This Sloppy Joe Casserole features tender pasta smothered in a rich, tangy, beefy tomato sauce and gooey melted cheese. It’s ultra-comforting and budget-friendly, making it the perfect family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Craving more? Try my easy Homemade Sloppy Joes or this meat-free Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe that uses lentils instead of ground beef.
About This Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
This Sloppy Joe casserole is a fun and flavorful remix of classic Sloppy Joes. It combines the sandwich’s sweet, tangy, and savory flavors—minus the mess (or the bun)! It’s super easy to make, filled with simple, budget-friendly ingredients, and can even be made days ahead! Although it isn’t technically considered a one-pot recipe (since the pasta is cooked separately), it feels like it should be. The whole thing is ready in under an hour and will satisfy even the pickiest eaters, guaranteed!
- Yield: This recipe will satisfy 4-6 as a main course.
- Difficulty: Easy!
- Freezer-Friendly: Yes, for up to 3 months! For best results, freeze the homemade beefy tomato sauce before adding the cooked pasta or shredded cheese.
Table of Contents
Top Tips
- Use an Oven-Safe Skillet—Cook the beef mixture in an oven-proof skillet so you can skip transferring it to a baking dish. Just mix in the pasta, top with cheese, and bake in the same pan. This 5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Skillet is one of my favorites.
- Cook the Pasta to Al Dente—Since the pasta will continue to cook in the sauce, cook it for 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Make It Ahead—Assemble the casserole up to two days in advance, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add five extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen leftovers overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and complete instructions with step-by-step images.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Make the Sloppy Joe sauce by whisking together ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, mustard, and seasonings in a bowl.
- Cook the beef and onion in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat until browned (about 8 minutes), then drain excess grease. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce by stirring it into the beef mixture and letting it cook for 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed. Mix in the pasta, stirring to coat it in the sauce.
- Assemble the casserole by transferring the mixture to a greased baking dish (or leave it in the oven-safe skillet) and top with shredded cheese.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with parsley if desired, then serve.
Substitutions and Variations
- Spicy: Add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for some heat.
- BBQ: Swap half the ketchup for BBQ sauce for a smoky, sweet twist.
- Tex-Mex: Stir in black beans, corn, and taco seasoning, and top with Monterey Jack cheese. Serve with sour cream and jalapeños.
- Extra Cheese: Use a mix of cheddar, mozzarella, and pepper jack for extra cheesiness.
- More Veggies: Add diced bell peppers, celery, kale, mushrooms, or shredded carrots to the beef mixture for extra nutrition.
- Beef Swap: Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef.
Have any questions? Drop me a message in the comment section below! I’m happy to help. And, if you enjoy this recipe, please rate it with some STAR LOVIN’ so other readers know to try it too! Tag me at #theforkedspoon. I’ll be sure to share! Thank you!
RECIPE CARD
Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
Author
This Sloppy Joe Casserole features tender pasta smothered in a rich, tangy, beefy tomato sauce and gooey melted cheese. It's ultra-comforting and budget-friendly, making it the perfect family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar - packed
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon yellow mustard - or dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 10 ounces small pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion - diced
- 3 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 cups cheddar cheese - shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Prepare the Sloppy Joe Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Mix well and set aside.
- Cook the beef and onions: In a large oven-safe skillet, cook the ground beef and onion over medium heat until the meat is browned and the onion is soft, about 8 minutes. Drain off the excess grease.
- Add the garlic: Stir in 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour the prepared Sloppy Joe sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef and onions. Stir well and let the mixture simmer on low for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to blend. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed.
- Add the cooked pasta: Add the cooked pasta shells to the skillet and stir to coat the pasta in the sauce.
- Assemble: Transfer the pasta and meat mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish (transferring to a different dish is unnecessary if you're already using an oven-safe skillet). Sprinkle with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake and serve: Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired.
Jessica’s Notes
Ingredient Substitutions & Additions:
- Ground beef: Substitute for ground chicken, turkey, or ground pork.
- Cheese Swaps: Mozzarella and pepper jack, or a combination!
- Veggie additions: Add diced bell peppers, celery, kale, mushrooms, frozen peas, or shredded carrots.
- For a little heat, add ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
- Cook the pasta to al dente. The pasta will continue to cook in the sauce, so cooking it for 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions will help prevent it from becoming too soft.
- You can make it up to two days in advance. Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add five extra minutes to the cooking time.
- Leftovers: Allow the casserole to cool completely, then transfer the leftovers to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Freezing Baked Sloppy Joe Casserole: Let the casserole cool completely, then transfer individual portions to ziplock bags and place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Freezing Unbaked Sloppy Joe Casserole: Assemble the casserole and cover it tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 527kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 952mg | Potassium: 617mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 593IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 316mg | Iron: 3mg
(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)
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