Simple & Scrumptious Sloppy Casserole Recipe For Family Dinner

Comfort food takes on a whole new meaning with this hearty sloppy casserole recipe that promises to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.

Layers of rich, savory flavors meld together in a dish that screams home-cooked goodness.

Ground beef sizzles and mingles with zesty tomato sauce, creating a mouthwatering base that anchors every delicious bite.

Cheese melts into golden pools, adding a creamy texture that makes this casserole impossible to resist.

The perfect blend of simple ingredients transforms an ordinary meal into an extraordinary feast.

Weeknight dinners just got a delicious upgrade that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Let’s find out this comforting classic and watch as hungry faces light up with pure culinary joy.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 18 minutes

Total Time: 28 minutes

Calories: 420 kcal

Servings: 7

All the Layers of Sloppy Casserole with Dinner Rolls

• Ground Chuck: Provides rich, hearty flavor and protein-packed foundation for the casserole, choose meat with 80/20 fat content for optimal juiciness.
• Olive Oil: Helps brown meat evenly and prevent sticking, use extra virgin for deeper flavor profile.

• Yellow Onion, Green Bell Pepper: Add depth and subtle sweetness, select fresh, firm vegetables without blemishes.
• Garlic: Brings robust, aromatic intensity, choose firm cloves without sprouting.
• Kosher Salt: Balances and amplifies overall taste, adjust according to personal preference.
• Chili Powder: Introduces warm, subtle heat and complexity, opt for fresh, fragrant blend.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Creates umami undertone, select high-quality brand for best results.
• Yellow Mustard, Ketchup: Provide tangy, sweet-sharp contrast, choose classic varieties.
• Dill Pickle Relish: Adds bright, zesty crunch and unexpected texture.

• Cheddar Cheese: Delivers creamy, sharp melting quality, select pre-shredded for convenience.
• Hawaiian Sweet Dinner Rolls: Offers soft, slightly sweet base, ensure rolls are fresh and springy.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Creates silky, rich sauce foundation, choose high-quality canned variety.
• 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 Casserole Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 28 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Hearty sloppy joe casserole combines classic comfort with easy preparation. Cheesy layers and rich ground beef create a satisfying meal home cooks will devour.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 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

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Instructions

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 18 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 420
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 75 mg