What happens when you take a beloved meal and casserole-ify it? You get the Sloppy Joe Casserole, a hearty and extra-cheesy version of the beloved Sloppy Joe Sandwich.
Instead of being served between two buns, a homemade Sloppy Joe mixture is tossed with lots of veggies and cooked penne pasta. It’s then topped with lots of shredded Colby-Jack cheese and baked until golden and bubbling—comfort food at its finest!
Allrecipes member Theresa Harnar shared this recipe on the Allrecipes website, noting it’s a go-to recipe for cold winter days and “always a hit at potluck dinners.”
And it’s no wonder why—this casserole is made with humble and affordable ingredients, is endlessly customizable, and is packed with comforting flavors and textures. Plus, the addition of vegetables makes it a complete meal in one.
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dinner for your family—or for a group function like a potluck—give this reliable recipe a try. Over 100 home cooks have rated it five stars, so there’s a good chance you will feel the same!
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
A few main components come together to make this Sloppy Joe Casserole—cooked penne pasta, a homemade meat and veggie sauce, and cheese. The detailed recipe is linked below, but here’s a preview of what you can expect.
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- Cook the pasta: Penne is used here, but feel free to switch it up with any similarly shaped noodle you have on hand.
- Cook the meat and veggies: Brown your ground beef—ground turkey would make this recipe even cheaper—then add your vegetables and cook until they are softened.
- Make the sauce: Once your meat and veggies are good to go, add the rest of the sauce ingredients and bring to a soft boil. Stir frequently, and let the sauce slightly thicken—about 5 minutes.
- Mix it all together: In a big bowl (or the casserole dish if you want to save on clean up) mix the pasta, sauce mixture, and some frozen corn until completely combined.
- Top and bake: Pour that mixture into a greased, oven-safe 9×13 casserole dish, top with your grated Colby-Jack cheese, and bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until it’s heated through and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Tips, Tricks, and Variations
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- In a time crunch? The filling mixture can be made up to four days ahead of time, and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, let the mixture come to room temperature, then carry on with the rest of the steps.
- Feel free to switch up the vegetable add-ins. Swap red bell pepper for green, add a can of diced green chiles, omit the corn, or add jalapeño to up the heat factor.
- If you don’t want to make the sauce by hand, you can use a can of Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce to cut back on cook time.
- Several reviewers added Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, or tomato paste to create a more dynamic and savory flavor profile.