Baked Potato Halves + Sloppy Joe Potatoes

This was a weeknight dinner at our house: potato halves baked cut-side down, then topped with homemade sloppy joe, cheddar, and pickles.

It’s a baked potato that leans toward a cheeseburger. Our family loved it. The potatoes bake at 425°F for 35 to 45 minutes, and the whole dish takes about 60 to 70 minutes and serves 4 to 5.

Baked potato halves

Prep takes about 5 minutes, then the potatoes bake for 35 to 45 minutes.

Ingredients

• 4 medium russet potatoes
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan (optional)

How to make them

1. Heat the oven to 425°F. Use a metal baking sheet or a 9×13 metal pan.
2. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, leaving the skins on, so you have two even halves.

3. Stir the melted butter, olive oil, garlic powder, kosher salt, paprika, and black pepper right in the pan and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the top if you’re using it.

4. Set the potatoes in cut-side down and press them in gently.
5. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, without flipping, until the bottoms are a deep gold and a fork slides through easily.

6. Let them rest for 5 minutes, then lift them out with a spatula.

Tips

• Don’t line the pan with parchment. The cut sides need to sit right on the metal to get a good crust.
• Leave the potatoes cut-side down the whole time. Don’t flip them while they bake.

Sloppy joe potatoes

Spoon the homemade sloppy joe over the baked halves and finish with the toppings.

Sloppy joe filling

• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced (optional)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/3 cup water
• Salt and pepper

Toppings

• 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
• 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
• Thinly sliced green onions (optional)
• Sour cream or burger sauce (optional)

How to make the filling and serve

1. Brown the ground beef with the onion and pepper. Add the garlic.
2. Stir in the ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, mustard, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, water, and salt and pepper. Let it simmer until the sauce is thick.
3. Spoon the sloppy joe over the baked potato halves. Add the cheddar, pickles, and any of the optional toppings you like.