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The notable flavors in a classic sloppy joe are that edge of sweetness plus the tang of paprika and chili powder in the beefy sloppy joes sauce. So in this recipe, you get that familiar flavor and aroma, but mingled with your favorite pasta shape and lots of cheese instead of a notoriously messy sandwich.
You’ll stretch that pound of ground beef even further, too, with this tasty Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe with just five ingredients! So bonus for budget-friendly meals.
This recipe uses an easy grocery store grab: 3 cans of Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce, but if you want to try ours from-scratch, you’ll be wowed by our traditional Sloppy Joes sandwich recipe here.
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The bottom line
I grew up on sloppy joes without cheese on the sandwich (I remember one time my mom “forgot” to put ground beef in it haha. That was a weird day. But anyway. ). But this 9×13 casserole is heavy with tangy, sweet sauce, melted cheese, and cooked pasta. You get to feed a whole family so it stretches the ground beef, too. Hope you enjoy this comforting weeknight meal that turns pantry staples into one of your new (yet kind of nostalgic) dinnertime faves.
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Sloppy Joe Casserole
Equipment
- Medium skillet
- Large Pot
- Strainer/Colander
- Silicone or wooden spoon
- Spatula (for breaking up and stirring beef and onion)
- Cheese Grater (if grating your own cheese)
- 9×13-inch casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef cooked and drained
- 1 small yellow onion peeled and diced
- 3 15 oz cans Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce
- 16 oz box Rigatoni or penne noodles cooked al dente
- 8 oz cheddar, colby or Monterey Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
- Start a pot of water to boil on the stove. Cook the penne or Rigatoni just until al dente. (See instructions for timing on the box, but it's usually about 9 minutes.) The pasta will finish cooking in the oven.
- While the water boils: In the skillet on the stove top, cook the diced onion over medium heat until it's translucent and getting soft.
- Add the ground beef to the pan and break up the meat into small pieces; cook until browned and there's no pink showing. Drain off the grease into a heat-safe container.
- Remove from the stove and drain the cooked pasta into a colander in the sink. Don't rinse. Add drained pasta back to the pot it was boiled in.
- Add the pan of beef mixture to the pot of cooked, drained pasta, then add sloppy joe sauce and half the cheese. Stir gently to combine.
- Transfer the mixture to prepared casserole dish and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake uncovered 25 minutes at 350F or until cheese melts and edges are bubbling and beginning to brown a bit.
- Cool slightly before serving. Add a green salad and a roll to the plates, if desired.
I made it, and it’s tasty!