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Overhead view of sloppy joe casserole in white baking dish topped with chopped parsley.
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4.83 from 17 votes

Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole Recipe

Make this easy Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole with a sweet cornbread base, saucy ground beef, and melted cheddar. A cozy, family-friendly weeknight dinner.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: sloppy joe casserole
Servings: 8
Calories: 273kcal
Author: LaKita Anderson

Equipment

  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 large skillet or braiser
  • 1 9x13-inch rectangle baking dish

Ingredients

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

Instructions

  • Begin the casserole recipe by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. and lightly spraying a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, add the 8.5 ounce box of Jiffy mix, ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese, ⅓ cup whole milk, 1 large egg, and a (14.75 ounces) whole can of cream-style corn. Stir well until combined.
    Cornbread mixture in glass mixing bowl with spatula.
  • Pour into the prepared baking dish. Place it into the preheated oven to bake for about 15 minutes, until it begins to softly set.
    Cooked cornbread in white baking dish.
  • While the cornbread base is baking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the 1 tablespoon butter. Once the butter has melted, add the ½ cup diced onion and 1 large bell pepper.
    Close up view of onion and pepper in large braiser.
  • Cook until it begins 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/oil if necessary.
    Ground beef added to the onion and peppers in the braiser pan.
  • Add half of the 24 ounce can of sloppy joe sauce to the pan, about 12 ounces along with the 1 pound beef and cook until it is heated thoroughly. Carefully remove the golden brown cornbread from the oven and use a fork to prick holes all over the top of the cornbread.
    Sloppy joe sauce added to the other beef mixture ingredients in the braiser.
  • Pour the remaining half (12 ounces) of the sloppy joe sauce evenly over the top of the cornbread. Evenly add the ground beef mixture over the baked cornbread and top with 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese.
    Beef mixture and shredded cheese added on top of the baked cornbread.
  • Return the casserole to the oven to bake for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve the sloppy joe casserole while it is still warm. Enjoy!
    Overhead view of baked casserole in white baking dish.

Video

Notes

  • You may use an 8.5-ounce box of cornbread mix for a thinner base or a 15-ounce mix for a thicker layer. If using the larger box, the cornbread may need an extra couple of minutes in the oven during the first bake.
  • Sloppy joes are traditionally made with ground beef, but ground turkey or chicken can be substituted using the same amount.
  • If your sloppy joe sauce is very thick, you can add 1–2 tablespoons of water to loosen it slightly before layering it over the cornbread.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 406mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 498IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 2mg
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