Sloppy Joe Casserole turns the classic sloppy joe sandwich into a cheesy pasta dinner made with ground beef, Manwich sauce, cavatappi pasta, onions, and creamy Velveeta cheese. Everything bakes together until hot and bubbly for an easy casserole the whole family can dig into.
This is a fun way to change up sloppy joe night without adding a lot of extra work. The pasta makes it hearty enough for dinner, while the sweet and tangy sloppy joe sauce and melted cheese give it that familiar comfort-food flavor.
Why I Love This Casserole
Ingredient Notes
- Ground Beef: One pound of ground beef makes the hearty base of this casserole. Drain off any excess grease after browning.
- Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce: One 15.5-ounce can gives you the classic sweet and tangy sloppy joe flavor while keeping this casserole quick and easy.
- Cavatappi Pasta: You’ll need 8 ounces of cavatappi pasta. Its twists and curves hold onto the sloppy joe sauce really well. Other short pasta shapes such as rotini, penne, or elbow macaroni will also work.
- Velveeta Cheese: Use 8 ounces of Velveeta, cut into cubes. It melts into a smooth, creamy cheese layer that pairs really well with the sloppy joe sauce.
- Onion: Use ½ cup diced onion or one small onion. It adds savory flavor and a little texture to the beef mixture.
- Garlic: One fresh minced garlic clove adds extra flavor to the beef and onions.
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning add more depth to the ground beef and balance the sweetness of the sloppy joe sauce.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Sloppy Joe Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cook the cavatappi pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large oven-safe skillet at least 2 inches deep, cook the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Continue cooking until the beef is completely browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and gently stir until it’s evenly coated with the sloppy joe mixture.
- Sprinkle the cubed Velveeta evenly over the top. Cover the skillet with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
Tips I Found Helpful
- Cook the cavatappi just until al dente so it doesn’t become too soft while the casserole bakes.
- Drain the ground beef well before adding the sauce to prevent the casserole from becoming greasy.
- Dice the onion into small, even pieces so it softens quickly and blends into the beef mixture.
- Let the sloppy joe mixture simmer for a few minutes before adding the pasta. This gives the seasonings time to blend with the sauce.
- Gently fold the pasta into the beef mixture so the noodles don’t break apart.
- Cut the Velveeta into small, evenly sized cubes so it melts more consistently across the casserole.
- Keep the skillet covered for the first part of baking to help the cheese melt, then uncover it for the final 10 minutes.
- Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving so the sauce has time to settle and cling to the pasta. 🥘🧀
FAQs about Sloppy Joe Casserole
Casserole Recipes I Love
Sloppy Joe Casserole
This Sloppy Joe Casserole turns classic sloppy joes into an easy, cheesy pasta dinner with seasoned ground beef, cavatappi pasta, Manwich sauce, and creamy melted Velveeta. It's a hearty family dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- 1 Can (15.5 Ounces) Manwich Sloppy Joes Sauce
- 8 Ounces Cavatappi Pasta (or any other pasta shape of your choice)
- 1 Cup Velveeta Cheese, Cubed (8 Ounces)
- ½ Cup Diced Onion or one small onion, diced
- 1 Clove Garlic, Minced
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper
- ¼ Teaspoon Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Cook the cavatappi pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large oven-safe skillet at least 2 inches deep, cook the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks.
Add the diced onion and minced garlic. Continue cooking until the beef is completely browned and the onion is soft. Drain any excess grease.
Stir in the Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce, salt, black pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring occasionally.- Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and gently stir until it's evenly coated with the sloppy joe mixture.
Sprinkle the cubed Velveeta evenly over the top.
Cover the skillet with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the casserole is hot and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Cook the pasta just until al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain the ground beef well before adding the sloppy joe sauce. Cut the Velveeta into small, evenly sized cubes so it melts consistently. Be sure to stir the cooked pasta into the beef mixture before adding the cheese. Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
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Not sure when to add the pasta…assumed before the cheese.
Yes before the cheese
Can this be made without meat? I don’t like manwich
I have not tried without meat I’m sure you can