Sloppy joe casserole takes everything people love about the sandwich, the sweet and tangy sauce and the seasoned ground beef, and turns it into a cheesy pasta bake you eat with a fork. The bow tie pasta cooks right in the sauce, so there is no second pot of boiling water, and the whole thing finishes in the oven under a layer of melted cheddar.
Dinner is ready in about 50 minutes and fills a 9×13 dish. It is mild enough for kids, it reheats well, and you can assemble it up to three days ahead.
Table of Contents
What Is Sloppy Joe Casserole?
It is a baked pasta dish built on sloppy joe flavors. Ground beef and onion are browned, then simmered with canned sloppy joe sauce, chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Dry farfalle goes straight into that liquid and absorbs it as it cooks. Corn and a block of melting cheese are stirred in to make it creamy, and shredded cheddar goes on top before a short bake. Think of it as a cross between a sloppy joe, a cheeseburger pasta and a classic ground beef casserole.
Why This Sloppy Joe Casserole Works
- The pasta cooks in the sauce. Starch from the farfalle thickens the liquid, and the pasta takes on the sloppy joe flavor all the way through.
- Canned sloppy joe sauce is the shortcut. It is already seasoned, sweet and tangy, so there is no long list of spices to measure.
- Two cheeses, two jobs. A melting cheese such as Velveeta turns the sauce creamy and smooth. Sharp cheddar on top adds real cheese flavor.
- Corn adds sweetness and texture. A cup of kernels breaks up the richness of the beef and cheese.
- A short, covered bake. Fifteen minutes at 375°F melts the top and heats the dish through without drying out the pasta.
Ingredient Notes
The complete list with amounts is in the recipe card. Here is what each ingredient does and what to buy.
- Ground beef: one pound of 85% lean. It has enough fat for flavor, and you drain the extra after browning.
- Onion: half a cup, diced. Yellow or white both work.
- Sloppy joe sauce: one 15.5 ounce can. Manwich is the brand this recipe was developed with.
- Chicken broth: 2 1/2 cups. This is the liquid the pasta cooks in, so do not reduce it.
- Diced tomatoes: one 14.5 ounce can, with the juice.
- Farfalle: 3/4 pound of dry bow tie pasta, added uncooked. The pinched centers stay a little firm and the ruffled ends catch the sauce.
- Velveeta: 8 ounces, cut into cubes so it melts quickly and evenly.
- Corn: one cup, frozen or canned and drained.
- Cheddar: 1 1/2 cups, shredded. Most of it goes on top.
What You Need
- A large, deep skillet or pot with a lid. High walls matter, because it has to hold the beef, three kinds of liquid and 3/4 pound of pasta.
- A 9×13 inch casserole dish, lightly greased.
- Foil to cover the dish in the oven.
- A wooden spoon for breaking up the beef and stirring the pasta.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole, Step by Step
1. Brown the beef and onion
Heat the oven to 375°F. Set a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up for 2 minutes, then add the onion. Cook 5 minutes more, until the beef is browned with no pink left and the onion is soft. Drain off the grease.
2. Add the liquids and the pasta
Pour in the sloppy joe sauce, the chicken broth and the diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring it to a gentle boil, then add the dry farfalle and stir so every piece is under the liquid.
3. Simmer until the pasta is al dente
Cover the pot and keep it at a gentle boil. Lift the lid and stir a few times so the pasta does not stick to the bottom. Because the boil is gentle, the pasta needs a few minutes longer than the time printed on the box. Start tasting a bow tie at the box time and stop when it is tender with a slight bite in the center.
4. Stir in the corn and melt the cheese
Turn the heat to low and stir in the corn. Scatter the Velveeta cubes over the top, put the lid back on and give them a few minutes to soften. Then stir gently until the cheese disappears into a creamy sauce.
5. Top and bake
Spoon everything into the greased 9×13 dish and spread it out. Cover the top with the shredded cheddar. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges are bubbling. Uncover and serve.
The One-Pot Shortcut
You can skip the casserole dish and the oven completely. Once the pasta is cooked and the Velveeta is stirred in, sprinkle the cheddar over the top of the pot, put the lid on and leave it on low heat until the cheese melts. Serve it straight from the pot. This one-pot sloppy joe pasta saves a dish and about 15 minutes, which makes it a good choice for a weeknight. The baked version holds heat longer and looks better on the table, so it is the one to make for guests or a potluck.
