Looking for an easy and tasty dinner idea? This Sloppy Joe Casserole is a family favorite that’s simple to make and packed with hearty flavors. It’s a fun twist on classic sloppy joes, combining ground beef, pasta, veggies, and a tangy tomato sauce all baked under a blanket of melted cheese. Serve it with a fresh tossed salad for a complete, satisfying meal everyone will love!
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cook the Beef and Veggies: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound of ground beef and cook until browned with no pink remaining. Stir in chopped onion, green and red bell peppers, and garlic. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables soften. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the Sauce Ingredients: Mix in a can of petite diced tomatoes, 1 cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, salt, and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Prepare Pasta and Corn: Bring salted water to a boil and cook 16 ounces of penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add 2 cups of frozen whole-kernel corn. Drain together.
- Combine and Bake: Stir the cooked pasta, corn, and 1½ cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese into the beef mixture. Transfer everything to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
What to Serve with This Casserole
While this casserole is a complete meal on its own, pairing it with a light salad like a tossed salad, Caesar salad, or Waldorf salad adds a refreshing balance.
Make-Ahead Tip
You can prepare this casserole up to step 5 in advance. Let it cool, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, bake at 350°F, adding extra cheese on top if desired, and bake as directed.
Helpful Tips
- For a meatier casserole, reduce the amount of pasta.
- Feel free to swap or mix cheeses according to your preference.
- Cooking pasta and corn in the same pot saves time and cleanup—just add corn in the last 5 minutes of pasta cooking.
Nutrition (per serving, serves 8):
Calories: 495 | Carbs: 59g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 14g
Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups frozen whole-kernel corn
- 1 (16 oz) package penne pasta
- 1½ cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef until no pink remains.
- Add chopped onion, green and red bell peppers, and garlic. Cook 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer on low for 10 minutes.
- Cook penne pasta in boiling salted water until al dente. Add frozen corn during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain together.
- Combine pasta, corn, and cheese with the beef mixture in the skillet. Mix well.
- Transfer everything to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bake for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.