Description
Sloppy joe cornbread casserole brings comfort food to a whole new level with its hearty layers of ground beef and sweet cornbread topping that’ll make your family cheer at dinnertime. Grab your skillet and get ready to create a meal that delivers pure satisfaction in just one delicious baking dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds ground chuck
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 cups finely chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Cornbread Topping:
- 2 (8.5 ounces) packages corn muffin mix
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 2 large eggs
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Brown 2 pounds of ground chuck in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Incorporate 2 cups chopped onions and 1 cup chopped green bell peppers into the meat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Pour 3 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 cups beef broth, 1 ½ cups ketchup, 3 tablespoons yellow mustard, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon black pepper into the skillet. Stir until well mixed.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer the mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Whisk 2 large eggs and ⅔ cup whole milk in a separate bowl until smooth.
- Add 2 packages of corn muffin mix and 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder to the egg mixture. Blend until just combined.
- Coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Transfer the meat mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly across the bottom.
- Carefully pour the cornbread batter over the meat, creating an even layer that covers the entire surface.
- Bake at 400°F for 22-25 minutes until the cornbread turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Drain ground beef thoroughly to prevent a greasy casserole and ensure the cornbread topping stays crisp.
- Use lean ground beef (90/10) for a healthier version that doesn’t sacrifice flavor and reduces excess fat.
- For a gluten-free adaptation, swap regular corn muffin mix with a gluten-free cornbread mix and check that your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free.
- Customize the heat by adding diced jalapeños to the meat mixture or sprinkling shredded cheese on top before baking for extra richness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 481 kcal
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 790 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg