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    Home » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole

    October 20, 2022 by LaKita 26 Comments

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    overhead view of sloppy joe cornbread casserole serving on a small white plate beside a fork and the rest of the casserole in a glass dish
    finished sloppy joe cornbread casserole in rectangle glass baking dish

    This hearty and comforting Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole is an easy to make meal that is sure to satisfy the entire family. Loaded with sloppy joe beef, sweet cornbread, and shredded cheddar cheese.

    If you're craving more quick and easy casserole recipes, then be sure to try making a Chicken and Broccoli Casserole or Meatball Casserole. For more yummy cornbread recipes, try making some Barbecue Cornbread Muffins or a batch of Sweet Potato Cornbread.

    overhead view of sloppy joe cornbread casserole serving on a small white plate beside a fork and the rest of the casserole

    Just made it home from a long day at work and realize that you still have to prepare dinner for your family?

    The last thing you want to do is spend time making something overly complicated that requires multiple pots and pans. And let's not even get started on the hassle of cleaning up afterwards. It's no wonder we prefer ordering a pizza or take-out and calling it a night.

    But if you do prefer to cook something that is super simple and requires very little effort, then let me tell you right now that they're a few dinners that you can whip up in minutes and sloppy joe just so happens to be one of them.

    Now making sloppy joe the good old fashion way is perfectly acceptable, but this recipe puts a new twist on an old classic by adding corn, cornbread, and cheese!

    Let's get started!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • Recipe Tips and Tricks
    • Storage
    • Recipe
    • More Recipes You'll Love

    Ingredients You'll Need

    ingredients needed to make casserole in separate bowls and containers
    1. Cornbread Mix - Use any box of cornbread mix that you prefer. You may select a savory or sweet version, but I prefer to use a single box of regular Jiffy cornbread mix for this recipe. It's a little sweet, but balances out the rest of the ingredients really well.
    2. Cheddar Cheese - Adds sharp and cheesy flavor to the cornbread mixture as well as topping the casserole. You may grab the pre-shredded bag version, but I prefer to shred a bulk/block of cheddar using a box grater because it melts better and doesn't contain any additonal ingredients.
    3. Milk - Use whole milk to make the cornbread that serves as the base of the casserole.
    4. Egg - A single large egg is all that is needed to make the cornbread and help it to bind together.
    5. Corn - A single can of cream-style corn is added to the cornbread mixture to bulk it up and add in an additional vegetable with a slight amount of sweetness. This ingredient also helps the casserole to come together.
    6. Sloppy Joe Sauce - You may use a can of premade sloppy joe sauce or make your own.
    7. Ground Beef - Try to use a pound of lean ground beef to mix with the sloppy joe sauce to create the meaty portion of the casserole.
    8. Butter - Used to saute the onion and bell pepper and adds a nice buttery flavor to the casserole. If you prefer to substitute oil instead or omit, then you may do that as well.
    9. Onion - Select a yellow or white onion to add to the ground beef mixture for additional flavor.
    10. Bell Pepper - Chop a green bell pepper to saute along with the onion to add to the ground beef mixture. If you know anything about sloppy joe, then you know that bell pepper is a main component. You may substitute red bell pepper instead if you prefer or use a combination of both green and red.

    See the recipe card below for exact ingredients and quantities.

    Step By Step Instructions

    Begin the casserole recipe by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

    In a medium-sized bowl, add the cornbread mix, half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, milk, egg, and a whole can of cream-style corn. Stir well until combined. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake for about 15 minutes, until it begins to softly set.

    ingredients to make cornbread mixed together in glass mixing bowl
    cornbread mixture spread in rectangle baking dish

    While the cornbread is baking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, add the chopped onion and bell pepper.

