Here’s a hearty Sloppy Joe Casserole—all the flavors of a classic Sloppy Joe sandwich baked into a comforting, cheesy dish. 🍔🧀
Ingredients
For the Meat Layer
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp mustard
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Topping
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup crushed buttery crackers or breadcrumbs (optional for extra crunch)
- Optional: sliced pickles for garnish
Optional Base
- 4–5 cups cooked pasta, rice, or cubed bread
Instructions
1. Preheat oven
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Cook the meat mixture
- In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned.
- Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté 3–5 minutes until softened.
- Stir in ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
3. Assemble the casserole
- If using pasta, rice, or bread as a base, spread it evenly in the baking dish.
- Pour meat mixture on top.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the meat.
- Optional: sprinkle crushed crackers or breadcrumbs on top for a crunchy topping.
4. Bake
- Bake 15–20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Optional: broil 1–2 minutes at the end for a golden top.
5. Serve
- Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with sliced pickles or chopped parsley.
💡 Tips
- Make it ahead: prepare meat mixture and base, then assemble and bake when ready.
- Add extra veggies like corn or diced carrots for nutrition. 🌽🥕
- For a twist, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
If you want, I can also give a slow-cooker version of Sloppy Joe Casserole that cooks all day and stays warm for a family dinner.
Do you want me to do that?
