Sloppy joe cornbread casserole is a hearty and comforting hot dish made with tangy, savory sloppy joe meat then piled with sweet cornbread on top.
Why this recipe works
The flavors in this dish complement each other so well with a sweet but tangy combo you didn’t know you needed! This sloppy joe cornbread casserole is another fun play on our classic sloppy joe recipe, similar to our sloppy joe cornbread muffins but in a family-friendly fashion.
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
MEAT – You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken, or even do a mixture of different meats to your preference.
CORNBREAD – For a thicker cornbread layer, you could use two packages of cornbread mix – cook time may need to be adjusted if so. Use a toothpick to check for doneness. Easily swap the boxed mix for a homemade cornbread if preferred.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray an 8×8 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Saute ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a skillet over medium heat until the ground beef is browned and the onion is soft and translucent. Drain the excess fat/liquid.
- To the ground beef mixture, add garlic powder, yellow mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, and salt and pepper to taste, along with 1⁄2 cup water. Mix thoroughly.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer cooked sloppy joe mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Whisk together cornbread mix, egg, and milk until combined. Spoon over the top of the sloppy joe mixture and carefully spread to cover the mixture.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cornbread is golden brown.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Yes, simply double the recipe for a 13×9 dish. Because you are doubling, you may need to add extra time in the oven. Use the toothpick method to check for doneness.
Store the casserole in an air-tight container or tightly covered with plastic wrap for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze this casserole for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Sloppy joe cornbread casserole would be great with a dollop of sour cream on top. This dish doesn’t really need any sides, but if you’d like to add a veggie I would recommend green beans, broccoli, or roasted carrots. Serve warm from the oven and enjoy!
For even more flavor in this casserole, try using our bacon sloppy joe recipe. With all the same tasty components, but with the addition of everyone’s favorite – bacon.
More Casserole Recipes
- Dorito Casserole
- Ground Beef Casserole
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Chicken Noodle Casserole
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Reuben Casserole
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Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion chopped
- ½ cup green bell pepper diced
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 3 tsp light brown sugar
- ½ cup water
- ground black pepper and sea salt to taste
- 8.5 oz Jiffy cornbread mix 1 box
- 1 large egg
- ⅓ cup milk
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- Store, covered, in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze up to 3 months.
- For a thicker cornbread layer, you could use two packages of cornbread mix – cook time may need to be adjusted. Use a toothpick to check for doneness.
- Double the recipe for a 13×9 baking dish. You may need to add extra time in the oven if doing so. Use the toothpick method to check for doneness.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray an 8×8 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Saute ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a skillet over medium heat until the ground beef is browned and the onion is soft and translucent. Drain the excess fat/liquid.
- To the ground beef mixture, add garlic powder, yellow mustard, ketchup, brown sugar, and salt and pepper to taste, along with 1⁄2 cup water. Mix thoroughly.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer cooked sloppy joe mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
- Whisk together cornbread mix, egg, and milk until combined. Spoon over the top of the sloppy joe mixture and carefully spread to cover the mixture.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until the cornbread is golden brown.
Nutrition
Amanda Davis
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Cynthia WHITELEY Friday says
This has joined the weekly rotation for dinner. smile I also have made it with a can of chilli instead or ground meat , turkey instead of beef and made other alterations as I find that someone has used up what i thought I had. grin it comes out great every time. Thanks for the recipe!
Stephanie says
My family loves this 5-ingredient corn casserole (jiffy corn mix, sour cream, canned corn — whole and creamed , egg, butter)
I made the sloppy joe base and put the corn casserole on top. Yummy!
Gabi says
I’ve made this several times now and the family loved it! I add some frozen corn, cheddar cheese, and a little honey to the cornbread mix to add my own touch. They eat it up every time. Thanks for the recipe!👍
Barbie says
I love this recipe. Used leftover sloppy joes and it was delicious. I do make my own cornbread instead of the package one.
Marie Hall says
I’ve made this several times. Trust me. Don’t use canned. Use this recipe! It is so good. My very picky father loves it.
I made it exactly per instructions. No add ins or subs. Delish!
Katie says
I really enjoyed this recipe however I did cheat a little and just used the canned sloppy joe mix. Everyone enjoyed it!
Courtney R says
I veganized it (easily) and my whole family loved it!! This will be a staple for sure. Also I thought I commented before but I don’t see it?
Courtney R says
I veganized this (easily) and my whole family loved it! I did add my brooms and next time I’ll probably add more green peppers . Really yummy recipe!!
Anna Marie Payne says
I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious. We both decided we would enjoy it again; My only problem was the cornbread mix didn’t quite cover the meat mixture. I used an 8X8 pan, any suggestions? Thanks for a delicious meal.
Ann
Amanda Formaro says
It’s definitely a thin layer of cornbread mixture and you have to carefully spread it to get it to cover completely. Alternatively, you can double the cornbread if you want a thicker topping.
Wendy Kittleson says
Saw this recipe this morning, got the ingredients and made it for dinner. Very tasty, quick prep and dinner was done. We used yellow and green peppers. Will make this again.
Velva says
Hi Amanda, Love it! Easy to prepare. Always delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Velva-Evening with a Sandwich
Bonnie says
Teens love it.