This 4-ingredient sloppy joe casserole is the kind of dependable supper that busy families have leaned on for years, especially on school nights when everybody was hungry and time was short. It takes the familiar sweet-and-savory flavor of a classic sloppy joe and turns it into a bubbling bake with a golden biscuit topping, giving you all the comfort of an old-fashioned meal with hardly any fuss at all.
Serve this casserole with a simple green salad, buttered green beans, corn, or a dish of coleslaw to balance the rich filling. If you are feeding especially hungry folks, a bowl of pickle spears or a little fruit salad on the side rounds things out nicely and keeps supper feeling like a full home-cooked spread.
4-Ingredient Sloppy Joe Casserole
Servings: 6
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 can sloppy joe sauce (15 to 16 ounces)
1 tube refrigerated biscuit dough (8-count)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a rectangular glass baking dish.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until fully browned, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
3. Stir the sloppy joe sauce into the cooked beef and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, just until everything is hot and well combined.
4. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish, then sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
5. Arrange the biscuit dough pieces over the top, spacing them evenly so they cover most of the casserole.
6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations & Tips
Add onion: If you have a little extra time, cook about 1/2 cup chopped onion with the ground beef. It adds a touch of sweetness and makes the filling taste even more like the old sloppy joes many of us grew up with.
Swap the cheese: Cheddar is dependable and tasty, but Colby jack, mozzarella, or a cheddar blend all work well here. Use what you have in the refrigerator and this casserole will still come out bubbling and satisfying.
Make it stretch: To feed a few more people, you can stir in a cup of drained canned corn or a thin layer of thawed hash browns under the meat. It is a handy way to stretch supper without making another trip to town.
Watch the biscuit topping: If the biscuit tops are browning too quickly before the centers are done, loosely cover the dish with foil for the last few minutes of baking. Glass baking dishes can vary a bit, so keep an eye on it near the end.
Use leftovers well: Leftover casserole keeps nicely in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat portions in the microwave or warm the whole dish in the oven so the biscuit topping stays as pleasant as possible.