Description
Hearty sloppy joe casserole combines classic comfort with easy weeknight dining. Cheesy layers and zesty ground beef create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) lean ground beef
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 large white onion (finely diced)
- 1 large green bell pepper (finely diced)
- 1 can (15 oz or 425 g) tomato sauce
- 3 tbsps unsalted butter (melted)
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) ketchup
- 2 tbsps brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1.5 tsps baking powder
- 2 tsps dry mustard
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F (200°C) and prepare a 13×9 inch baking dish with light greasing.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef until no pink remains, approximately 6-7 minutes.
- Add diced onions and green bell peppers to the beef, sautéing until vegetables become translucent and tender, about 4-5 minutes.
- Stir in brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard, and garlic salt, mixing thoroughly with the meat mixture.
- Pour tomato sauce and ketchup into the skillet, blending until ingredients are evenly distributed and sauce simmers gently.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt for the casserole topping.
- Gradually incorporate milk, melted butter, and egg into the dry ingredients, stirring until a smooth batter forms.
- Gently fold shredded cheddar cheese into the topping mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Spread the prepared meat mixture evenly across the baking dish.
- Carefully pour the cheese topping over the meat, creating a uniform layer.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until topping turns golden brown and edges become slightly crispy.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5-7 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle.
Notes
- Customize meat alternatives by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for different dietary preferences.
- Reduce sodium content by using low-sodium ketchup and eliminating garlic salt, replacing with fresh minced garlic and a pinch of salt.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and ensuring other ingredients are gluten-free certified.
- Enhance vegetable nutrition by adding extra diced vegetables like carrots or zucchini to the meat mixture for increased fiber and vitamins.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg