Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole is a comforting and easy-to-make dish that combines the savory flavors of a classic sloppy joe with a fluffy, golden cornbread topping. This dish is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or weeknight meals, offering a hearty, satisfying meal in one pan.
1lbground beefor ground turkey for a lighter option
1medium onionchopped
1bell pepperchopped
2clovesgarlicminced
1can15 oz tomato sauce
1/4cupketchup
1tablespoonWorcestershire sauce
1tablespoonmustard
1tablespoonbrown sugar
1teaspoonsalt
1/2teaspoonblack pepper
1box8.5 oz cornbread mix (plus ingredients as directed on the box, typically 1 egg and 1/3 cup milk)
1cupshredded cheddar cheeseoptional, for topping
Instructions
Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
Prepare the Sloppy Joe Filling
In a big skillet, brown the ground beef (or turkey) over medium heat, thoroughly cooking it through, and using a spoon to break it up as it cooks.
Add the chopped onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes or until softened.
Add the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, salt and black pepper and stir. Allow the mixture to cook for 5-7 minutes until it is thickened slightly. Remove from heat.
Prepare the Cornbread Batter
In a mixing bowl, prepare the cornbread batter according to the instructions on the cornbread mix box (typically add egg and milk). Stir in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese, if desired, for extra flavour.
Assemble the Casserole
Spread the sloppy joe mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish.
Pour the cornbread batter over the sloppy joe mixture, spreading it out evenly to cover the top. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the cornbread batter, if desired.
Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Serve
Allow the casserole to cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
You can make this casserole in advance. Prepare the sloppy joe mixture and cornbread batter, then refrigerate overnight. When ready to bake, simply assemble and cook as directed. For a healthier version, substitute ground turkey for ground beef, and opt for a low-sodium tomato sauce and ketchup. To make it extra cheesy, add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese to the sloppy joe filling before topping with cornbread batter.
Keyword baked casserole, easy casserole, sloppy joe