Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole is a quick family-friendly dinner! Baked sesame seed bun topping with a cheesy ground beef filling from scratch!
Indulge in the delightful world of Hearty Casseroles with these comforting, mouthwatering dishes perfect for family dinners and gatherings. Discover the scrumptious flavors of Chicken Tetrazzini, Tater Tot Casserole, and Baked Spaghetti that your whole family will love on the regular!
Sloppy Joe Casserole is a delicious and filling meal that transforms the classic Sloppy Joe into a delightful casserole dish. This easy-to-make dish uses simple and budget-friendly ingredients, making it perfect for busy weeknights. The combination of ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and a flavorful tomato sauce creates a savory base, topped with slices of cheese and French bread dough for added texture and taste.
Sloppy Joe Casserole is so easy to make, the prep time is only about 15 minutes including chopping veggies and browning the beef. From start to finish, this quick dinner recipe is ready to eat in less than an hour. You can prep it ahead of time and freeze it for a fast weeknight dinner ready to bake whenever you don’t feel like cooking.
The French bread dough is what gives this Sloppy Joe Casserole that same hamburger bun taste and texture you get with Sloppy Joes Sandwiches. Instead of making the French Bread Dough from scratch, this recipe uses the canned kind. Canned dough saves time without sacrificing flavor, plus it’s easier to use since it’s already in a sheet. Save the homemade dough for dinner parties and just stick with the canned stuff. Serve with a delicious Easy Macaroni Salad.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
Creating a delicious Sloppy Joe Casserole is simpler than you might think, and can be done right in the comfort of your own kitchen. With familiar ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you’ll have a delectable meal in no time. Check it out!
- Step One: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until browned and cooked through about 5-6 minutes. Drain the fat and lower the heat to medium.
- Step Two: Add butter, onions, and bell pepper to the pan. Cook until the onions and green bell peppers are translucent, about 6-8 minutes. Add garlic, mustard, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Step Three: Transfer the ground beef mixture to a 9×13 baking dish. Evenly distribute sliced cheese over the beef mixture. Unroll the French bread dough and place it over the cheese slices.
- Step Four: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix the beaten egg with water and brush the top of the dough with the egg mixture. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and cooked through.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can substitute ground turkey for ground beef in this recipe. Just be aware that the flavor and texture might be slightly different.
You can use any type of cheese that you prefer, such as cheddar, Colby-Jack, or Monterey Jack. Just make sure it melts well.
Yes, you can freeze this casserole. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, then place it in a freezer-safe container or a resealable plastic bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Absolutely! Feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the ground beef mixture, such as corn, peas, or diced carrots, for extra nutrition and flavor.
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Key Ingredients in Sloppy Joe Casserole
Sloppy Joe Casserole is an easy-to-make and flavorful dish that relies on simple ingredients to create a satisfying meal. All of these ingredients are pantry staples, and unique ingredients can be easily found at your local grocery store.
- Ground Beef: The base of this casserole, ground beef provides a hearty, protein-packed foundation. If desired, you can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Yellow Onion and Green Bell Pepper: These vegetables add a touch of sweetness and crunch to the dish, complementing the savory ground beef mixture.
- Tomato Sauce and Ketchup: These ingredients create a rich, tangy sauce that enhances the flavor of the casserole.
- Yellow Mustard and Brown Sugar: These ingredients contribute to the distinctive Sloppy Joe sauce flavor, balancing tanginess and sweetness.
- French Bread Dough: This topping adds a unique twist to the casserole, providing a crispy, golden-brown crust that contrasts with the saucy filling.
Can I Make Sloppy Joe Casserole Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can prepare Sloppy Joe Casserole in advance. Assemble the casserole as directed, then cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if the casserole is cold from the refrigerator. If you wish, you can also freeze the unbaked casserole for up to 3 months. Just be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking. Bake from frozen for 45-55 minutes, or thawed for 30 minutes.
