Sloppy Joe Variations
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Sloppy Joe casseroles are where. It’s. AT. Cozy? Check! Meaty? Check! Buttery carbs and cheese? Check and check! This hearty casserole has plenty of peppers and onions, lots of sauce, and so much flavor too. Being on Team Casserole doesn’t stop me from appreciating the iconic sloppy Joe sandwich as a pasta sauce or a cheesy meatball bake, it just gives me more ways to celebrate the combination of ground beef and tangy sauce. More than just delicious, this casserole is flexible, freezable, and ready to serve on a busy weeknight for dinner. Here’s how to make it your own:
Before we get started on the sauce (the major player), we need to prepare the ground beef. Cook your beef in a pan, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook until it’s no longer pink and fully cooked through, then grab a slotted spoon. Transfer the ground beef to a plate, then pour off almost all of the leftover fat, but not all of it! We’re going to use the rest of it to cook our sauce ingredients in, giving even more rich flavor.
Then, add your veggies to the same pan with the beef fat, and cook them down until they’re softened and the onions are translucent. Before adding your ketchup, season your vegetables with a bit of salt and pepper. You don’t need to go crazy here since our sauce packs in so much flavor, but you want your veggies to be adequately seasoned. Add in your ketchup, then cook it down (stirring it occasionally!), until the sauce has been reduced to a thick paste. Then add in your seasonings, and stir everything together until it’s fragrant and your kitchen smells incredible.
Add in your tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, Worcestershire, and brown sugar to your pan, and cook it all together, stirring everything together. Add your ground beef back in, and if you’re feeling like adding some heat, throw in a few dashes of hot sauce.
Once your sloppy Joe mixture is all combined, transfer it to your prepared baking dish. Then, top it with your rolls in lines (the cut sides facing down). You'll use both sides of the halves. The bottoms won't be as pretty as the tops, but they'll still taste just as good! Add the finishing touches (brushing on butter and shredded cheese), then cook until the rolls are golden brown and toasted and the cheese is toasted.
Once our casserole is melty, golden, and delicious, sprinkle with some fresh parsley (if you so desire), and get to serving!
Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.
The sloppy Joe filling will keep in the refrigerator for 4 days and in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw the filling, if frozen, then reheat in the microwave until warm. Transfer the hot filling to the baking dish and pick up with the recipe on step 4.
vegetable oil
ground beef
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
medium yellow onion, chopped
green bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, chopped
cloves garlic, finely chopped
ketchup
chili powder
dried mustard
(8-oz.) can tomato sauce
low-sodium beef or chicken broth
apple cider vinegar
Worcestershire sauce
dark brown sugar
Hot sauce (optional)
sweet Hawaiian slider rolls, halved crosswise
unsalted butter, melted
shredded cheddar
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
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