Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and helps create golden, glossy roll topping.
Roll-Ready Tools for This Comfort Dish
Large oven-proof skillet: Essential for cooking beef and vegetables, then baking the entire casserole.
Plate: Needed to transfer cooked ground beef temporarily.
Cooking spatula or wooden spoon: Perfect for stirring beef and vegetables while cooking.
Cheese grater: Helpful if using block cheddar cheese that needs shredding.
Pastry brush: Used for evenly spreading melted butter over dinner rolls.
Measuring spoons: Critical for accurately adding salt, oil, and spices.
Measuring cups: Useful for precise ingredient measurements.
Steps to Get That Golden, Sloppy Goodness
Skillet Preparation Warm up a spacious oven-safe pan over medium-high heat, adding a touch of oil. Brown ground beef until it develops a rich, golden color and releases those mouthwatering aromas.
Vegetable Magic Toss chopped onions and colorful bell peppers into the skillet, letting them dance and soften. Sprinkle in minced garlic for an extra flavor punch that will make taste buds sing.
Flavor Explosion Mix in zesty tomatoes, tangy ketchup, zippy mustard, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Let the beef and veggie mixture simmer and meld together, creating a symphony of savory goodness.
Cheesy Comfort Scatter generous handfuls of sharp cheddar cheese across the top. Arrange soft dinner rolls like a cozy blanket, brushing them with golden melted butter.
Oven Magic Slide the skillet into a hot oven, letting the rolls warm and the cheese transform into a bubbly, irresistible topping that will have everyone racing to the table.
How to Keep It Flavorful (Not Just Messy)
Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter protein option.
Add a dash of cayenne pepper or smoked paprika to give the casserole an extra kick of heat and depth.
Experiment with different cheese varieties like pepper jack, smoked gouda, or a blend of monterey jack and cheddar for unique flavor profiles.
Prepare the beef mixture and assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Store covered in the refrigerator and bake when ready to serve, adding a few extra minutes to cooking time.
Sharing and Serving the Sloppy Casserole
Comfort Food Feast: Create a cozy family dinner experience by serving this sloppy casserole as the star of your meal.
Weekend Potluck Champion: Bring this crowd-pleasing dish to gatherings, where it’ll be the first to disappear from the buffet table.
Game Night Delight: Pair with crisp cold beer or refreshing soda for the ultimate casual dining experience that sports fans will love.
Busy Family Lifesaver: Perfect for hectic weeknights when you need a quick, satisfying meal that everyone from kids to adults will devour in minutes.
Leftover Solutions for a Roll-Heavy Casserole
Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftovers in airtight containers within 2 hours after cooking. Keeps well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, maintaining delicious flavors and texture.
Quick Reheating Technique: Warm individual portions in microwave for 1-2 minutes or reheat entire casserole in oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Add fresh cheese on top for extra meltiness.
Freezer-Friendly Approach: Wrap casserole tightly in aluminum foil or freezer-safe container. Stays fresh up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating for best results.
Meal Prep Hack: Prepare components separately earlier in the day or night before. Keep beef mixture and rolls refrigerated individually. Assemble and bake just before serving to maintain crisp roll edges and rich, hot filling.
Hearty sloppy joe casserole combines classic comfort with easy preparation. Cheesy layers and rich ground beef create a satisfying meal home cooks will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb (454 g) ground chuck
8 oz (226 g) pre-shredded Cheddar cheese (about 4 cups)
1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1½ cups)
1 medium green bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
2 small garlic cloves, grated (around 1 tsp)
1 tbsp dill pickle relish
½ cup ketchup
1 cup crushed tomatoes (from 1 [14.5-oz] can)
2 tbsps yellow mustard
1 tsp chili powder
2½ tsps kosher salt
2 tsps olive oil
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
12-oz package of Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls, each roll split in half
Instructions
Sizzle Protein: Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high temperature. Brown ground beef until caramelized, breaking apart the meat thoroughly. Transfer cooked beef to a separate plate and discard excess drippings.
Vegetable Transformation: In the same skillet, sauté diced onions and bell peppers until softened and translucent. Add minced garlic and quickly stir to release its aromatic qualities, creating a fragrant base for the dish.
Flavor Fusion: Integrate canned tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, sweet pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce, and chili powder into the vegetable mixture. Return cooked beef to the skillet, allowing all ingredients to simmer and develop a rich, complex flavor profile for approximately 3 minutes.
Cheese and Bread Arrangement: Generously distribute shredded Cheddar cheese across the surface of the mixture. Strategically place dinner rolls on top, creating an overlapping pattern. Brush rolls with melted butter to ensure a golden, crisp exterior.
Final Bake: Slide the skillet into a preheated 400°F (204°C) oven. Bake until dinner rolls are perfectly warmed and cheese melts into a luxurious, bubbling layer, typically requiring 10 minutes of cooking time.
Notes
Optimize Meat Browning: Ensure ground beef develops a deep caramel color by avoiding overcrowding the skillet, which helps create rich, concentrated flavors.
Vegetable Texture Trick: Sauté onions and peppers until just translucent to maintain their subtle crunch and prevent turning mushy.
Cheese Melting Technique: Sprinkle cheese evenly before adding rolls to create a perfect melted base that binds the casserole together.
Roll Placement Pro-Tip: Overlap dinner rolls slightly to create a beautiful golden-brown top and maximize crispy edges.
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Degree: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in classic and modern culinary techniques, emphasizing sustainable cooking practices, kitchen professionalism, and real-world restaurant experience through externships.
Oregon State University
Degree: B.S. in Nutrition and Food Management
Focus: In-depth study of human nutrition, food safety, meal planning, and food-service operations, with a strong foundation in public health, dietetics, and community-based nutrition programs.
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.
Sophie Reynolds
Co-Founder, Recipe Curator & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Boulder, CO
Oregon State University
Sophie Reynolds is the recipe developer and culinary voice behind many of the approachable, flavor-focused creations at The Dream Café.
Sophie’s style leans into comfort food made simple: wholesome, satisfying meals anyone can make with confidence. Her passion lies in helping home cooks feel at ease in the kitchen while finding joy in the everyday act of cooking.