    Cook until they begin to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the pound of ground beef to the skillet and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat if necessary.

    meat mixture in large cast iron skillet

    Add half of the can of sloppy joe sauce to the pan along with the beef and cook until it is heated thoroughly. Carefully remove the cornbread from the oven and use a fork to prick holes all over the top of the cornbread.

    sauce added to meat mixture in large cast iron skillet

    Pour the remaining half of the sloppy joe sauce evenly over the top of the cornbread. Evenly add the meat sauce over the baked cornbread and top with the remaining cheddar cheese that is left.

    unbaked assembled cornbread casserole in glass baking dish

    Return the casserole to the oven and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve the sloppy joe casserole while it is still warm. Enjoy!

    finished casserole in glass baking dish

    Recipe Tips and Tricks

    • Use a box of your favorite cornbread mixture. I prefer to use an 8.5-ounce box for a thinner cornbread crust, but you may also use a 15-ounce mix as well for a thicker cornbread layer.
    • Try not to overcook the cornbread mixture, it will finish cooking once the sloppy joe beef is added and it's returned to the oven.
    • A traditional sloppy joe is made with ground beef, but you may substitute with a pound of ground turkey if you prefer.

    Storage

    Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees F. or in the microwave.

    This casserole can also be stored in the freezer for up to a month. Remove it from the freezer the night before you're ready to serve to allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. Heat in the oven as normal and have some additional sloppy joe sauce on hand to add if needed.

    Recipe

    finished sloppy joe cornbread casserole in rectangle glass baking dish

    Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole

    LaKita Anderson
    This hearty and comforting Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole is an easy to make meal that is sure to satisfy the entire family. Loaded with sloppy joe beef, sweet cornbread, and cheddar cheese.
    4.86 from 14 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 215 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 8.5 ounces cornbread mix
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided in half
    • ⅓ cup milk
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 can cream-style sweet corn (14.75 ounces)
    • 1 24 ounces sloppy joe sauce, divided in half
    • 1 pound lean ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • ½ cup yellow onion, diced
    • 1 large green bell pepper, chopped into smaller pieces

    Instructions
     

    • Begin the casserole recipe by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
    • In a medium-sized bowl, add the 8.5 ounce package of cornbread mix, ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese, ⅓ cup milk, 1 large egg, and a whole can (14.75 ounces) of cream-style corn. Stir well until combined. Pour into the prepared baking dish. Bake for about 15 minutes, until it begins to softly set.
    • While the cornbread is baking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once the butter has melted, add the ½ cup chopped onion and chopped large bell pepper.
    • Cook until they begin to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the 1 pound ground beef to the skillet and cook until the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess fat if necessary.
    • Add half of the 24 ounce can of sloppy joe sauce to the pan along with the beef and cook until it is heated thoroughly. Carefully remove the cornbread from the oven and use a fork to prick holes all over the top of the cornbread.
    • Pour the remaining ½ of the sloppy joe sauce evenly over the top of the cornbread. Evenly add the meat sauce over the baked cornbread and top with the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese that is left.
    • Return the casserole to the oven and bake for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve the sloppy joe casserole while it is still warm. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Use a box of your favorite cornbread mixture. I prefer to use an 8.5-ounce box for a thinner cornbread crust, but you may also use a 15-ounce mix as well for a thicker cornbread layer.
    • Try not to overcook the cornbread mixture, it will finish cooking once the sloppy joe beef is added and it is returned to the oven.
    • A traditional sloppy joe is made with ground beef, but you may substitute ground turkey if you prefer.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 18gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 314mgPotassium: 363mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 357IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 2mg

    *All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

    Keyword sloppy joe casserole
    Tried this recipe?Mention @SimplyLaKita or tag #SimplyLakita

    Original post date 04/09/2015. Updated 04/02/2018 and 10/20/2022.

    single serving of casserole on small white plate beside a fork

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    Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ideas and ways to serve this Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole Recipe? Please share them in the comments below!


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sonya

      April 09, 2015 at 10:48 pm

      This looks yummy!!! I'm a big fan of cornbread and miss it a lot since I've been trying to eliminate corn from my diet. However, this would be a must make if I was eating corn. I recently found that cream of buckwheat is a good subsitute for grits. So I've been happily eating my faux grits the past couple of days.

