Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

This sloppy joe casserole is a one-pan meal that comes together in 45 minutes. It’s loaded with the nostalgic flavors of classic sloppy joes but in casserole form, topped with buttery biscuits. This quick and easy meal is the perfect way to take your family dinner to the next level!

 

Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

• What’s better than classic sloppy joes? Sloppy joe casserole! Buttery biscuits replace classic dinner rolls that the sloppy joes are typically served on. And making it a one-pan meal means fewer dishes for you to wash!
• The flavors are outrageous! The slightly sweet, savory sloppy joe mix pairs perfectly with the buttery flaky biscuits. And the best part is that you’ll probably have most of these ingredients on hand already This is the perfect way to use up that pound of ground beef in the fridge!

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Casserole

• Onion & Bell Pepper: Petite diced yellow onion and green bell pepper are classic ingredients for homemade sloppy joes.
• Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds to the flavor base of the sauteed veggies and offers tons of flavor. 3/4 of a teaspoon of garlic powder can be used in its place but you’ll lose some flavor.
• Tomato Paste: Tomato paste gives you that “cooked-all-day” flavor in just minutes.
• Ground Beef: I recommend 85/15 ground beef for this recipe. Anything fattier and you may end up with a layer of grease on top of the casserole. Anything leaner and you’re going to lose flavor.
• Tomato Sauce: Tomato sauce is the perfect way to get that thick, saucy base for your sloppy joes without using a can of Manwich. The tomato sauce soaks up all the flavors of the other ingredients and creates a delicious texture.
• Ketchup & Mustard: Ketchup and yellow mustard might seem like odd ingredients, but each offers a unique, complex flavor that works well with all the other ingredients.
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness without being overpowering.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire pumps up that beefy flavor of the sloppy joe mixture.
• Cheese: I like to use Colby jack cheese but you can use your favorite melty cheese. Shred it yourself so it melts better!
• Biscuits: I use refrigerated buttermilk biscuits that come in an 8-pack. You may use your favorite brand of refrigerated biscuit dough.
• Egg: A quick little egg wash – an egg beaten with a splash of water – is the perfect way to get that beautiful sheen and perfectly golden brown biscuits on top of the casserole.

How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole

Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 cup petite diced yellow onion, 3/4 cup petite diced green pepper, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for about 5-6 minutes. Add 3 cloves finely minced garlic and 1 tablespoon tomato paste and cook, stirring frequently for about 60 seconds.

Push the veggies to the sides of the pan, making a little well in the center of the pan. Add 1 pound of ground beef to the center of the pan. Turn heat to medium-high and brown the beef, crumbling it with a spatula as it cooks, until cooked through and mixed with the veggies.

Add 8 oz. can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Stir together and simmer gently over medium-low to low heat for about 8-10 minutes or until the mixture has thickened slightly.

Sprinkle 4 ounces of shredded cheese across the top of the sloppy joe mixture. Top with biscuits. Brush biscuits with egg wash.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the biscuits are dark golden brown. Cover loosely with foil to prevent the biscuits from burning and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the biscuits are cooked through and the casserole is bubbly around the edges. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving and enjoy!

Tips for Making Sloppy Joe Casserole

• It’s hard to tell when the biscuits are done because you can’t exactly take one off and cut through it without ruining the presentation. I’ve found that 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees is the sweet spot to get perfectly cooked through biscuits without overcooking them too much.
• Cover the biscuits with foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking so they don’t burn. You want them to be nice and dark golden brown on top before covering them with foil.
• Let the casserole rest after you take it out of the oven. You’ll notice that around the edges it might see a bit of liquid when you pull it from the oven. Give it about 5 minutes and all those juices will redistribute throughout the casserole giving you a perfectly moist sloppy joe casserole.
• Although cheese isn’t a typical ingredient for sloppy joes, it creates the perfect layer that allows the biscuits to bake through without becoming soggy on the bottom. You’re welcome to omit the cheese if you prefer, but it adds flavor and also helps create a better texture for the biscuits.

Making Sloppy Joe Casserole Ahead of Time

• You can prep the sloppy joe mixture days in advance!
• When you’re ready to bake, heat the sloppy joe mixture in a large saute pan until warmed through.
• Then follow the recipe instructions and bake with shredded cheese and refrigerated biscuits.

Storing Leftover Sloppy Joe Casserole

• This casserole tastes best straight from the oven. But, you can store leftovers in the fridge for 5 days and reheat as needed.
• Store biscuits separate from the sloppy joe mix so that the biscuits don’t get soggy.

Reheating Sloppy Joe Casserole

• Reheat sloppy joe casserole in a 350-degree oven until warmed through.
• You can also reheat the casserole in the microwave in 30-60 second increments until heated through.

Try these easy casserole recipes next!

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