Description
Sloppy Joe casserole layers saucy beef with plenty of melted cheese. It’s an easy comfort dish that works perfectly for weeknight meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups cooked pasta, biscuit dough, or tater tots for topping
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup tomato paste or tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Seasoning and Optional Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (optional for tang)
- Optional garnish: chopped parsley or green onions
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grab a large skillet and pour 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add 1 pound lean ground beef and 1 small diced yellow onion. Cook over medium heat until beef browns completely and onions soften, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the skillet. Toss in 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 45-60 seconds until fragrant. Your kitchen will smell amazing.
- Pour ½ cup ketchup, ¼ cup tomato paste, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tablespoon brown sugar into the meat mixture. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Stir in 1 teaspoon yellow mustard.
- Simmer the meat sauce for 5-7 minutes, allowing flavors to combine and sauce to slightly thicken. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Transfer the meat mixture into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread evenly across the bottom of the pan.
- Distribute 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese uniformly over the meat layer. Make sure every section gets some cheese coverage.
- Top the casserole with 2 cups of your preferred base – cooked pasta, biscuit dough, or frozen tater tots. Spread in a consistent layer.
- Slide the casserole into the preheated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts completely and topping turns golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. This helps the layers settle and makes serving easier.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions before serving. Your hearty meal is ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a watery casserole and ensure a rich, concentrated flavor.
- Choose sharp cheddar cheese for extra tang, or experiment with a cheese blend like monterey jack and cheddar for more depth.
- Swap ground beef for ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the dish lighter or accommodate dietary preferences.
- Prepare the sloppy joe mixture ahead of time and refrigerate, which helps develop deeper flavors and makes weeknight cooking faster.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 22 minutes - 1 hour 27 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg