Sloppy Joe Casserole

4.6
(198)

This Sloppy Joe casserole is a great comfort food recipe that I love to make on a cold winter day. It's always a hit at potluck dinners.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
50 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
1 (9x13-inch) casserole

Satisfy your comfort food cravings with this test kitchen-approved sloppy joe casserole recipe. 

How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make homemade sloppy joe casserole: 

  1. Boil and drain the pasta. 
  2. Cook the beef in a Dutch oven. 
  3. Stir in the vegetables and seasonings, then cook until veggies are softened. 
  4. Stir in the sauce, condiments, and sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer until thick. 
  5. Remove from heat, stir in cooked pasta, corn, and 3/4 cup of cheese.
  6. Transfer the mixture to a prepared baking dish and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
  7. Bake until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted. 

How to Store Sloppy Joe Casserole

Store the leftover sloppy joe casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days or freeze your leftovers for up to three months. 

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 (16 ounce) package penne pasta

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • pounds ground beef

  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped

  • 1 small red bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 small green bell pepper, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon paprika

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce

  • ½ cup ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard

  • 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 2 cups frozen yellow corn kernels

  • 1 ½ cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese, divided

  • cooking spray

Directions

  1. Gather ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

    all ingredients to make sloppy joe casserole gathered in glass bowls on a kitchen counter.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and cook according to package directions for al dente. Drain.

    penne pasta cooked until tender

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. While pasta cooks, heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Add beef and cook, stirring often to crumble, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. 

    ground beef browning in large pot over medium heat.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Stir in onion, bell peppers, paprika, garlic powder, and salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 4 minutes. 

    onions and bell peppers added to browned beef

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, and brown sugar; bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. 

    tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire and brown sugar added to beef and vegetables.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Remove from heat, stir in cooked pasta, corn, and 3/4 cup of the cheese.

    pasta stirred into meat sauce.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Coat a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; transfer beef and pasta mixture into the dish. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 3/4 cup cheese.

    pasta mixure added to a baking dish and topped with shredded cheese.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  8. Bake in preheated oven until heated through and cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

    baked until bubbly and cheese has melted.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  9. Serve warm and enjoy!

    Sloppy Joe Casserole

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Test Kitchen Tips

  • Bake casserole on a rimmed baking sheet to prevent overflow, just in case.
  •  The pasta can be cooked and refrigerated with a splash of oil up to three days ahead. 
  • The filling can be made ahead up to four days and refrigerated in an airtight container. Just let come to room temperature for about 30 minutes and transfer to a greased baking dish, then continue with the recipe. 
  • You can use a red bell pepper instead of green and ground sirloin or ground turkey instead of lean ground beef.

Editor's Note

This recipe was tested in our test kitchen in November 2023 and updated to use 2 cans of tomato sauce instead of 1 can diced tomatoes, and reduced the amount of ketchup based on user reviews. The original recipe called for 1 cup of ketchup.

582 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

711 Calories
33g Fat
59g Carbs
47g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 711
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 33g 43%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 1768mg 77%
Total Carbohydrate 59g 22%
Dietary Fiber 7g 24%
Total Sugars 19g
Protein 47g 94%
Vitamin C 63mg 70%
Calcium 293mg 23%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 1341mg 29%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.