      Reply
      • admin

        April 10, 2015 at 12:38 am

        Thank you so much! I love cornbread as well and unfortunately there really is no substitute is there...sorry...I have cut things out of my diet as well so I completely understand...but faux grits now that sounds very interesting.

        Reply
    2. Tamara

      April 10, 2015 at 8:01 pm

      I read this and then reached for the phone to call my husband because it's cold and rainy here (expected to warm up finally tomorrow) and I am craving comfort food badly.

      Reply
      • admin

        April 11, 2015 at 3:16 pm

        Awesome! Well this recipe will surely provide some comfort and warmth, but I am glad to hear that things will be warming up your way tomorrow.

        Reply
    3. Gloria

      October 24, 2022 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      Sloppy Joes and cornbread combined together. Awesome. My family will love this for dinner one night this week.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 26, 2022 at 1:05 pm

        Thank you Gloria, it is a great pairing!

        Reply
    4. Lauren Michael Harris

      October 25, 2022 at 9:55 pm

      5 stars
      What an interesting combination! I haven't had sloppy joe in forever, but I've been craving it lately. So glad I came across this recipe - can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 26, 2022 at 1:05 pm

        Thank you so much Lauren, hope you enjoy!

        Reply
    5. Veronika

      October 28, 2022 at 3:03 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! It was so easy to make and I loved the flavor combination. Going to make it again this weekend for the family dinner.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:43 pm

        Thank you Veronika, glad you enjoyed the casserole!

        Reply
    6. Ann

      October 30, 2022 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      This dish was delicious! My family loved it and requested I make it again! Thanks for the share! Will definitely make this again!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:43 pm

        Thank you so much Ann, glad to hear it!

        Reply
    7. Loreto and Nicoletta

      October 30, 2022 at 10:35 am

      5 stars
      I have not had a sloppy Joe in ages. What a brilliant idea to make a casserole out of it especially with cornbread. A beautiful pairing all in one dish with gooey melted cheddar. A must try for us busy working class!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:44 pm

        Thank you so much, definitely a great quick to make meal 🙂

        Reply
    8. Katie Crenshaw

      October 30, 2022 at 2:28 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make and turned out so delicious. It is the perfect comfort meal for the cold months. I will be adding this to my regular rotation.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:44 pm

        Thank you Katie, so great for the colder months!

        Reply
    9. Tristin

      October 30, 2022 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      My kids loved this spin on sloppy joes! It was pretty easy to put together and will be added into the dinner rotation.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:45 pm

        Thank you Tristin, happy to hear your kids loved it!

        Reply
    10. Dani

      October 30, 2022 at 9:13 pm

      5 stars
      A sloppy joe casserole is like the ultimate comfort food and your recipe hit the spot. Everyone loved it.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:45 pm

        Thank you Dani and I agree the ultimate comfort food!

        Reply
    11. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

      October 30, 2022 at 11:48 pm

      5 stars
      2 amazing comfort foods combined to create one killer casserole! This was so SO good! Definitely a keeper!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        October 31, 2022 at 1:46 pm

        Thank you Lori, the perfect combination 🙂

        Reply
    12. ramona

      November 02, 2022 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious recipe and it is definitely a common comfort food! Thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to try it out!

      Reply
      • LaKita

        November 08, 2022 at 3:36 pm

        Thank you Ramona! I agree, so comforting.

        Reply
    13. Katy

      January 31, 2023 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      4.5⭐️My family really loved this Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole!! Ate the whole 9x13”, much to my chagrin. Had hoped for leftovers for a second night! Very tasty and pretty easy to make. Maybe a little too sweet for my taste, probably from the creamy sweet corn, but they all loved it and definitely want to see it in the rotation.

      Reply
      • LaKita

        February 02, 2023 at 5:48 pm

        Thank you so much Katy! Leftovers for this recipe rarely happen in my home too 😉

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm LaKita, a food blogger living in Northwest/Panhandle Florida. I love creating and sharing recipes that are simple to make and comforting to eat. Follow me for more delicious recipes.

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