Sloppy Joes Cornbread Casserole combines the tangy, sweet flavors of traditional sloppy joes with a golden brown, sweet cornbread crust! This easy Sloppy Joe Casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner that the whole family will love!
Combines Sloppy Joes, a staple of American comfort food known for its savory ground beef mixture simmered in a tangy tomato sauce, with Cornbread, a much-loved Southern favorite that adds a sweet and crumbly texture to any dish.
Friendly meal to warm up your family dinner table, a potluck with friends, a special occasion, or you're simply seeking new recipes to add to your favorite recipes collection, the tangy combo of Sloppy Joes and Cornbread always fits right in.
For more classic comfort food recipes, try my Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie With Biscuits, Instant Pot American Goulash, Instant Pot Tuna Noodle Casserole, Easy Taco Soup, and Traditional Beef Stew! Or just make Air Fryer Cornbread it's delicious!
Ingredients Needed for Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
Lean Ground Beef. Provides a hearty and protein-rich base to the sloppy joe mixture.
Yellow Onion and Bell Pepper. Adds a crunch and sweetness to the meat mixture. Feel free to use any color of bell pepper for variety.
Celery. Contributes additional texture and a slight freshness to the dish.
Garlic. Gives the sloppy joe mixture more depth and a wonderful aroma.
Green Chilies. Brings a subtle layer of mild to medium heat, depending on your preference.
Canned Diced Tomatoes. Adds moisture and tanginess, helping to create the sauce for the sloppy joes.
Brown Sugar. Balances the acidity of the tomatoes with a hint of sweetness.
Worcestershire Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar, Dijon Mustard, Ketchup/Tomato Sauce, BBQ Sauce. These condiments all combine with the canned tomatoes to create a sloppy joe sauce that's tangy, sweet, and has a bit of a kick to it.
Chili Powder, Salt, Pepper. These seasonings adjust the overall flavor profile to your liking.
Water. Used to adjust the consistency of the sloppy joe mixture as needed.
Cheddar Cheese. Adds a gooey, cheesy layer between the ground beef mixture and the cornbread.
Jiffy Cornbread Mix. Provides a quick and easy way to create a delicious cornbread topping.
Egg. Acts as a binder for the cornbread mix topping.
Milk. Adds moisture to the cornbread, ensuring it's tender and not dry.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Cornbread Bake
Sloppy Joe Beef Mixture
Cook ground beef in a large skillet, breaking it apart into small pieces. Make sure no visible pink is seen in the meat.
Add Diced Onions, Diced Bell Pepper, and Diced Celery, and allow the vegetables to become soft.
Mix in minced garlic cloves and continue to saute on a medium-high heat.
Add the Pepper, Chili Powder, Dijon Mustard, Worcester Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ketchup, and BBQ Sauce, stirring to combine.
Stir the Diced Green Chilies and 8 ounces of the Canned Diced Tomatoes into the ground hamburger mixture. Drain ground beef, removing any excess grease or liquid. Simmer on low for 8-10 minutes, covered with a lid.
Remove the pan from the heat and pour the mixture into a 9x9-inch casserole dish.
Sprinkle freshly grated cheese on top of the mixture and set aside.
How to make Cornbread Mixture
In a separate mixing bowl, add the box of Cornbread Mix with 1 egg and ⅓ cup milk.
Stir to combine. The mixture will be lumpy.
Carefully pour corn bread mixture on top of the sloppy joe mixture in the baking dish, ensuring the cornbread mixture spreads to the edges of the dish.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on top, or a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean. Brush top with melted butter (optional), and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
FAQs
While lean ground beef is traditional, ground turkey, chicken, or even a vegetarian meat substitute works great in this recipe for those looking for a lighter or meatless meal.
If you want your Sloppy Joes Cornbread Casserole to be packing some heat, just add more diced green chilies, some sliced jalapeños, or even a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce into the meat mixture before baking.
If you have a favorite homemade cornbread recipe, you can certainly use it in place of the Jiffy mix. Just prepare your cornbread batter as you would normally and pour it over the meat mixture as the topping for the casserole, baking according to the instructions in this recipe.
Storage & Freezing
Make Ahead: The Sloppy Joe meat mixture can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container, or the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling the dish.
Storage: Place the casserole in an airtight container or cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or for a few minutes in an oven at 350°F.
Freezing: Sloppy Joes Cornbread Casserole can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let the casserole cool completely then place the casserole in an airtight, freezer-safe container, and store it in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Consider adding corn, zucchini, or mushrooms to the sloppy joe mixture for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Experiment with different types of bell peppers, or add some heat with jalapeños or poblano peppers.
- Use another brand instead of Jiffy if you prefer, or even make your cornbread batter from scratch, which will allow you to adjust the sweetness and texture to your liking.
- For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free cornbread mix or make your own gluten-free cornbread batter.
