Cheesy Sloppy Joe Casserole
This sloppy joe casserole is a hearty freezer-friendly dinner for the whole family! A rich and saucy homemade sloppy joe layer is topped with cheddar cheese and crispy tater tots, and baked until bubbly and hot.
Prep Time25 minutes mins
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time55 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy dinner
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 380kcal
Sloppy joes
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef (I use 80/20)
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 large yellow onion finely chopped
- 1/3 medium green bell pepper finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 2/3 cup reduced sodium beef broth or water
- 1 Tbsp packed light brown sugar (optional and to taste)
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 3/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
- few dashes of hot sauce
Casserole
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- frozen tater tots as many as you'd like to fit on top of the sloppy joe layer
Make sloppy joes
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over med/med high heat. When hot, add beef and brown, crumbling as it cooks, for about 5-7 minutes, or until cooked through. Drain.
In the same skillet, add butter and heat over med heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook about 3-4 minutes, until soft. Add garlic and cook about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Add beef back to the skillet and add tomato paste. Stir well and cook for a minute or so, until the tomato paste is well incorporated.
Add ketchup, beef broth, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, red pepper flakes and pepper. Stir well to combine.
Cook over medium heat for about 7-9 minutes, until mixture has thickened a bit.
Bake
Bake for 25 minutes, until tater tots are cooked through and golden brown.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese and return to the oven and bake another 5-7 minutes or until melted.
- I've estimated this recipe serves about 8.
- The exact amount of tater tots will vary from person to person, so put as many on as you'd like (or will fit).
Calories: 380kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 88mg | Sodium: 725mg | Potassium: 342mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 715IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 336mg | Iron: 1mg