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Sloppy Joe Casserole

A comforting casserole that combines the flavors of traditional sloppy joes with pasta, topped with melty cheddar cheese.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey for a lighter version)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • to taste Salt and black pepper
  • 3 cups cooked pasta (elbow macaroni or penne work great)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 cup crushed crackers or French fried onions (optional, for topping)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain off any excess fat.
  3. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened.
  4. Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
  5. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the cooked pasta and the beef mixture. Mix in 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
  6. Pour the mixture into your prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese on top. If using, add a layer of crushed crackers or French fried onions for extra crunch.
Baking
  1. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the casserole is hot and bubbling, and the cheese is melted and golden.
  2. Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Also, you can freeze the assembled casserole, thaw overnight, and bake as instructed.