Tot Skillet Dinner, Kid Friendly Dinner, One Pan Sloppy Joe Skillet, Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole, Tater Tot Sloppy Joe Skillet
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