This Sloppy Joe Casserole is probably unlike anything you’ve seen: the most delicious sloppy joe filling is topped with a layer of crispy tater tots (YEP) that are then covered in melty cheese. It all crisps, melts, and becomes one in the oven and you become a mealtime hero. Dietary modifications are below!
Table of Contents
- This recipe is…
- What is Sloppy Joe Casserole?
- Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Casserole
- How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Recipe Tips and Tricks
- What to Serve with a Tater Tot Casserole
- How to Store Leftover Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Favorite Casserole Recipes
- Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe Recipe
This recipe is…
What is Sloppy Joe Casserole?
Sloppy joe filling is essentially ground beef, some tomato, spices, and just a touch of sweetness that are cooked and tossed together until totally delicious. A typical sloppy joe serves this yummy filling between hamburger buns, but I decided to make a casserole out of it.
To make matters even MORE fun, I topped the filling with frozen tater tots. it’s that simple! Pop the pan into the oven and you will get delicious filling topped by crispy tots and (if you wish) a layer of melty cheese.
I like mine with sour cream and green onion!
If you’re looking for more delicious family-friendly meals, be sure to try this ham and cheese casserole and our fan-favorite stuffed pepper casserole – you won’t be disappointed!
Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Casserole
Ground beef, a simple Sloppy Joe sauce, tater tots, and some garnish – that’s it! Here’s the full list with amounts included.
- 2 pounds of ground beef
- 1 cup of ketchup
- ¼ cup of honey
- ¼ cup of yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 32 ounces of frozen tater tots
- 2 cups of cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup of green onions, thinly sliced
- Sour cream, for garnish
Ingredient Variations and Modifications
We’ve got a couple of swaps and modification ideas for you!
- Make it dairy-free – skip the cheese topper and the sour cream garnish if you’re looking for a dairy-free dinner option.
- Swap the ground beef – if you’re short on ground beef (or just prefer a different protein) use ground turkey or ground chicken instead!
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
This casserole is really easy to make and even has the potential to be a one-pan meal if you’ve got a big enough skillet. Here’s how you’ll make it happen:
- Brown the ground beef – add the ground beef to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 15-20 minutes, breaking up the ground beef as it cooks, until it is fully browned.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Make the sloppy joe sauce – in a large bowl, whisk together the ketchup, honey, mustard, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until fully combined.
- Add the sauce to the ground beef – pour the sauce over the ground beef in the skillet and stir to coat.
- Transfer to a casserole dish – transfer the sloppy joe-style ground beef into a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Top with tater tots – top the ground beef with the tater tots.
- Bake – bake for 30 minutes, until the tater tots are browned.
- Add cheese and bake again – sprinkle the cheese over the tater tots, and return the dish to the oven for 5 more minutes, until the cheese has fully melted.
- Garnish and enjoy – garnish with a sprinkle of green onions and a dollop of sour cream, and enjoy!
Make-Ahead Method
To make this Sloppy Joe casserole ahead of time, brown the meat, mix it with the Sloppy Joe sauce, and transfer it into a 9×13 casserole dish. Before serving, top the ground meat with the tater tots and pop it into the oven to bake for 30 minutes. Pull it from the oven, top it with shredded cheese, and let it bake for 5 more minutes.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Use a skillet – if you have an 11-inch skillet, brown your meat in that, and skip transferring it to a 9×13 casserole dish.
Cook your ground beef for long enough – if you cook the ground beef for long enough, the grease will reabsorb into the meat, so that you don’t have to drain it. This will save you a step & build REALLY delicious flavor.
What to Serve with a Tater Tot Casserole
This casserole is filling on its own, no doubt, but if you’re looking to add a little bit of green to your plate, these veggie sides would be delicious accompaniments:
- Roasted Asaparagus
- Steamed Green Beans
- Steamed Broccoli
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Spicy Spinach Salad
- Lemon Sea Salt Arugula Salad
- Lemony Kale
How to Store Leftover Sloppy Joe Casserole
Store your leftover Sloppy Joe casserole in an airtight container (or tightly cover your casserole dish with aluminum foil) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Oooh, good question! Per the US. Food website, tater tots “were invented by F. Nephi Grigg of Ore-Ida in 1953 as a way to use excess potato shavings that came from making frozen french fries. Originally, the shavings were sold as livestock feed.” Thank you, F. Nephi Grigg!
What’s the difference between a Sloppy Joe and a Sloppy Jane, you ask? Sloppy Joes are made with ground beef, while Sloppy Janes are made with ground turkey. Otherwise, they’re the same!
More Favorite Casserole Recipes
Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 32 ounces frozen tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup green onions thinly sliced, for garnish
- Sour cream for garnish
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 15-20 minutes, breaking up the ground beef as it cooks, until it is fully browned.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the ketchup, honey, mustard, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until fully combined.
- Pour the sauce over the ground beef in the skillet and stir to coat.
- Transfer the ground beef into a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Top the ground beef mixture with the tater tots.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the tater tots are browned.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the tater tots, and return the dish to the oven for 5 more minutes, until the cheese has fully melted.
- Garnish with a sprinkle of green onions and a dollop of sour cream, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Make it dairy-free – skip the cheese topper and the sour cream garnish if you’re looking for a dairy-free dinner option.
- Swap the ground beef – if you’re short on ground beef (or just prefer a different protein) use ground turkey or ground chicken instead!
Nutrition
We make this all the time and are Gluten and Dairy Free, so we leave off the toppings of cheese and sour cream. We swapped the tots with Mr. Dells hash brown potatoes for a bit of a healthier bite as it is all organic potatoes, but the flavor from the sauce and beef take over so well here, thanks a ton for sharing and becoming part of our regular weekly dinner menu!
That’s so great to hear, CJ! We are so glad to hear that y’all love it!
My husband ALWAYS requests this one! It’s so good and so easy on weeknights when I just don’t have it in me to make a multi-step meal. We used ground turkey a couple of times too and loved it!
Awe! That is awesome, Graysen! We are so glad!
10/10! I was running behind to get home and make dinner, so my husband (who NEVER COOKS) and 12 y/o jumped in to throw this together. The instructions were simple to follow. And it was DELICIOUS! My husband even asked if this was going to become a weekly recipe HE can make!
That is AMAZING, Megan! We are so so happy your family loves and that your husband is so excited to make it! Thank you for taking the time to share this with us!
This recipe is SO GOOD! Tried it for the first time last night and am in love with it. Just went grocery shopping today and bought more ingredients for another one. Chefs kiss for this one! I could eat the whole pan myself haha!
YAY! We are so excited that you love it, Sarah! Thank you for taking the time to share with us!