There’s something truly magical about turning a nostalgic childhood favorite into a hearty, family-style baked dish. And trust me, our Sloppy Joe Casserole with Pasta does precisely that.
Our recipe takes everything you love about classic sloppy joes, from the tangy tomato sauce, the savory ground beef, creamy cheese, and a hint of sweetness, then brings it all together in every crevice of tender pasta.
Contrary to popular belief, the Sloppy Joe did not originate in a lunchroom (maybe just the extra sloppy version). Most food historians trace them back to Sioux City, Iowa, where a cook named “Joe” is said to have started adding tomato sauce to loose-meat sandwiches in the 1930s.
The modification of turning this into a casserole occurred in the 1950s, when pasta became a pantry staple, and casseroles were all the rage.
Whether you are looking to relive some of those glory days flavors or need an easy-to-make meal that your whole family will love, our cheesy, tangy Sloppy Joe Casserole is sure to be a hit on your dinner table.
If you are looking for other easy-to-make casseroles, our cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole will have your family scraping their plates. Our Chicken Parmesan Casserole is another family favorite that is a slight modification of the traditional dish, but gives all the flavor you are looking for.
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Ingredients
Gather the ingredients to prepare our Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”
Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.
Recipe Variations
Turkey Sloppy Joe Casserole: Use ground turkey or ground chicken to lighten up the recipe.
Veggie Version: Add bell peppers, corn, peas, or mushrooms for additional flavor.
Cheesy Upgrade: Add cream cheese to the mixture for a creamier texture.
Baked Topping: Use tater tots, biscuits, or cornbread as a topping.
Italian-Inspired Sloppy Joe Pasta: Add basil, oregano, garlic, and a splash of red wine. Use mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan.
Philly-Style Sloppy Joe Casserole: Add caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and provolone for a cheesesteak-style spin.
Tex-Mex Sloppy Joe Bake: Season with cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Add corn and black beans. Top with pepper jack and finish with cilantro.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make Sloppy Joe Casserole at home.
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F.
Add the ground beef and chopped onions to a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Cook the mixture until the beef is no longer pink. Stir as it cooks to break up the meat, and strain off any grease.
Add the ketchup, water, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt to the ground beef mixture.
Stir to combine. Bring the sloppy joe mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Add the can of diced tomatoes with the juices to the sloppy joe mixture.
Stir to combine, and bring the sauce back to a simmer.
Add the Velveeta cubes to the sauce.
Mix until fully melted. You can use a silicone spatula to “smush” the cubes to help them melt more quickly.
Cook the pasta according to the box instructions until almost al dente (subtract a minute or two). Drain but do not rinse.
Add the pasta to the mixture.
Mix the cooked pasta well with the sauce.
Transfer the mixture to a 9-by-13 baking dish.
Cover with an even layer of shredded cheese. Cover with foil and place on the center rack of the preheated oven, and bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Sprinkle with chopped Italian parsley for a pop of color.
Chef Tips
Undercook the pasta slightly – Cook it 1-2 minutes shy of al dente so it finishes perfectly in the oven.
Drain the excess fat – or the casserole will turn greasy.
Taste the sauce before baking and adjust the sweetness and acidity to your taste preference.
Brown the beef hard – Color equals flavor. If it’s gray, you rushed it.
Let it rest before serving – 10 minutes allow the casserole to set and make cleaner slices.
Sloppy Joe Casserole is easy enough for a busy weeknight, cozy enough for a Sunday supper, and guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face.
It’s comfort food at its finest, and exactly the kind of recipe I love sharing from my kitchen to yours.
Serving Suggestions
How to Store and Reheat
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, we suggest baking at 350 degrees or microwaving with a paper towel on top to retain moisture.
You can freeze your prepared Sloppy Joe Casserole (not baked) for up to 3 months. Thaw, and then bake in the oven until your cheese is melty and the temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Recipe FAQs
We love this recipe with Rotini, but Cavatappi, Penne, or Elbows can be used. You are looking for pasta that will infuse the flavor into every nook and cranny.
