Description
A comforting and easy sloppy joe pasta bake, perfect for a weeknight dinner. It combines the classic flavors of sloppy joe with pasta and cheese, baked until bubbly and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound macaroni (or pasta of choice)
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or cheese blend of choice)
- 1/2 cup water (or beef broth)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and green bell pepper to the skillet with the beef. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. If the mixture seems too thick, add 1/2 cup of water or beef broth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the sloppy joe mixture.
- Pour half of the pasta mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture on top and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
- Let stand for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Feel free to use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef.
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450-550
- Sugar: 10-15g
- Sodium: 700-900mg
- Fat: 20-30g
- Saturated Fat: 10-15g
- Unsaturated Fat: Unknown
- Trans Fat: Unknown
- Carbohydrates: 40-50g
- Fiber: 4-6g
- Protein: 30-35g
- Cholesterol: 80-100mg
Keywords: Sloppy Joe, Pasta Bake, Weeknight Dinner, Easy Recipe, Ground Beef, Cheesy Pasta