Tips for Cooking Pasta in the Sauce
- Keep the boil gentle. A hard boil evaporates the liquid before the pasta is cooked and can scorch the bottom of the pot.
- Keep the lid on. The steam cooks the pasta that sits above the liquid.
- Stir from the bottom. Farfalle likes to settle and stick, so scrape the base of the pot each time you stir.
- Taste, do not guess. Bite a bow tie through the thick center. That part cooks last.
- Expect a loose sauce at first. It thickens when the cheese goes in and again as it bakes and rests.
- Add a splash of broth if needed. If the pot looks dry before the pasta is tender, stir in a few tablespoons of broth or water.
Can I Use a Different Pasta or Cheese?
Penne is the closest swap for farfalle in this sloppy joe pasta. Other short shapes work too, but check the box, since cooking times differ and the pasta is your timer here. You can also use a full pound of pasta. The casserole will be less saucy, because the liquid stays the same.
Velveeta is used because it melts without separating, which is what makes the sauce creamy. A block of American cheese from the deli counter behaves the same way. Natural cheeses such as cheddar on their own can turn oily or grainy when stirred into hot liquid, so keep the cheddar for the top.
Is Sloppy Joe Casserole Kid Friendly?
Very. Sloppy joe casserole is one of the easiest dinners to get kids to eat. The sauce is sweet and tangy with no real heat, the pasta shape is fun, and the corn and cheese are familiar. For picky eaters, dice the onion small so it melts into the sauce. For adults who want more punch, serve it with pickled jalapenos, hot sauce or a spoonful of dill pickle relish on the side, the same toppings that go on a sloppy joe sandwich.
Ground beef should be cooked until no pink remains. If you check with a thermometer, it is done at 160°F, the safe minimum internal temperature for ground meat.
How to Tell When It Is Ready
There are two checkpoints. On the stove, the pasta is ready for the cheese when a bow tie is tender at the ruffled ends and just slightly firm at the pinched center, and the liquid has reduced to a loose sauce that still moves when you tilt the pot. In the oven, the sloppy joe casserole is done when the cheddar has melted into a smooth layer and you can see sauce bubbling around the edges of the dish. Everything is already cooked before it goes in, so the bake is only about melting and heating through.
Give the dish 5 to 10 minutes on the counter before serving. The sauce tightens as it cools slightly, and the portions hold together on the spoon.
Why 85% Lean Ground Beef?
Ground beef labeled 85% lean has enough fat to brown well and stay tender, and not so much that the sauce turns greasy. Leaner beef, 90% or higher, works but can cook up dry and crumbly. Fattier beef, such as 80% lean, has great flavor but leaves more grease in the pot, so drain it thoroughly. Whatever you buy, break it into small crumbles as it browns. Small pieces spread through the pasta, so each forkful tastes like a sloppy joe.
Topping Ideas
This sloppy joe casserole is finished with cheddar, and it does not need more. If you want to dress it up at the table, borrow from the sandwich:
- Dill pickle chips or relish for crunch and tang.
- Pickled jalapenos or a few shakes of hot sauce for heat.
- Sliced green onions for a fresh bite.
- Crushed butter crackers or crispy fried onions, sprinkled on after baking so they stay crunchy.
- A spoonful of sour cream to cool it down.
What to Do With Leftovers
Leftover sloppy joe pasta bake thickens overnight as the farfalle keeps absorbing sauce. Stir in a splash of broth or water before reheating and it loosens right up. Pack single portions for lunches, or spoon leftovers into a toasted bun for a quick sloppy joe sandwich. You can also reheat it in a small baking dish under a little extra cheddar until bubbly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Boiling the pasta separately. The recipe counts on the starch and on the pasta soaking up the broth. Pre-cooked pasta leaves you with soup.
- Cutting the broth. It looks like a lot of liquid at first. The dry pasta absorbs most of it.
- Walking away from the pot. A few stirs are what keep the farfalle from sticking.
- Stirring cold Velveeta in right away. Let the cubes sit under the lid for a few minutes first so they melt smoothly.
