Description
Hearty sloppy joe casserole brings classic comfort to dinner tables with minimal effort. Cheesy layers of ground beef and tangy sauce create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll want to savor again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef
Aromatics and Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Cheese and Topping:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can refrigerated biscuits or 2 cups tater tots
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C), preparing a baking dish for the hearty casserole.
- Sauté ground beef with diced onions and minced garlic in a large skillet until meat browns completely and releases its rich flavors.
- Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar, allowing the mixture to simmer and develop a deep, tangy flavor profile for approximately 5 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the robust meat mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer as the foundation of the casserole.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheese across the meat mixture, ensuring complete coverage for maximum melting potential.
- Arrange biscuit dough or tater tots strategically on top of the cheese layer, creating a crispy, golden crown for the casserole.
- Place the assembled casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, watching for a golden-brown top and bubbling edges that signal perfect doneness.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling the flavors to settle and making serving easier.
- Slice and serve the warm, comforting casserole directly from the baking dish.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a cleaner, lighter casserole texture.
- Customize the sweetness by adjusting brown sugar levels or substituting with honey for a more complex flavor profile.
- For gluten-free options, replace traditional biscuits with gluten-free biscuit mix or crispy potato alternatives like cauliflower tots.
- Make this dish vegetarian by swapping ground beef with plant-based crumbles or lentils, maintaining the robust, hearty meal experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg