Description
Sloppy Joe Casserole is a cozy, saucy, cheese-topped noodle bake perfect for busy weeknights and nostalgic family dinners. I love making it with ground beef, tomato sauce, egg noodles, and a generous mix of cheddar and mozzarella. It’s a simple one-dish recipe with a deeply savory flavor, melty top, and hearty texture. Also known as Sloppy Joe Bake or Weeknight Sloppy Joe Pasta, this dish works beautifully as a standard casserole or as stabilized muffin-cup minis. I’ve tested both versions — each with rich, reliable flavor and freezer-friendly results. Among comfort food casseroles, Sloppy Joe Casserole stands out for its ease of assembly, kid-friendly appeal, and the perfect balance of tangy sauce and golden cheese. It deserves a spot in every busy cook’s fall and winter rotation.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 cups tomato sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
6 cups cooked egg noodles (wide)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
2. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink.
3. Add chopped onion and cook until soft and fragrant.
4. Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Let the sauce simmer for 5–7 minutes to develop flavor.
6. Fold in cooked egg noodles gently until fully coated.
7. Transfer mixture to the prepared casserole dish and spread evenly.
8. Top with cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, covering the surface.
9. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
10. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is golden and bubbly.
11. Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
12. Let sit for 5–10 minutes to set before slicing and serving.
Notes
Use 85% lean ground beef for best flavor and moisture.
Slightly undercook the noodles before baking so they don’t get mushy.
Make ahead by assembling the casserole, covering, and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: sloppy joe casserole, ground beef noodle bake, weeknight sloppy joe pasta