Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole is a quick, family-friendly dinner! Baked sesame seed bun topping with a cheesy ground beef filling from scratch!
Hearty Casseroles are classic comforting dishes perfect for an easy dinner. Fun, tasty recipes like this twist on Sloppy Joes and my Big Mac Casserole are proof classic dishes don’t have to be boring!
Sabrina’s Sloppy Joe Casserole
My Sloppy Joe Casserole transforms a beloved sandwich into a delicious and filling meal. 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 is better than any store-bought mix. The filling is topped with bread dough and sesame seeds for the same taste and texture as hamburger buns. Oh and of course I added a layer of melty cheese because why not? This whole tasty casserole comes together in less than an hour so it’s still a quick, easy meal!
Recipe Card
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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Table of contents
About this Recipe
Sloppy Joe Casserole is so easy to make. The prep time is 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.
Chef’s Note:
The big prep time shortcut here is using canned dough for the topping instead of using my homemade French Bread Dough. A good quality canned bread 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 stick with the canned stuff for this recipe!
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Ground beef provides a hearty, protein-packed foundation. 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 earthy aromatic flavor to filling.
- Tomato Sauce and Ketchup: These ingredients create a rich, tangy sauce that enhances the casserole’s flavor.
- Yellow Mustard and Brown Sugar: These contribute to the distinctive flavor of Sloppy Joe sauce, balancing tanginess and sweetness.
French Bread Dough: This give the casserole a delicious “bun” topping. I added sesame seeds so it’s even more like a hamburger bun.
How to Make
- Cook:
Over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef in a large skillet until browned and cooked through about 5-6 minutes. Drain the fat and lower the heat to medium.
- Add:
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.
- Transfer:
Transfer the ground beef mixture to a 9×13 baking dish. Sliced cheese should be evenly distributed over the beef mixture. Unroll the French bread dough and place it over the cheese slices.
- Preheat:
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.
Can I Make This 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. If the casserole is cold from the refrigerator, you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time. 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.
Nutritional Facts
How to Store
- Serve: This is best served warm and fresh from the oven. It can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours and cooled before storing.
- Store: Once cool, wrap the pan tightly with plastic wrap before refrigerating 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 the casserole completely, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, remove the plastic wrap, recover with foil, and heat in the oven for 30-45 minutes until hot.
How to Serve
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 Sauteed Green Beans or Roasted Broccoli. Mix a cup of Sauteed Mushrooms into your beef filling to make it a bit more hearty and to sneak extra veggies in if you have picky eaters!
Frequent Questions
Yes, you can substitute ground turkey for ground beef in this recipe. However, you will want to cook it in 1-2 tablespoons of oil so it isn’t dry since there isn’t much fat.
You can use any type of cheese 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! For extra nutrition and flavor, feel free to add your favorite vegetables to the ground beef mixture, such as corn, peas, or diced carrots.
Variations
- 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.
- Spicy: Add jalapeños or crushed red pepper flakes to the ground beef mixture for a spicy kick.
- Tex-Mex: 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: Replace the ketchup with your favorite barbecue sauce for a smoky, tangy twist on the classic Sloppy Joe flavor.
- Meat: You can use ground meat instead of ground beef, like ground turkey or chicken. If you use leaner meat, brown it 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, such as cheddar, mozzarella, provolone slices, or pepper jack cheese. If you use slices of cheese, make sure they are thin slices.
- Tater Tots: Frozen tater tots are another topping you can use instead of French bread dough. Prepare Sloppy Joe’s 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.
More Delicious Ground Beef Casseroles
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!