Go Back

Easy & Comforting Sloppy Joe Casserole

Imagine the messy, finger-licking goodness of classic sloppy joes baked into a hearty, cheesy casserole with pasta. This easy recipe is like a warm hug in a dish and is guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Cook Time 25 minutes

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • 9x13-inch baking dish lightly greased
  • Large mixing bowl

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
  • 0.5 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 3 cups cooked pasta (such as elbow macaroni or penne), cooked al dente
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 cup crushed crackers or French fried onions optional, for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Go ahead and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Get a large skillet out and place it over medium heat. Add your ground beef (or turkey!) and cook it until it's beautifully browned. Make sure you drain off any excess grease.
  • Toss in the diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic into the skillet with the cooked meat. Cook these veggies for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they soften up a bit.
  • Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper. Give everything a good mix. Let it simmer gently for about 5-10 minutes.
  • While your sloppy joe sauce is simmering, grab a large mixing bowl. Add your cooked pasta. Pour the yummy sloppy joe beef mixture right over the pasta. Stir in 1 cup of that glorious shredded cheddar cheese. Mix it all together until everything is coated and cheesy.
  • Pour this delightful mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly.
  • Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese generously over the top of the casserole.
  • If you're feeling fancy (or just love crunch!), sprinkle those crushed crackers or French fried onions over the cheese.
  • Pop the dish into your preheated oven. Bake it for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is perfectly melted and bubbly and the edges look nice and hot.
  • It's going to smell amazing! Let the casserole cool for just a few minutes before you dive in. This helps it set a little and prevents burnt tongues!

Notes

Make sure you drain the ground meat well after browning to prevent the casserole from being greasy. Don't skip the simmering step for the sloppy joe sauce as it's crucial for developing deep flavors. Cook pasta al dente since it will cook more in the oven. You can assemble the casserole up to the point of baking, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours; you may need to add extra baking time if baking from cold. This casserole freezes well (without the crunchy topping).