Easy Sloppy Joe Beef Casserole Recipe

This Easy Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe is a whole family casserole that is bursting with flavor. Sloppy joe mix, ground beef, rotini pasta, and topped with diced biscuits. This recipe gets thrown into a casserole dish and baked to golden cheesy perfection. Grab a spoon and dish up an instant family favorite recipe.

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The ground beef mixture is so easy to throw together. This delicious casserole gives you all the flavors of sloppy joes, tender pasta, and, of course, bread from the biscuits. It is a comfort food meal.

Try out this baked chicken parmesan, or add some heat, and try this spicy slow cooker chili or my popular boneless pork chops.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple Preparation: This casserole requires minimal prep work – simply mix the ingredients, layer them in a dish, and bake. It’s a hassle-free recipe perfect for busy weeknights.
Great for Leftovers: This casserole is delicious, fresh out of the oven, and reheats beautifully, ensuring that leftover night is just as satisfying.
Family Friendly: Picky eaters are no match for the familiar and beloved flavors of a Sloppy Joe combined with pasta and cheese, making this dish a hit with kids and adults alike.
Versatile Dish: Feel free to customize this casserole with your favorite veggies or cheeses to make it your own or to use up ingredients you already have on hand.

Ingredients For Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

Ingredients for sloppy joe including canned biscuits, pasta, and cooked hamburger on a countertop.

Pasta – I used rotini pasta for this recipe. You will want to cook till al dente.
Cooked Hamburger – You want to crumble your ground beef in a skillet.
Sloppy Joe Mix – Reach for your favorite sloppy Joe mix; Manwich is a great one.
Seasonings – Garlic and onion powder are what I used to add extra flavors.
Cheese- Velveeta cheese is what I reached for as it offers an ultra-creamy texture.
Biscuits – You will want canned refrigerated biscuits. Dice them and place them on top of the casserole.

See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions and Variations

Here is the ultimate comfort food, but you will find you can change up this easy casserole. Here are a few simple ingredients to change up the recipe.

You can use lean ground beef or substitute ground turkey. Cook the meat mixture until it is done.
Change out the Velveeta cheese with any other shredded cheddar cheese instead. Do a single layer on the grown ground beef and Manwich sauce.
Instead of pasta, top with tater tots and make this into a sloppy joe tater tot casserole. Cook until the crispy tater tots are golden brown.
Add some red bell pepper, green bell pepper, or diced onion to the mixture.
Swap the ground beef with ground chicken meat.
Mix in some drained green beans or even corn for added flavor.

How To Make Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

Collage of creating a sloppy joe casserole.

Brown ground beef over medium heat in a large skillet until it’s fully cooked. Stir in the seasoning, sloppy joe sauce, and the cooked pasta. (Photos 1 & 2)

Collage of assembling sloppy joe on a casserole.

Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and scatter the Velveeta cheese over the top. (Photo 3)
Chop the biscuits into pieces and arrange them over the cheese. Proceed to bake following the recipe’s temperature and time guidelines. (Photo 4)

Baked sloppy joe with pasta on a white plate.

Recipe Tips

Pre-cooking Pasta: Make sure to cook your pasta al dente, as it will continue to cook in the oven, preventing it from becoming mushy.
Meat Choices: Ground turkey can be a healthier beef substitute while retaining the dish’s hearty, delicious flavor.
Spice It Up: For those who enjoy a little kick, consider adding a dash of cayenne pepper or a spoonful of chopped jalapeños to the beef mixture.
Vegetable Add-ins: Sneak in extra nutrients by incorporating finely chopped carrots or zucchini, which blend seamlessly with the other flavors.
Cheese Varieties: Experiment with different cheeses like sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack to find your perfect cheesy topping.
Biscuit Golden Crust: For a more golden-brown biscuit topping, brush the biscuits with a beaten egg before baking.

Alternative Cooking Methods

For those who prefer to utilize their pressure cooker for speed and convenience, this Sloppy Joe casserole recipe adapts well to the Instant Pot.

To convert the cooking method, simply use the sauté function to brown your meat and then mix in the remaining ingredients, except for the biscuits. Pressure cook for a brief time, release, and then use the sauté function again to simmer and thicken the sauce if needed.

For the final biscuit layer, you can either bake them separately in the oven until golden and serve them alongside the casserole or if your Instant Pot model includes a bake function, try it for an all-in-one pot meal.

Always consult your Instant Pot’s manual for specific layering methods and cooking times to ensure the best results.

Storing Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Now, you can freeze any leftovers if you want. Just know that the pasta will soften a bit once you thaw and reheat it. You can freeze it for 2-3 months, then thaw it in the fridge overnight or reheat it straight from frozen.

What To Serve With Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe

Pair with a crisp side salad, pull apart garlic bread, or your favorite roasted vegetable side dish. This is kind of a meal in one, but feel free to pair it with any other sides.

Recipe FAQs

How to know when the sloppy joe casserole is done?

You want the sloppy joe casserole to be cooked all the way through. The biggest thing is to look at the biscuits on top. Make sure they are cooked through and the cheese is melted. Then serve up the delicious sloppy joe casserole!

Can I make this casserole vegetarian?

Yes, you can easily make this casserole vegetarian by substituting the ground meat with a plant-based protein, such as lentils, or a vegetarian “ground beef” product available at most grocery stores.

How can I make the biscuits from scratch if I don’t have canned biscuits?

You can make a simple biscuit dough using flour, baking powder, butter, and milk. Knead the dough, roll it out, cut it into pieces, and place them on top of the casserole.

What’s the best way to re-crisp the biscuits if the leftovers have gone soft?

To re-crisp the biscuits, place the portion of casserole you are reheating in an oven preheated to 350°F until the biscuits are crispy again, typically for about 10 minutes.

Can I prepare this dish ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the meat and pasta mixture ahead of time, store it in the fridge, and then add the cheese and biscuits right before baking to maintain the biscuits’ texture.

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Baked sloppy joe topped with biscuits in a white casserole.

5 from 1 vote