- Baking uncovered. The foil keeps the top layer of pasta from drying out before the cheese melts.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Pasta is still hard | Boil was too gentle or the lid was off | Cover, raise the heat slightly and cook a few minutes longer |
| Pasta is mushy | Cooked past al dente before baking | Stop when the centers still have a little bite, since it softens more in the oven |
| Sauce is too thin | Not simmered long enough, or served immediately | Let the casserole stand 5 to 10 minutes after baking |
| Sauce is too thick or dry | Boiled too hard and lost liquid | Stir in a splash of warm broth before adding the cheese |
| Pasta stuck to the pot | Not stirred during the simmer | Stir from the bottom every few minutes |
| Greasy casserole | Beef fat was not drained | Drain the beef well before adding the sauce |
| Cheese did not melt smoothly | Heat too high when the Velveeta went in | Lower the heat, cover and let it soften before stirring |
Easy Swaps
| Instead of | Use |
|---|---|
| Farfalle | Penne |
| 3/4 pound pasta | 1 pound pasta, for a less saucy casserole |
| Frozen corn | Canned corn, drained |
| Velveeta | Deli American cheese, cubed |
| Baking in a casserole dish | The one-pot method on the stove |
Make Ahead, Storage and Freezing
- Make ahead: assemble the casserole in the dish, top with cheddar, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, then bake covered at 350°F for 25 minutes.
- Refrigerate leftovers: store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
- Freeze: cool completely and freeze for up to 3 months. It is a good freezer meal. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat: warm portions in the microwave, or cover the dish with foil and heat in the oven until hot in the center. A spoonful of broth loosens the sauce.
What to Serve With Sloppy Joe Casserole
Cornbread is the natural partner for sloppy joe casserole. Because the casserole is rich and cheesy, a crisp side helps: coleslaw, a green salad, steamed green beans, roasted broccoli or dill pickle spears.
If your family likes ground beef dinners, try ground beef tacos, classic meatloaf or easy beef chili. For more cheesy pasta, make my Italian sausage pasta or the easy lasagna recipe with ricotta. Or browse all my casserole recipes and ground beef recipes.
For a fresher one-pot pasta for the grown-ups, see my Mediterranean pasta with lemon chicken.
Finish the meal with a warm easy blackberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream.
Feeding a crowd? Finish with a bowl of no-bake cheesecake dip for everyone to share.
Sloppy Joe Casserole FAQ
Do I cook the pasta before adding it?
No. The dry farfalle goes straight into the pot and cooks in the sloppy joe sauce, broth and tomato juice.
Can I use homemade sloppy joe sauce?
This recipe was tested with one 15.5 ounce can of Manwich. A homemade sauce can be used in the same amount, but its thickness and sweetness will change the result slightly.
Can I make sloppy joe casserole without baking it?
Yes. Sprinkle the cheddar over the pot, cover and leave it on low heat until melted. Serve from the pot.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. Assemble, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Rest it 30 minutes on the counter and bake covered at 350°F for 25 minutes.
Does sloppy joe casserole freeze well?
Yes, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat covered until hot.
Can I use ground turkey?
The recipe was tested with 85% lean ground beef. Ground turkey browns the same way but is leaner and milder, so the casserole will taste lighter.
What pasta is best for sloppy joe casserole?
Farfalle, or bow ties. Penne is the suggested substitute. Check the box time for any other shape.
How many does it serve?
A 9×13 dish gives about 6 generous dinner servings, or 8 smaller ones with sides.
What goes with sloppy joe casserole?
Cornbread, coleslaw, a green salad or a simple green vegetable.
Is it spicy?
No. Canned sloppy joe sauce is sweet and tangy. Add hot sauce or jalapenos at the table if you want heat.
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Ingredients
Method
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- In a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat, cook and crumble the ground beef for 2 minutes. Add the onion and cook 5 minutes more, until the beef is browned (160°F) and the onion is soft. Drain the grease.
- Add the sloppy joe sauce, chicken broth and diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Stir in the dry farfalle. Cover and keep at a gentle boil, stirring a few times so the pasta does not stick, until al dente. This takes a few minutes longer than the box time. Taste a piece to check.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the corn. Add the cubed Velveeta, cover until it softens, then stir gently until melted and creamy.
- Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and top with the shredded cheddar.
- Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the edges bubble. Uncover and serve.
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