Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole

ByTammi Published Updated
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This Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe has ground beef and pasta noodles smothered in a cheesy homemade sloppy joe sauce. This one pot meal is then transferred to a casserole dish and baked to perfection.

food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

If you are looking for a unique pasta casserole dish? Or perhaps a delicious twist on the classic Sloppy Joe?

Try our easy-to-make Sloppy Joe Casserole, it’s packed with flavors and topped with cheesy goodness.

This Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe is made with simple ingredients, and is a convenient one pot recipe that takes under an hour to make. As well, it can be made ahead of time and makes for great leftovers!

Sloppy Joes are a popular dish, yet let’s face it – they are so messy to eat. Swap out the bun for some pasta, and make it a mess-free meal that your whole family will love.

This Sloppy Joe Casserole has all the delicious flavors of a sloppy joe sandwich, yet in an easy casserole. It makes for an easy weeknight meal and it’s great for packing for lunches too.

f you’re looking for more casserole recipes to try, our chicken stuffing bake or even this Tater Tot Casserole.

RECIPE OVERVIEW

Why You’ll Love It – Sloppy Joe Pasta Bake is packed with all the traditional flavors you love with less mess! It’s comforting, effortless, and an easy weeknight meal which your whole family will love.

  • Total Time: 60 Minutes
  • Serves: 8
food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

What is Sloppy Joe Casserole?

A Sloppy Joe is a sandwich consisting of ground beef, onions, and a sweet tomato-based sauce – served in hamburger buns. Like the name suggests, it’s a messy and sloppy meal.

A Sloppy Joe Casserole takes the same ingredients minus the bun, and packs it into a pasta casserole. You could also call it a sloppy joe pasta bake!

This sloppy joe bake can feed a crowd, and is much less messy to eat than a traditional sloppy joe sandwich.

food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

Ingredients and Notes

Here are the simple ingredients required to make this delicious casserole recipe.

  • Vegetable Oil – Used in the pan when sauteing. You can also use olive oil.
  • Ground beef – Use lean ground beef for less fat. 
  • Onion – For flavor. I use finely chopped yellow onion.
  • Bell Pepper – I use green bell peppers, yet red bell pepper will do. It sneaks in some vegetables and added nutrition.
  • Canned Diced Tomatoes – Use ordinary, or a variety with included seasoning.
  • Tomato Paste – For more flavor and to thicken the sauce.
  • Beef Broth – For the sauce, for flavor.
  • Salt and Black Pepper – To taste
  • Garlic Powder – For flavor, yet you can use minced garlic in its place if you’d like.
  • Dry Mustard – Gives the sauce some tang and the acid cuts the creamy cheese.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – Gives the sauce a tangy, savory, sweet, and salty taste. Also, gives a umami flavor.
  • Pasta – I used farfalle pasta yet you can use any small pasta you’d like.
  • Cheddar Cheese – it’s a strong and classic cheese. You can also use a colby jack if you’d like.
  • Parsley – For garnish, optional.
food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole

This sloppy joe casserole recipe has 15 minutes of prep time, and a total cook time of 45 minutes with 25 minutes of it being oven baking.

The full recipe is on the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.  
  2. Cook the pasta al dente as directed on the package. 
  3. In a large pot (or large skillet) over medium-high heat add the oil, once hot add the beef, onion and bell pepper, cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the fat if necessary. 
  4. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, spices and Worcestershire sauce. Stir, and bring the ground beef mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. 
  5. Add the cooked pasta to the sloppy joe mixture and stir to combine all the ingredients. 
  6. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish.
    food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole
  7. Add shredded cheese to the top of the casserole, and place in the oven uncovered. Cook for 25 minutes or until top is golden brown.
  8. Once cooked, remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. 
  9. Serve warm

What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Casserole

This easy casserole is a whole meal on its own. Yet you can also serve with more vegetables if you’d like. I’d suggest a side salad, or even garlic bread.

food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

Tips & Variations

This Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe leaves room for variations and swaps. So you can make it your own for preference or ingredient availability. Here are some options:

  • Ground Beef – You could swap this for ground turkey or even ground chicken.
  • Pasta – While I use farfalle pasta, I have been known to use others as well. Any small pasta will do: shells, macaroni, rotini, or spiral.
  • Cheese – Cheddar cheese is a go-to, and usually I always have some on hand. Yet you can use any cheese you’d like. Colby jack, gouda or even a combination!
  • Make it Spicy – This casserole dish can easily be made spicy with the addition of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes. Either add it into the mixture or have some on the side for those to sprinkle onto their serving.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can also freeze for up to 2 months.

To reheat: use the microwave or the oven.

food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

Recipe FAQs

If you didn’t, would it be a casserole? Sarcasm aside, you actually don’t have to bake this in the oven if you don’t want to. Make this a One Pot Meal: Follow directions yet omit the casserole dish. Instead of transferring the mixture, finely grate the cheese and place it on the mixture while it’s still in the pot. Cover with a lid until the cheese has melted, and serve.

Yes, you certainly can! Make the recipe as directed yet after topping with cheese, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Either bring to room temperature before baking, or add another 5 minutes of bake time to accommodate for the chilled dish.

If you’d like some side dishes to serve with sloppy joe casserole – try a side salad or garlic bread. It is great on its own though!

A Manwich is just a store-bought canned version of sloppy joe. It is the brand name produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt’s, introduced in 1969.

More Casserole Recipes:

food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

Sloppy Joe Casserole

Yield: 1 Casserole
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Love Sloppy Joes but hate the mess? Sloppy Joe Casserole has all the traditional flavors you love, in a comforting and effortless one-dish meal. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal or potlucks.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (8-ounce) tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 450g farfalle pasta, uncooked
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9x13 casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.  
  2. Cook the pasta al dente as directed on the package. 
  3. In a large pot over medium high heat add the oil, once hot add the beef, onion and bell pepper, cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain the fat if necessary. 
  4. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, spices and Worcestershire sauce. Stir, bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes. 
  5. Add the cooked pasta, stir to combine all the ingredients. 
  6. Transfer the pasta to the prepared baking dish.
  7. Top with shredded cheese, and place in the oven uncovered. Cook for 25 minutes.
  8. Once cooked, remove from the oven and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley. 
  9. Serve warm

Notes

  • Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 411Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 719mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 26g

Did you make this recipe?

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© My Organized Chaos
Cuisine: American / Category: Main Dishes
food, with Sloppy Joe Casserole

Created by Tammi Roy

Tammi Roy is the founder of My Organized Chaos, a Canadian food and lifestyle blog. She lives in Alberta, Canada and is the mom of three beautiful teenage girls. Tammi’s passions are her family, creating and sharing delicious recipes, travelling and photography. Learn more about Tammi.

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