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★ Why You'll Love this Recipe ★
Great for Gatherings
When you need to feed a lot of people, quick, with something tasty and filling — this Sloppy Joe Pasta Casserole will do the job.
This Sloppy Joe Pasta Casserole is an easy, family-friendly meal that brings the comforting flavors of a sloppy joe sandwich to a cheesy, baked pasta dish.
Easy to Prep
Made with canned Manwich, it’s a no-fuss recipe that’s ready in no time — great for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Oven baked and ready in just 40 minutes, this casserole is full of flavor, sauce and topped with melted cheese plus toasted breadcrumbs for a finishing crunch.
Layered with Flavor
Bell peppers, onion, and the unique tangy and semi-sweet flavor of Manwich, work together to create a delicious pasta sauce. A touch of brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce really deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Made with rotini pasta or your favorite pasta of choice, this baked pasta is a family-friendly dinner idea that you can make again and again.
★ Ingredients You'll Need ★
Here's a look at everything you'll need to make this casserole:
- Meat. A lean ground beef works best, or I like to use a blend of half ground turkey and half ground beef to make it more lean yet still keep that nice beefy flavor. Ground chicken can also be used if you prefer.
- Onion and bell pepper season the meat along with salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Pasta. Any type. I like rotini because the sauce coats it well but any shape works.
- For the sauce: sloppy joe sauce combines with diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar.
- Cheese. Top with a blend of cheddar and Mozzarella or feel free to sub in your favorite type of cheese.
- Breadcrumbs. We're buttering up the breadcrumbs for maximum richness. To save time, you can use Ritz crackers, crushed up, in place of the butter and breadcrumbs.
★ How to Make this Recipe ★
This casserole comes together in a few simple steps. Here's a look.
Start by cooking pasta according to package and set aside. Then:
- Sauté beef with onions and peppers. Drain away excess grease.
- Add garlic, salt and pepper and sauce ingredients to the meat.
- Simmer then stir in cooked pasta.
- Melt butter and combine with breadcrumbs.
- Layer meat in greased casserole dish; pasta, sauce and cheese.
- Top with buttered breadcrumbs; bake until cheese is melted then serve!
If you want to be fancy, garnish with a sprinkle of fresh or dried parsley before serving.
Easy as that!
★ Tips & FAQs ★
Storing Leftovers
Sloppy Joe Casserole should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat: Microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes until hot, stirring as needed.
Yes, prepare the casserole up until baking. Do not bake. Instead, allow to cool and cover tightly with foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to eat, let thaw to room temperature then bake according to directions.
Serve with any salad or roasted vegetable. Garlic bread or dinner rolls make a great side, too, for a complete meal.
Upgrade Sloppy Joes by adding a splash of beef broth or red wine to the sauce. Spice things up with chili flakes, chipotle, or smoked paprika. Layer in flavor by adding BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and mustard for a sweet and smoky twist.
For a creamy sauce, stir in cream cheese. For a kick try adding pepper jack on top. Try fun toppings like fried eggs, pickles, jalapeños, crispy onions, or slaw to take it over the top. You can also sneak in finely chopped mushrooms or shredded veggies for a healthier twist.
★ More Recipes You'll Love ★
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Sloppy Joe Pasta Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
Meat
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 3 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 30 oz sloppy joe sauce (2 15oz cans)
- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Pasta
- 16 oz rotini pasta cooked and drained
Toppings
- 16 oz shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon butter melted
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Instructions
- Prep oven and baking dish. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain.
- Cook beef and vegetables. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with onion, and bell pepper until beef is browned and vegetables are soft, about 7-8 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more. Drain excess fat from the meat mixture. Then stir in salt and pepper.
- Add sauce ingredients. Stir in sloppy joe sauce, diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine into casserole dish. Combine pasta with meat mixture and pour into prepared baking dish.
- Combine butter with breadcrumbs. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt butter then add breadcrumbs and toss to coat.
- Layer on cheese then breadcrumbs. Top casserole with cheese and buttered breadcrumbs.
- Bake. Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and top is golden brown. Center should be hot.
Notes
- To avoid draining away flavor with excess grease, start with a lean ground beef.
- In place of breadcrumbs and butter, you can use crushed Ritz crackers.
- You can halve the recipe for a smaller family or separate into two 8x8 casserole dishes, saving one for later.
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