Smoky Ancho BBQ Sloppy Joes with Roasted Green Beans and Potato Wedges

Remember the sloppy joes from your school cafeteria? This version is a delicious upgrade-same messy, satisfying fun, but with bold, smoky flavor. We’re talking a rich ancho chili and BBQ sauce, tangy pickle slices and a side of perfectly roasted green beans and crispy potato wedges. It’s comfort food that’s grown up, but still best eaten with plenty of napkins.

These sloppy joes come together quickly, making them perfect for a weeknight dinner that feels special. The homemade sauce is thickened with a touch of cornstarch and the ancho chili powder adds a warm, smoky depth. Serve them on soft potato buns with all the fixings and watch everyone come back for seconds.

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Ingredients

1 unit Sliced Dill PickleView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon BBQ SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 tablespoon CornstarchView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Fry SeasoningView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

ounce PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

8 ounce Green BeansView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Ancho Chili PowderView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Beef Stock ConcentrateView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit KetchupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon (tbsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

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. Trim green beans if necessary. On a separate baking sheet, toss green beans with a drizzle of oil, salt and pepper. Roast until tender and browned, 10-12 minutes.
3. While potatoes roast, halve, peel and dice onion. Halve buns. In a small bowl, combine BBQ sauce, ketchup, ancho chili powder, beef stock concentrate, half the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water. Set aside.
4. Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until softened, 4-5 minutes. Add ground beef; season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until browned, 3-5 minutes (it will finish cooking in the next step).
5. 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.
6. While filling cooks, toast buns until golden brown. Fill buns with as much beef filling and sliced pickle as you like. Divide sloppy joes between plates. Serve with roasted potatoes and green beans and any remaining pickle on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of ground meat?

Yes, ground turkey or chicken work well in this recipe. Just adjust cooking time as needed.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Absolutely! Prepare the sauce mixture and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to cook, proceed with the recipe.

What can I substitute for ancho chili powder?

You can use regular chili powder or a mix of paprika and a pinch of cayenne for a similar smoky heat.