Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Topped with fluffy, golden biscuits, this 5-Ingredient Sloppy Joe Casserole is a family-friendly, easy dinner recipe for busy nights! Pair it with a salad or simple green veggie for a quick meal that the whole family will love.
Sloppy Joe sandwiches are a classic childhood favorite! This Sloppy Joe Casserole recipe takes all of the delicious flavors from the original meal and packages them in an easy, prep-ahead dish. Assemble the ingredients in advance, add the biscuits on top at the last minute, and then just pop it in the oven when your family is ready to eat. No one can resist the sweet and savory barbecue flavor of this hearty ground beef casserole!
How to make Sloppy Joe Casserole with just 5 Ingredients:
This incredibly simple dinner only requires 5 basic ingredients, but I’ve included notes below with suggestions for adding more to the mix if you prefer. Let’s get started…
Ingredients:
- A can of Sloppy Joe sauce (I use Manwich brand)
- Ground beef
- Onion
- Cheddar cheese
- A can of refrigerated biscuits
First, prepare the Sloppy Joe filling for your casserole by combining the ground beef, onion and sauce.
Add a layer of grated cheddar cheese on top…
…and then prepare the biscuit topping by opening a can of refrigerated biscuits and cutting each biscuit into quarters.
Arrange the biscuit quarters in an even layer on top of the casserole, and your job is done!
The casserole bakes in a 400 degree F oven for about 15-20 minutes, or just until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through.
What goes with Sloppy Joe Casserole?
Serve the casserole with a simple green salad or with any of your family’s favorite vegetables. Good options include:
- Steamed green beans or Slow Cooker Southern Green Beans
- Steamed broccoli or Garlic Roasted Broccoli
- Buttered peas
- Buttered corn
- Southern Collard Greens
- Creamed Spinach
Cook’s Tips and Recipe Variations:
- If the tops of your biscuits start to brown and get too dark before the biscuit dough is cooked all of the way through, just cover the dish loosely with foil. Continue baking, covered, until the biscuit dough is cooked through.
- To prepare the casserole ahead of time, put the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with cheese, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours (until ready to bake). To bake, just cover the dish and heat in a 400 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until hot. Then uncover, top with biscuit quarters, and bake for an addition 15-20 minutes.
- Can you freeze Sloppy Joe Casserole? Yes! You can freeze the dish before baking (but don’t add the biscuits on top until just before you’re ready to bake); or you can freeze the casserole after baking. To freeze a baked casserole, allow the dish to cool to room temperature, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bulk up the filling of your casserole, you can add 1/2 cup of diced green bell pepper to the skillet with the ground beef and onion. Try adding 1 teaspoon of minced fresh garlic, too! Canned or frozen corn kernels would also be a great addition!
- Swap out the ground beef and substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken.
- To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients and prepare the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.
More easy Sloppy Joe recipes that you might enjoy:
- Slow Cooker Turkey Sloppy Joes
- Sloppy Joe Casserole with Potatoes
- Dump-and-Bake Sloppy Joe Casserole with Noodles
- Slow Cooker Italian Sloppy Joes
- Sloppy Joe Casserole with a Hamburger Bun
Sloppy Joe Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (15 ounce) can Sloppy Joe sauce
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small onion (or ½ of a large onion), diced
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1 (16.3 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits, quartered
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until beef is no longer pink. Drain and return to skillet. Stir in Sloppy Joe sauce and stir over low heat until warmed through.
- Pour hot beef mixture into prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Arrange biscuit quarters in an even layer on top.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until biscuits are cooked through. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- If the tops of your biscuits start to brown and get too dark before the biscuit dough is cooked all of the way through, just cover the dish loosely with foil. Continue baking, covered, until the biscuit dough is cooked through.
- To prepare the casserole ahead of time, put the beef mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with cheese, and keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours (until ready to bake). To bake, just cover the dish and heat in a 400 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until hot. Then uncover, top with biscuit quarters, and bake for an addition 15-20 minutes.
- Can you freeze Sloppy Joe Casserole? Yes! You can freeze the dish before baking (but don't add the biscuits on top until just before you're ready to bake); or you can freeze the casserole after baking. To freeze a baked casserole, allow the dish to cool to room temperature, cover tightly, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To bulk up the filling of your casserole, you can add 1/2 cup of diced green bell pepper to the skillet with the ground beef and onion. Try adding 1 teaspoon of minced fresh garlic, too! Canned or frozen corn kernels would also be a great addition!
- Swap out the ground beef and substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken.
- To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients and prepare the casserole in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. The rest of the cooking instructions remain the same.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published in May, 2014. It was updated in February, 2020.
This is a fun, yet practical idea! Stopping by from Treasure Box Tuesday.
Thanks for visiting, Michelle!
This does look very tasty. In Australia, a sloppy joe is a jumper/sweater 🙂
This looks like a great meal my family will love—thanks for the idea! Thanks, also, for linking up at the Make Bake Create party!
Blessings,
Sarah
Thanks for visiting, Sarah! It’s definitely a family-friendly option!
Love simple recipes for a quick family meal. Thank you for sharing on Merry Monday Linky Party.
This looks delicious! I would love for you share it on my Tasty Tuesday recipe link up here! Everything gets pinned and I would love to have you!
Thanks, Stephanie! I’ve joined your party!
I made this tonight. Simple and easy, tasty too. The sauce is a bit sweet for our palates, though, so next time I might try using a marinara sauce. I love that you can change it up by adding in different ingredients. This recipe is great to have on hand when time is short! Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks, Janice! I’m so glad that you can tweak the recipe to suit your tastes. 🙂
Hi Blair ! My youngest daughter has always been a big fan of Sloppy Joes . This recipe sounds like an amazing twist on them , love the addition of cheesse . And , of course , bicuits are always a win- win ! I’m making this for when she sones for supper tonight and l’m sure it will be a big hit !
Sloppy Joe’s are such a classic! I hope that your daughter approves of this version! 🙂