Yes. I suggest making your beef, sauce, pasta, and cheese mixture, then covering it before refrigerating for up to 24 hours. You can bake whenever you are ready.
Instead of Velveeta, you can use American cheese. What you are looking for is the melty, creamy consistency that Velveeta provides.
More Recipes You’ll Love!
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Sloppy Joe Casserole takes everything you love about a classic sloppy joe and turns it into a fork-friendly, oven-baked comfort dish. Savory ground beef simmered in a tangy, slightly sweet tomato sauce is layered with hearty starch and baked until bubbly and irresistible.
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Equipment
9 X 13 baking dish
Dutch Oven
Ingredients
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Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef½ cup onion finely chopped¾ cup ketchup3 tablespoon tomato paste¾ cup water2 tablespoon brown sugar1 ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce1 tablespoon prepared mustard½ teaspoon garlic powder½ teaspoon onion powder½ teaspoon table salt to taste⅛ teaspoon black pepper to taste6 oz Velveeta cheese cubed14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes with juices1 ½ cups cheddar cheese shredded¾ oz pasta Rotini
Instructions
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees.
Add the ground beef and chopped onions to a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Cook the mixture until the beef is no longer pink. Stir as it cooks to break up the meat, and strain off any grease.
Add the ketchup, water, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt to the ground beef mixture and stir to combine.
Bring the sloppy joe mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
Add the can of diced tomatoes with the juices to the sloppy joe mixture.
Mix the diced tomato into the mixture well, and bring the sauce back to a gradual simmer.
Add the cubes of Velveeta to the sauce.
Mix the cubes in until fully melted. You can use a silicone spatula to “smush” the cubes to help them melt more quickly.
Cook your pasta according to the box instructions until almost al dente (subtract a minute or two).
Add your pasta to the Dutch oven.
Mix the cooked pasta well with the sauce.
Transfer the pasta and sauce to a 9-by-13 baking dish.
Cover the pasta with an even layer of shredded cheese, and place, covered, into the oven for 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven, and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Turkey Sloppy Joe Casserole: Use ground turkey or ground chicken to lighten up the recipe.
Veggie Version: Add bell peppers, corn, peas, or mushrooms for additional flavor.
Cheesy Upgrade: Add cream cheese to the mixture for a creamier texture.
Baked Topping: Use tater tots, biscuits, or cornbread as a topping.
Italian-Inspired Sloppy Joe Pasta: Add basil, oregano, garlic, and a splash of red wine. Use mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan.
Philly-Style Sloppy Joe Casserole: Add caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and provolone for a cheesesteak-style spin.
Tex-Mex Sloppy Joe Bake: Season with cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika. Add corn and black beans. Top with pepper jack and finish with cilantro.
Chef Tips
Undercook the pasta slightly – Cook it 1-2 minutes shy of al dente so it finishes perfectly in the oven.
Drain the excess fat – or the casserole will turn greasy.
Taste the sauce before baking and adjust the sweetness and acidity to your taste preference.
Brown the beef hard – Color equals flavor. If it’s gray, you rushed it.
Let it rest before serving – 10 minutes allow the casserole to set and make cleaner slices.
Serving Suggestions
How to Store and Reheat
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, we suggest baking at 350 degrees or microwaving with a paper towel on top to retain moisture.
You can freeze your prepared Sloppy Joe Casserole (not baked) for up to 3 months. Thaw, and then bake in the oven until your cheese is melty and the temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Recipe FAQs
What is the best pasta to use?
We love this recipe with Rotini, but Cavatappi, Penne, or Elbows can be used. You are looking for pasta that will infuse the flavor into every nook and cranny.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes. I suggest making your beef, sauce, pasta, and cheese mixture, then covering it before refrigerating for up to 24 hours. You can bake whenever you are ready.
What can I use in place of Velveeta?
Instead of Velveeta, you can use American cheese. What you are looking for is the melty, creamy consistency that Velveeta provides.
Nutrition
Calories: 344kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 20gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 1049mgPotassium: 520mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 692IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 315mgIron: 2mg
