Sloppy Joe Casserole For Two – An Easy One Skillet Recipe

Sloppy Joe Casserole is an easy one skillet recipe for two that is full of delicious flavor. Lean ground beef, peppers and onions cooked in a simple yet delicious homemade sloppy joe sauce then topped with cheese and frozen tater tots.

Surprisingly, it takes only 10 minutes to prepare! It is one of my favorite dinner recipes to make on a busy weeknight when I don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.

Once the casserole goes in the oven I can take care of other tasks that need my attention. Not to mention that because it is made entirely in one skillet, clean up is a breeze!

But what I love most about this recipe is that it combines two classic, comfort food recipes. You have all the elements of a tangy Sloppy Joe sandwich.

But instead of the meat being served on a bun, you layer on the crispy and cheesy topping of a Tater Tot Casserole. The combination of the two dishes is amazing and this is one of those recipes that you will want to make over and over again.

Ingredients Needed For Sloppy Joe Casserole For Two

• Ground beef – I like to use at least 90/10 lean to fat ratio ground beef. Then you won’t need to drain it. Feel free to substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for a healthier option. You will only need 1/2 pound so save the rest to make this Ground Beef Casserole recipe.
• Onion – sweet, yellow or white onion can be used in this recipe.
• Green bell pepper – a classic ingredient in sloppy Joes, but you could use a sweet bell pepper if you prefer.
• Ketchup – the starting foundation of the sauce.
• Beef broth – adds another beefy flavor to the dish. If you don’t have any broth just use water instead.
• Seasonings – garlic powder and smoked paprika give a hint of warmth and smoky flavors to the filling.
• Yellow mustard – provides a little tang to the sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce – the classic savory flavor comes from this classic ingredient.
• Vinegar – use distilled white or apple cider vinegar to balance out the sweetness in the dish.
• Crushed red pepper flakes – an optional ingredient that will add a little spiciness to the sauce. Feel free to add more if you would like or skip it if you aren’t a fan of food with a little bit of heat.
• Shredded Cheddar cheese – preshredded store-bought cheese will work fine in this recipe.
• Tater tots – depending on the brand they could be called a different name such as: tater rounds, tater crisps, tater puffs, or even potato croquettes.

Steps To Making Sloppy Joe Casserole As A One Skillet Recipe

1. Brown the ground beef in an oven safe skillet. When cooking for two I use my favorite 8 inch cast iron skillet.

2. Saute the onions and peppers in with the ground beef once the meat is half way brown.

3. Add in the sauce ingredients and just heat slightly. You don’t want all the liquid to evaporate.

4. Sprinkle the top with half the cheese and layer on the frozen tater tots. *The amount of tater tots will vary depending on the size of skillet that you use.

5. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.

6. Add the remaining cheese on top and continue to bake until the cheese melts.

Make Ahead Option

To make this Sloppy Joe Casserole for two as a make ahead recipe, prepare everything in one skillet and let it cool completely. Add the first layer of cheese but do not add the tater tots.

Then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Then before the skillet goes in the oven, layer on the frozen tater tots. You will need to plan on extending the initial baking time by 5 minutes.

You can also make it as a freezer meal. Again, prepare as instructed and leave the frozen tater tots off. Although you will be freezing the casserole, the sauce will make the tater tots soggy.

Storing Recommendations

Although this recipe is designed as a one skillet recipe for two, you will most likely have a little leftover (unless you are super hungry). Therefore, store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

The leftovers can also be stored in the freezer in an air tight container for up to 3 months. It is best to let the frozen casserole thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating the next day.

Because tater tots will become soft once stored it is best to reheat the leftovers in an oven or air fryer set at 350°F (177°C) until warm in the center, approximately 10-15 minutes. However, if you don’t mind soft tater tots, reheat the leftovers in the microwave for 90 seconds.

Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe For Two

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 medium onion chopped
• 1/2 green bell pepper chopped
• 6 Tablespoons ketchup
• 1/4 cup beef broth or water
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon white or apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 16 ounces frozen tater tots – see note
• salt & pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Add the lean ground beef to an oven safe skillet (I prefer cast iron) and cook over medium-high heat until mostly brown, breaking it into small crumbles with your spatula.

Add the diced onions and peppers to the skillet and continue to cook until the meat is no longer pink and cooked through. Drain if you did not use lean ground beef and return the mixture back into the skillet.

Reduce the heat to medium and add in the ketchup, broth (or water), garlic powder, smoked paprika, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using). Then add salt and pepper to taste.

Stir and let it heat for 3 minutes. You want the Sloppy Joe Casserole mixture to be more on the wet side rather than dry.

Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle 1/2 cup of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese over top. *If you want to use a baking dish instead of making a one skillet recipe, transfer the meat mixture to a small baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray then top with cheese.

Arrange tater tots over top of the meat and cheese mixture. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and continue to bake for another 5-7 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve warm with salt & pepper to taste.

Enjoy! Mary

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