- While cheddar cheese is a classic choice, feel free to try other types like Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack for a little kick, or even a Mexican cheese blend for those wonderful chili flavors.
- Speaking of chilies - if you like your dishes with a bit more heat then increase the amount of diced chilies and chili powder in this recipe, or add sliced jalapenos, cayenne pepper, or a dash of hot sauce with flavors that will complement the sloppy joe mixture.
Pro Tips
Allowing the sloppy joe mixture to simmer on low, covered with a lid, for a good 8-10 minutes helps meld the flavors together. This simmering time is crucial for developing depth and richness in the sauce. If the mixture is too thick, add a little bit of water to prevent burning while simmering.
When preparing the cornbread batter, mix just until the ingredients are combined. Over mixing can lead to tough cornbread. Lumps in the batter are perfectly fine and will cook out.
To ensure a consistent layer of cornbread that cooks uniformly, carefully spread the batter over the sloppy joe mixture, making sure it reaches the edges of the baking dish.
Always begin baking with a fully preheated oven to ensure the casserole cooks evenly and the cornbread topping rises properly.
The cornbread topping may bake quicker or slower depending on the oven temperature. If it browns too quickly, place a piece of aluminum foil over the top to prevent over browning on top while it bakes the rest of the way.
Use a toothpick to check the cornbread for doneness. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs, the casserole is ready. If the toothpick is still wet with batter, give it a few more minutes in the oven.
Allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes after removing it from the oven. This resting period helps the layers set, making the casserole easier to serve.
A little goes a long way with this rich and hearty dish. Start with smaller portions to prevent waste, as you can always go back for seconds!
Have you tried this Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole recipe?
Please leave a comment below if you have tried making this recipe. I love to hear from you and enjoy reading about what you think. Be sure to tag @devourdinner when posting to social media. I can't wait to see your photos!
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- Tasty Overnight Breakfast Enchiladas Casserole
- Instant Pot Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole
- How to make Instant Pot Corn Casserole
Sloppy Joes Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef - 93/7% Lean
- ½ cup Yellow Onion - Diced
- 2 Stalks Celery - Diced
- ½ of a Bell Pepper - Diced (Use Red, Orange, Yellow, or Green Bell Pepper)
- 4 oz Diced Green Chilies - Mild, Medium, or Hot
- 8 oz Canned Diced Tomatoes
- 3 cloves Garlic - Crushed
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- ½ cup Ketchup
- ⅓ cup BBQ Sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ cup Water
- ¾ cup Cheddar Cheese
Cornbread Topping
- 1 box Jiffy Cornbread
- 1 Egg - Large
- ⅓ cup Milk
Instructions
Sloppy Joe Beef Mixture
- Cook ground beef in a large skillet, breaking it apart into small pieces. Make sure no visible pink is seen in the meat. 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- Add Diced Onions, Diced Bell Pepper, and Diced Celery, and allow the vegetables to become soft. ½ cup Yellow Onion, 2 Stalks Celery, ½ of a Bell Pepper
- Mix in minced garlic cloves and continue to saute on a medium-high heat. 3 cloves Garlic
- Add the Pepper, Chili Powder, Dijon Mustard, Worcester Sauce, Apple Cider Vinegar, Ketchup, and BBQ Sauce, stirring to combine. ½ tsp Pepper, 1 tsp Chili Powder, 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, ½ cup Ketchup, ⅓ cup BBQ Sauce, 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar, 1 tsp Salt, ½ cup Water
- Drain ground beef, removing any excess grease or liquid.
- Stir the Diced Green Chilies and 8 ounces of the Canned Diced Tomatoes into the ground hamburger mixture. Simmer on low for 8-10 minutes, covered with a lid. 4 oz Diced Green Chilies, 8 oz Canned Diced Tomatoes
- Remove the pan from the heat and pour the mixture into a 9x9-inch casserole dish.
- Sprinkle freshly grated cheese on top of the mixture and set aside. ¾ cup Cheddar Cheese
Cornbread Mixture
- In a separate mixing bowl, add the box of Cornbread Mix with 1 egg and ⅓ cup milk. 1 box Jiffy Cornbread, 1 Egg, ⅓ cup Milk
- Stir to combine. The mixture will be lumpy.
- Carefully pour corn bread mixture on top of the sloppy joe mixture in the baking dish, ensuring the cornbread mixture spreads to the edges of the dish.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown on top, or a toothpick inserted into the cornbread comes out clean. Brush top with melted butter (optional), and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Storage
- Make Ahead: Store the Sloppy Joe meat mixture in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container, or the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before assembling the dish.
- Store: Store casserole in an airtight container or cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat the microwave or for a few minutes in a 350° F oven.
- Freeze: Store cooled casserole in an airtight, freezer-safe container and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Nutrition Disclaimer
All nutrition values are approximate and calculated by a plugin and are provided as a courtesy. Adding or subtracting ingredients will change the nutritional value.
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