Sloppy Joe Casserole

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4.88 from 8 votes
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This Cheesy Sloppy Joe Casserole combines pasta, ground beef, flavorful onions, bell peppers, creamy Velveeta Cheese, and melty Colby-jack cheese. All smothered in Manwich sauce for a tasty twist on a classic recipe.

If you love a sloppy joe sandwich, then this cheesy casserole recipe is going to be your new favorite.

Like my pizza pasta casserole recipe and cheeseburger casserole recipe, this sloppy joe casserole recipe with manwich takes one of my family’s favorite dinners and turns it into a casserole.

It gives you all of the flavors that you love in a sloppy joe sandwich but in an easy-to-make (and less messy) casserole.

For another twist on traditional sloppy joes try these tasty Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes in the crockpot or my one-pot sloppy joe pasta.

Sloppy Joe Casserole in white 9 x 13 baking dish toped with melted cheese and fresh parsley.

Did I mention that this beef casserole also has noodles? Yum!

You’ll have dinner on the table in no time and this dish is sure to be a hit with your whole family.

If you have your onions and peppers chopped ahead of time, this easy recipe won’t take you long at all, making it a great choice for an easy weeknight dinner.

Cheesy sloppy joe casserole with a spatula lifting up a single serving.

If you give this easy ground beef casserole recipe a try, I am sure that it will quickly make its way onto your weekly dinner rotations.

Why You’ll Love This Sloppy Joe Casserole

  • It is a tasty twist on a classic sandwich–and much less messy too!
  • You only need a few easy-to-find ingredients.
  • It’s simple to prepare.
  • It is full of melty cheese!
  • It makes a great freezer meal.
  • It’s comforting and delicious!

Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

Ground beef, cubed velvetta, onion, green pepper, pasta, manwhich sauce, fresh parsley, and shredded colby jack cheese.
  • Pasta
  • Ground Beef
  • Onion
  • Green Bell Pepper
  • Manwich Sauce
  • Velveeta
  • Shredded Cheese
  • Parsley

Popular Substitutions & Additions

  • Pasta: You can use any type of pasta for this casserole. I’ve made it with elbows and rotini. I’ve even used wheat pasta and hidden veggie pasta – both turned out great!
  • Meat: You can substitute ground turkey for ground beef.
  • Cheese: Feel free to use any of your favorite shredded cheeses for the topping (as long as they melt well – try not to use one that is too crumbly). 

How To Make Sloppy Joe Casserole

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

Step 1: Cook your pasta al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain, return to pot, and sprinkle with olive oil to help keep the noodles from sticking together. Cover and set aside. 

Step 2: Brown the ground beef on the stovetop in a large pan over medium-high heat. Drain the excess grease and add the chopped onions and peppers. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until the onions begin to turn translucent.

Browned ground beef in a large skillet with chopped peppers and onions.

Step 3: Stir in the sloppy joe sauce.

Cooked ground beef, peppers, and and onions covered in manwich sloppy joe sauce in a large skillet.

Step 4: Add the cubed velveeta. Lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until well-combined and the cheese has completely melted in (about 3 minutes). Stir in the cooked pasta.

Two image collage. On left: skillet with manwich, beef, and veggies topped with cubed velvetta. On right: Same, but with velvetta stirred in and melted.

Step 5: Transfer to a prepared baking dish, top with shredded cheese, and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350° F.

Casserole covered with shredded cheese in 9 x 13 baking dish.

Step 6: Serve warm, garnished with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.

Manwich casserole with pasta and cheese in a 9 x 13 pan with a single serving removed.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Casserole

I love to pair this casserole with a green veggie, like broccoli, green beans, this pan-seared asparagus with soy sauce and garlic, or this creamed spinach. If you miss the bun from the sandwich, you can add potato rolls as a side. My family loves to pair ours with crescent rolls sometimes as well. 

Does your family like to enjoy something sweet after dinner? I know that we do! One of my favorite desserts to pair with this baked Sloppy Joe Casserole is this oreo poke cake. It’s chocolatey and delicious! If you’re leaning more towards a tart, fruity flavor for your dessert, you will love these 3-ingredient lemon cookies.

Sloppy Joe Pasta Bake served on a white plate and garnished with fresh parsley.

Storage

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it makes a great freezer meal! Once your sloppy joe noodle casserole has been baked and completely cooled you can freeze it for up to 6 weeks. Then simply thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it when you are ready to enjoy.

If you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge in a sealed, air-tight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, preheat the oven to 350° F and bake for about 20 minutes, or until warm. You can also microwave smaller portions for 2-3 minutes, or until warm.

Make Ahead

Prepare the casserole up until it is ready to bake. Then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature as you preheat the oven to 350° F. Then bake as directed in the recipe card below.

Forkfull of ground beef manwhich and pasta bake

FAQs

Can I use a brand of sloppy joe sauce other than Manwich?

Sure, feel free to use any of your favorite sloppy joe sauces, or you can even make your own.

Can I make this casserole vegetarian?

Sure! You can use lentils in place of the ground beef to make this dish vegetarian.

How can I make this casserole gluten-free?

This casserole could be gluten-free if you switch your regular pasta for gluten-free pasta. Manwich is gluten-free, as well as the Velveeta and fresh ingredients.


More Dinner Casserole Recipes You’ll Love

Recipe
Cheesy sloppy joe casserole with a spatula lifting up a single serving.
Recipe
4.88 from 8 votes

Sloppy Joe Casserole

Author: Jaclyn
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
A tasty take on a classic sloppy joe sandwich, this cheesy sloppy joe casserole is easy-to-make with Manwich, noodles, and ground beef.

Ingredients
 

  • 12 ounces uncooked pasta
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 and ½ 16-ounce cans Manwich
  • 8 ounces velveeta cheese cubed
  • 1 ½ cups shredded colby-jack or cheddar cheese
  • fresh parsley chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  • Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large pot, cook the pasta al dente according to the directions on the package. Drain well, return to pot, and sprinkle with olive oil to help keep the noodles from sticking together. Cover and set aside. 
  • Preheat the oven to 350° F. 
  • Brown the meat on the stovetop in a large pan over medium-high heat. Drain the excess grease and add the chopped onions and peppers. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.
  • Stir in the sloppy joe sauce.
  • Add the cubed velveeta. Lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until well-combined and the cheese has completely melted in (about 3 minutes). 
  • Stir in the cooked pasta.
  • Transfer to a prepared baking dish and top with shredded cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
  • Serve warm. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, if desired.

Notes

Storage: Leftovers will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 2 months in the freezer.
Make-ahead: You can prepare your casserole ahead of time, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerator for up to 3 days before baking. When ready to enjoy, let the casserole sit on the countertop at room temperature while your oven heats up, then bake as directed in the recipe card.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 595kcal
Cheesy sloppy joe casserole with a spatula lifting up a single serving.

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Cheesy Sloppy Joe Casserole; Easy Recipe!!

4.88 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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