Substitutions in Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Ground Turkey or Chicken: Replace the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Cheese: Use your favorite cheese variety, such as cheddar, Colby-Jack, or Monterey Jack.
- Vegetarian: Substitute a plant-based ground meat alternative, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Burger, for the ground beef.
- Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free dough or a gluten-free biscuit mix for the topping, and ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.
Variations on Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Spicy Sloppy Joe Casserole: Add jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture for a spicy kick.
- Tex-Mex Sloppy Joe Casserole: Incorporate taco seasoning, black beans, and corn into the ground beef mixture, and top the casserole with crushed tortilla chips instead of French bread dough.
- BBQ Sloppy Joe Casserole: Replace the ketchup with your favorite barbecue sauce for a smoky, tangy twist on the classic Sloppy Joe flavor.
- Meat: You can use any ground meat instead of ground beef, like ground turkey or ground chicken. If you are using leaner meat, brown the meat in 2 tablespoons of olive oil so it isn’t too fatty.
- Topping: You can use canned biscuit dough, puff pastry, crescent dough sheets, or homemade Cornbread Batter instead of the French bread dough. Bake until golden brown and the pastry is cooked through.
- Cheese: Swap out the American cheese with any sliced or shredded cheese like cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, provolone slices, or pepper jack cheese. If you use slices of cheese, make sure they are thin slices.
- Sloppy Sauce: Instead of ketchup, use BBQ Sauce or add other favorite Sloppy Joes’ seasonings like Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, or chili sauce.
- Tater Tots: Another topping you can use instead of French bread dough is frozen tater tots. Prepare Sloppy Joes’ filling like normal, then top with a 32-ounce bag of frozen tater tots. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes for a Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole.
How to Serve Sloppy Joes Casserole
This Sloppy Joes Casserole is a filling dinner that kids of all ages will love! The mild tomato sauce is still packed with flavor while staying kid-friendly. Serve Sloppy Joe Casserole with easy veggie sides like Sautéed Green Beans or Roasted Broccoli. For an extra delicious casserole, mix a cup of Sautéed Mushrooms into your beef filling!
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How to Store Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Serve: Sloppy Joe Casserole is best served warm and fresh from the oven. Keep at room temperature for up to 2 hours and cool before storing.
- Store: Once cool, wrap the pan tightly with plastic wrap before refrigerating Sloppy Joe Casserole for up to 4 days. Reheat the casserole in the oven, covered in foil so the bread doesn’t burn, on low heat until hot.
- Freeze: Cool Sloppy Joe Casserole completely, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze casserole for up to 3 months. To reheat, remove plastic wrap and recover with foil, and heat in the oven for 30-45 minutes, until hot.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef , 85/15
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion , chopped
- 1 large green bell pepper , chopped
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon course ground black pepper
- 12 slices cheese
- 1 can French bread dough (Pillsbury or store brand)
- 1 large egg , beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet on medium-high heat and brown until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
- Drain the fat, lower heat to medium and add the butter, onions and bell pepper to the pan.
- Cook vegetables with the beef until onions and green bell peppers are translucent, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add the garlic, mustard, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, salt, black pepper to the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add the ground beef mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
- Top with sliced cheese evenly over the beef mixture.
- Unroll the French bread dough over the cheese slices
- Mix the egg well with water then brush the top of the dough with the egg mixture and top with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Nutrition
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Photos used in a previous version of this post.
What kind of cheese did you use when you created this recipe?
Cheese: Swap out the American cheese with any sliced or shredded cheese like cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, provolone slices, or pepper jack cheese. If you use slices of cheese, make sure they are thin slices.
And here I thought I had seen it all when it comes to comfort food! Where has this been?! Must try soon…
This recipe sounds amazing. I LOVE SLOPPY Joes.
I have one request, and I hope that you will be able to do this in the future. You always have great suggestions/additions to your recipes. Could you PLEASE include those in maybe a note at the bottom of the recipe.
Hi Janet! I include a section of ideas in the blog above the recipe. Enjoy!