June 20, 2026 · 10 min

Smoky Ancho BBQ Sloppy Joes with Crispy Potato Rounds

Side Dish10 min1090 cal / serving

Remember the sloppy joes from your school cafeteria? This grown-up version is everything you loved, but so much better. We’ve swapped the gloppy sauce for a rich, smoky ancho BBQ sauce that’s perfectly tangy and sweet. Tender ground beef is simmered in that sauce until thick and irresistible, then piled onto soft potato buns with crunchy dill pickle slices.

On the side, we’ve got crispy oven-roasted potato rounds seasoned with a savory fry seasoning. They’re the perfect companion to soak up any extra sauce. This is comfort food at its finest-messy, satisfying and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Just keep those napkins handy!


Recipe details

Side Dish10 min1090 cal / serving2 servings

Nutrition per serving

Calories1090 kcalProtein47 gFat58.3 gCarbs87.4 gSugar32.6 gFiber5.1 gSodium1910 mg

Dietary labels

Gluten-free: noLactose-free: noDairy-free: no

Allergen check

Gluten / wheat: containsMilk / dairy: containsEgg: containsFish: not detectedShellfish: not detectedPeanut: not detectedTree nuts: not detectedSoy: containsSesame: not detectedMustard: not detectedCelery: not detectedSulphites: not detectedLupin: not detectedMolluscs: not detected

Values are calculated per serving from ingredient amounts and the ingredient nutrition reference per 100g. Allergen and diet labels use available ingredient metadata and name matching; always check product labels for strict diets or allergies. Some ingredient amounts or nutrition values were incomplete, so this is marked as a partial estimate.


Ingredients

Yukon Gold Potatoes12 ounce Yukon Gold PotatoesView ingredient guide
Yellow Onion1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guide
Potato Buns2 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guide
Ketchup2 tablespoon KetchupView ingredient guide
Ground Beef10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guide
Fry Seasoning1 tablespoon Fry SeasoningView ingredient guide
Sliced Dill Pickle1 unit Sliced Dill PickleView ingredient guide
BBQ Sauce4 tablespoon BBQ SauceView ingredient guide
Cornstarch1 tablespoon CornstarchView ingredient guide
SaltSaltView ingredient guide
PepperPepperView ingredient guide
Cooking Oil1 tablespoon Cooking OilView ingredient guide

Instructions

  1. Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450°F. Wash and dry produce. Slice potatoes into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Toss on a baking sheet with a large drizzle of oil, fry seasoning, salt and pepper. Roast on top rack until lightly browned and tender, 18-20 minutes.
  2. While potatoes roast, halve, peel and dice onion. Halve buns. In a small bowl, combine BBQ sauce, ketchup, chili powder, stock concentrate, half the cornstarch and 1 TBSP water. (For 4 servings, use all the cornstarch and 2 TBSP water.) Set aside.
  3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned, 3-5 minutes (it’ll finish cooking in the next step).
  4. Add BBQ sauce mixture to pan with beef. Cook, stirring, until sauce has thickened and beef is cooked through, 2-3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat.
  5. While filling cooks, toast buns until golden brown.
  6. Fill buns with as much beef filling and sliced pickle as you like. Divide sloppy joes between plates. Serve with potatoes and any remaining pickle on the side.

Recipe Tips

For extra crispy potatoes, make sure they are in a single layer on the baking sheet and not overcrowded.

If you prefer a spicier sloppy joe, add a pinch of cayenne or extra ancho chili powder to the sauce.

Toast the buns just before serving to keep them from getting soggy.

FAQ

Can I use a different type of potato?

Yes, you can substitute Yukon Gold with russet or red potatoes. Just adjust the roasting time as needed until tender.

Can I make the sloppy joe filling ahead of time?

Absolutely! The filling can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stove before serving.

What can I use instead of potato buns?

Any soft burger bun or even a hearty roll will work. Brioche buns are also a great option.

DandyRecipes community

Rate and discuss this recipe

Your rating and comments help other DandyRecipes readers decide what to cook next.

Your recipe vote

No DandyRecipes user votes yet.

Recipe comments

0 DandyRecipes comments

No DandyRecipes comments yet.

More recipe ideas

12 similar recipes you might like

These suggestions are based on shared ingredients, meal type, and recipe metadata.