Grab a pack of ground beef and try this easy sloppy joe casserole recipe. Classic Sloppy Joe meat layered with cheese and crispy tater tots. This is my go-to recipe when I want a simple, hearty, comforting meal.

 

As a seasoned home cook with many years of creating family-friendly meals, I am here to tell you that this sloppy joe casserole is a great combination of simplicity and flavor, making it a perfect meal for busy families.

Why you’ll love this ground beef casserole

If you love the flavors of Sloppy Joes but don’t want a sandwich, this casserole is a great alternative. You get all of the delicious taste of Sloppy Joes with the addition of melted cheese and crispy tater tots. I love that this is a full dinner in one dish and is perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

Not only is this casserole full of flavor, but it’s so simple to make with just a few ingredients.

Don’t want a casserole, try these fun Sloppy Joe tacos or Sloppy Joe Texas toast.

Ingredients needed for sloppy joe casserole

• Ground beef – I like using lean ground beef for this recipe.
• Onion – Yellow onion or sweet Vidalia onion work the best.
• Bell pepper – Use your favorite color of bell pepper.
• Sloppy joe sauce – You can use canned sauce, like Manwich sauce, or homemade sloppy joe sauce.
• Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese.
• Crispy Crowns – Frozen Crispy Crowns or frozen tater tots.
• Optional – You can top with diced green onions or chives for color.

How to make Sloppy Joe casserole

• Beef – Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the diced onions and diced peppers with the beef and cook another 3-4 minutes. Pour the Sloppy Joe sauce in with the beef and stir to combine.

• Assemble – Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Spread the ground beef mixture out in the prepared casserole dish.

• Top with shredded cheese. I recommend shredding your own cheese because it melts the best but you can use prepackaged.

• Place Crispy Crowns or tater tots on top of the cheese. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the Crispy Crowns are cooked and golden brown.

Substitutions

• You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken.
• If you don’t have Crispy Crowns you can swap out with frozen tater tots.

Can this casserole be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare this casserole ahead of time. Spread the sloppy joe meat mixture in the casserole dish and top with cheese. When ready to serve, top with the Crispy Crowns or tater tots and bake.

Storing leftovers

Let the leftover sloppy joe casserole cool and then cover or transfer to an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheat in the oven at 375 until heated through.

This recipe can be frozen for up to 2 months.

What to serve with Sloppy Joe tater tot casserole

Ground beef casseroles can be paired with just about anything. I even made a list of some of the best Sloppy Joe side dishes.

Try serving with a classic side salad with dressing for extra veggies. Garlic bread or roasted asparagus are also great choices.

More easy ground beef recipes

There are so many easy and delicious recipes you can make with a pack of ground beef. Here are some of my other favorites.

• Ground beef alfredo pasta is a simple, creamy pasta dish.
• Totchos with ground beef is a delicious appetizer or meal.
• Ground beef and ramen is full of flavor and super easy to make.
• Seasonings for ground beef is a simple way to make your beef taste better.
• Ground beef enchiladas are a fast, 30 minute meal.

If you make this easy sloppy joe recipe be sure to let me know in the comments.