Description
A cozy one-pan skillet dinner combining saucy ground beef sloppy joe mix, golden crispy tater tots and melted cheddar cheese — easy enough for a weeknight and fun enough for the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (≈ 450 g) ground beef (80% lean recommended)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked paprika if available)
- 1–2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 (8 oz / ~225 ml) can tomato sauce
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp BBQ sauce
- 1 tbsp mustard (classic yellow)
- 1 bag (about 32 oz / ~900 g) frozen tater tots
- 1 cup (≈ 115 g) shredded cheddar cheese (or more, to taste)
- Optional: fresh or dried parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil and add the chopped onion. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes until the onion begins to soften.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat into crumbles, until browned and the onion is golden. Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- Sprinkle in the garlic, salt, black pepper, onion powder and paprika. Stir and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce and mustard. Reduce heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes so the sauce thickens and the flavors meld.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in the skillet. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer over the top of the beef.
- Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the tater tots.
- Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, until the tater tots are golden brown and crispy and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve hot straight from the skillet.
Notes
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, after cooking the beef mixture you can transfer it to a greased baking dish, layer the tots and cheese, then bake as directed.
- Feel free to adjust the cheese quantity or swap in leaner ground meat for a lighter version.
- Use smoked paprika or a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a smoky or spicy twist.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner / Skillet Meal
- Method: Oven-bake with stovetop prep
- Cuisine: American comfort food
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: ≈ 450 kcal
- Sugar: Estimated ~6 g
- Sodium: Estimated ~700 mg
- Fat: Estimated ~22 g
- Saturated Fat: Estimated ~10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Estimated ~12 g
- Trans Fat: Estimated ~0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: Estimated ~30 g
- Fiber: Estimated ~2 g
- Protein: Estimated ~23 g
- Cholesterol: Estimated ~70 mg