Sloppy Joe Casserole

Overhead shot of the casserole with cheese on top

If you're a fan of the classic Sloppy Joe sandwich, you're going to love this Sloppy Joe Casserolerecipe. This dish takes all of the flavors you love from the classic sandwich and transforms them into a hearty casserole that's perfect for family dinner.

Course Casserole, Dinner

Cuisine American

Keyword casserole recipe with ground beef, sloppy joe casserole

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 35

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 390kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
1 small yellow onion finely diced
1 green bell pepper diced small
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375℉. Spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
^{* I like to get my pasta water boiling first thing, that way it's ready for the pasta once the ground beef mixture is simmering.}
In a large skillet pan, cook and crumble the ground beef until no longer pink.
1 lb lean ground beef
Add in the onion and bell pepper and continue cooking for 5 minutes or until softened.
Drain the excess grease/oil from the skillet pan.
1 small yellow onion, 1 green bell pepper
Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper until combined.
Bring the mixture to a simmer (a gentle boil).
1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper
Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 10-15 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and the flavors to combine together.
Cook Elbow Macaroni During Simmer Time : Boil the elbow macaroni according to package directions until al dente.
When done, drain the pasta but do not rinse it.
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
Add the cooked elbow macaroni into the sloppy joe ground beef mixture and stir to combine until it's coated well in the sauce.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over top.
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly.
^{* You can cover the baking pan with tin foil if wanted to prevent any edge pieces from getting toasted.}

Notes

Baking Pan Size : You need a 9x9 baking pan or a 2.5 QT baking dish. You could use a 9x13 baking dish but the casserole will be thin and end up a tad drier because there is more space in the larger dish.

Pasta : Any short small can work well in this recipe like penne, ziti, medium shells, or rotini. Make sure to add some salt into the boiling water before adding the dry pasta. Pasta is very bland on its own and needs some salt to make it taste like something. I add about 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt when I boil pasta. Cook the pasta to al dente as it will continue cooking slightly in the oven. If you prefer a softer pasta then cook 1-2 minutes past al dente.

Should I Cover The Casserole? : You can cover the casserole with tin foil for baking or leave it uncovered, either way works. If you want a soft, melty pasta with no crispy toasted pasta edges then you will probably want to cover it.

Nutrition