What’s in Sloppy Joes Casserole?
This sloppy joe casserole brings together tons of pantry staples into an easy weeknight dinner. Here’s a rundown of the ingredients:
Oil: Olive oil helps keep the onions from burning in the pan. You could use vegetable, canola, or avocado oil if you prefer. Onion: I like to use white onion in this dish because they’re mild and sweet, but a yellow onion would also work. Garlic: Adds a rich depth of flavor to the dish. Feel free to increase or reduce the amount according to your tastes. Ground Beef: I used 80% lean ground beef, but you could use leaner ground beef if you prefer. For sloppy janes, swap the beef for ground turkey! Ketchup: Ketchup adds the classic tomato flavor to these sloppy joes. I like the balance of sweetness and acidity in this premade ingredient, but you could swap in tomato paste for more control. Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar sweetens the sloppy joe sauce the perfect amount. For a richer, more molasses-y taste, you could use dark brown sugar. Mustard: Yellow mustard adds tanginess to the sauce. For more texture, you could use a stone ground Dijon or whole-grain mustard. Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce is a holy grail ingredient for adding umami flavor. Broth: You can use chicken, vegetable, or beef broth in this recipe, or you can simply use water. I like chicken broth for a lighter flavor. Pasta: Bowtie pasta is the classic choice for this casserole, but any short-shaped pasta (like penne, rigatoni, or macaroni) will work. Cheese: Colby jack is a mild-flavored cheese that helps boost the cheesiness of this dish, while Velveeta helps to keep the sauce smooth and creamy. If you’re not a fan, easily swap the Velveeta for American, Swiss, cheddar, or more Colby jack!
Pro Tip: Cooking the pasta in chicken broth adds so much flavor! I don’t recommend skipping it!
Spicy Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe (Variation)
To make this cheesy sloppy joe casserole spicier, opt for a spicy brown mustard instead of yellow, add some crushed red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the ketchup sauce mixture, and swap some of the Colby jack for pepper jack!
How to Store and Reheat Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole
Store leftover sloppy joe casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 300°F oven covered with foil until warmed through or microwave it for around 4 minutes on high heat.
How to Freeze Sloppy Joe Pasta Casserole
Freeze sloppy joe casserole baked or unbaked in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If unbaked, let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking according to the recipe. If baked, let thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
This pasta and beef casserole is perfect to serve by itself or with a side of veggies. It also works great with some garlic bread. Try it with sauteed green beans, glazed carrots, roasted broccoli, or baked tomatoes.
More Sloppy Joe Recipes We Love
Sloppy Joes from Scratch Crockpot Sloppy Joes Turkey Sloppy Joes Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes