Description
This Quick Sloppy Joe Pasta Casserole is a fun twist on the classic sloppy joe, packed with ground beef, pasta, and a savory, tangy sauce. It’s baked to perfection with melted cheese, making it an easy and satisfying one-pan meal the whole family will love!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon mustard (yellow or Dijon)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 oz elbow macaroni or any short pasta
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
-
Cook the pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
-
Prepare the sloppy joe mixture:
- In a large skillet or pan, heat a little olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 5-7 minutes). Drain any excess fat.
- Add the diced onion and garlic to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture for 5-7 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together, stirring occasionally.
-
Assemble the casserole:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large casserole dish (9×13 inches), combine the cooked pasta with the sloppy joe mixture. Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Top the casserole with shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
-
Bake:
- Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through.
- If you prefer a crispy top, you can broil the casserole for an additional 2-3 minutes at the end of the baking time.
-
Serve:
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- You can make this dish ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days before baking.
- For a healthier version, you can use ground turkey or chicken instead of ground beef.
- Feel free to add extra veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms to the sloppy joe mixture for added flavor and nutrition.
- If you don’t have mozzarella, you can skip it or use any other cheese you prefer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-30 minutes (depending on the box instructions)
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 60mg