This sloppy joe casserole recipe is the perfect comfort food. This easy to make casserole can be had in only 1 hour.
I absolutely love this Sloppy Joe Casserole. The combination of the veggies, the beef, and the penne pasta is spot on.
I found the meat to have a little sweetness to it, but some of my guests did not find it sweet. Go figure! Maybe just the combination of the brown sugar and corn with the ground beef gave it te sweetness.
The only reason I am calling this a Sloppy Joe Casserole is that it shares many of the same ingredients as a traditional Sloppy Joe Sandwich. Except made in a casserole. I love bread but need to keep those carbs in check!
You can check out my Sloppy Joes Sandwich recipe for comparison. Or even better, check out my wife’s favorite Sloppy Joe Turkey Skillet recipe. A must try if you prefer healthier white meat over beef.
One of the surprise ingredients in this Sloppy Joe Casserole is the corn. The corn adds a little sweetness as well as a nice texture.
I was almost tempted to add some chopped bacon (because we all know that everything tastes better with bacon) but this dish did not need any help.
As far as the cheese is concerned, the Colby Jack Cheese really compliments this dish. But if you don’t have any on hand or not in the mood to make a grocery run just for some Colby Jack cheese, you can substitute with mozzarella or Cheddar Cheese.
I’m not sure why this recipe has become the 2nd most popular recipe on this site. I know it tastes great and a hit with everyone but what is the attraction? The flavor? The simplicity of it? I guess it doesn’t matter. You must give this recipe a try!
If you enjoy these types of casseroles I highly recommend you try my Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Bake Recipe. One of my personal favorites.
Ever wonder how Sloppy Joe got its name? Then check out this interesting article on Wikipedia. I love to know the history of some of the recipes I publish.
A Quick Note about Handling Raw Beef
Thaw raw ground beef on a plate on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator, to avoid drip onto other foods.
Keep raw and ready-to-eat meats separate.
Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling raw ground beef. Wash cutting boards, bowls, and utensils used to prepare raw ground beef with hot soapy water and rinse well.
Use separate plates to carry raw ground beef patties to the cooking area and cooked patties to the serving area.
Use a Thermometer to Insure Ground Beef Reaches the Safely Cooked Internal Temperature of 160°F.
How do I Make this Sloppy Joe Casserole?
Heat a little olive oil a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic until the beef is browned and crumbly. Drain and discard grease.
Stir tomatoes, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper into ground beef mixture; reduce heat and simmer until heated through.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook corn in the boiling water until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Bring another large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook al dente according to directions on the package. Drain and set aside.
Add corn, pasta, and cheese to ground beef mixture. Mix well. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Ground Beef
- 1 Small Yellow Onion, Chopped
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, Chopped
- 1 Clove Garlic, Chopped
- 14 oz Petite Diced Tomatoes
- 1 Cup Ketchup
- 1 Tbsp Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Tsp Yellow Mustard
- 2 Cups Frozen Corn
- 16 oz Penne Pasta
- 8 oz Colby Jack Cheese, Shredded
- Salt & Pepper, To Taste
how to make this recipe
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Heat a little olive oil a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir beef, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and garlic until the beef is browned and crumbly. Drain and discard grease.
- Stir tomatoes, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper into ground beef mixture; reduce heat and simmer until heated through.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook corn in the boiling water until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Bring another large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook al dente according to directions on package. Drain and set aside.
- Add corn, pasta, and cheese to ground beef mixture. Mix well. Pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.
Nutrition
Any nutritional information provided on this site is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used. If nutritional information is important to you and your diet, please verify this recipe with your nutritionist.
OMG this is fantastic. Easy to make, I recommend this recipe. Everyone should try it and kids will love it too.
Thank you for this amazing dish!
Thank you! It’s one of my favs as well.
Do you think I can use the no boil penne? Do you think there is enough liquid to cook them in the oven? Sounds awesome!
Great question. Unfortunately I’ve never used no-boil pasta before. But if it’s just like boil pasta I don’t see why it wouldn’t turn out the same. The meat mixture is wet so I think you should be fine. If you do try it, come back and let us know how it turns out!
This was an awesome recipe. Thank you so much for sharing it. It was such a hit and all my family loved it.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for letting us know!
I have been making a very similar casserole for 40 years. I use the Manwich Sandwich Sauce in a can, but otherwise, it’s the same! I’m sure yours is better being homemade, but the canned is great when you’re in a hurry!
That is a great tip! Thanks for sharing. I have to try that next time I am in a hurry.
I feel like the pan should have been larger than a 9×13 and the casserole wasn’t very warm after the 20 minute baking time Should I have covered it??
Sorry to hear you had trouble making this recipe. I’ve made this dish many times without the issue you describe. I know many others as well. Might be something unique to your setup. That being said, if you do leave it in longer, I would strongly suggest you cover it with foil towards the ends of the process so you don’t burn up the cheese.
can I freeze this.
I would not recommend it. Freezing cooked noodles will make them like mush when they are thawed out.
Turned out very good! Only I didn’t cook the pasta or corn first I just added 1/2 cup water and covered with foil and cooked it for about 50-55 minutes then uncovered and added cheese and cooked for 10 minutes more. Turned out perfect! Thanks!
Great! Thanks for sharing your method!