This easy sloppy joe casserole recipe is full of hearty ground beef, tender pasta and topped with gooey melted cheese baked to golden brown and bubbling in the oven. This is a perfect choice for a busy weeknight dinner, and your whole family will gobble it up.
You can’t go wrong with homemade sloppy joes. We can certainly help you out with some of our favorite recipes of our classic sloppy joes or change it up with an easy twist on the original with our Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes or grilled cheese sloppy joe.
INGREDIENTS
sloppy Joe casserole raw ingredients that are labeled
You will need:
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- 1 cup diced yellow onions
- 1 (24-ounce) can original Manwich sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) can original Manwich sauce
- 1 (12-ounce) package farfalle (bowtie) noodles, cooked al dente
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Velveeta
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Colby-jack cheese
Pro Tip: If you can’t find the two different sizes of Manwich sauce at the grocery store, buy what is available. If you have extra once you measure out your sauce for the recipe, freeze the rest to use next time you make this delicious casserole.
Cheese: You can substitute cubed Velveeta instead of the shredded version; just keep in mind that it will take a bit longer to incorporate. You can also switch out the Colby-jack for cheddar cheese or a shredded blend for the topping.
Meat: Any ground meat would work in place of the ground beef, including ground pork sausage, ground chicken or ground turkey.
Pasta: You can substitute other bite-size pasta for the bowtie noodles, including penne or pasta shells.
Sauce: Thick and Chunky or Bold Sloppy Joe sauce can be used in place of the Manwich original sloppy joe sauce if you prefer. An alternative to store-bought sloppy joe sauce is making our homemade version. It uses common ingredients such as tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar and yellow mustard to create the same flavor you love.
Vegetables: You could saute additional vegetables to mix into the sloppy joe sauce. Try green bell pepper or red bell pepper.
HOW TO MAKE THIS SLOPPY JOE CASSEROLE RECIPE
PRO TIP: For the pasta, al dente is the ideal consistency. The pasta will be tender and will still have a slightly firm texture when you bite into it.
STEP ONE: Using a 4 to 5 quart heavy-bottomed stockpot or dutch oven, cook beef and diced onion on medium-high heat. Drain any excess grease, and return the browned ground beef and onions to the stockpot.
PRO TIP: For an even quicker cooking time, ground beef can be cooked ahead of time. Brown ground beef in a large skillet and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to a month.
STEP TWO: Add the 2 cans of Manwich sauce, the cooked bowtie noodles and the shredded Velveeta to your large pot. Stir the sloppy joe mixture until well combined.
STEP THREE: Pour the pasta and ground beef mixture into a 9×13 casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray.
STEP FOUR: Evenly sprinkle the 8-ounce package of shredded Colby-jack on top of the casserole.
STEP FIVE: Heat oven to 350°F and bake for 25 minutes.
HOW TO SERVE
Serve this baked sloppy joe casserole with a side of coleslaw, corn casserole or caesar salad, and you’ll have a new weeknight favorite. Bake up a batch of cornbread to serve on the side of this dish to complete your meal.
STORAGE
IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
IN THE FREEZER: The baked casserole can be frozen, covered in foil, for up to 3 months.
Seasoned beef, pasta and melted cheese take the traditional sloppy joe recipe and deliver it in a new, delicious way. Add this warm, comforting sloppy joe casserole with noodles to your dinner rotation. It’s comfort food at its finest.