This Sloppy Joe Tater Tots Casserole is an easy meal the entire family will love. Full of yummy seasoned meat, a tangy sauce, lots of gooey cheese, and topped with crispy tater tots!
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Did your family eat Sloppy Joe’s growing up? My mom used to make them all the time.
Not just because they are tasty, but because she was usually getting home late from work and needed something quick to make for us. That and they are cheap to make!
She would also serve them with tater tots or french fries. If she was really late, we would have potato chips. Which I actually like because I would put the chips on my sandwich for the crunch!
For this particular recipe, you can always go the route of buying the can of Manwich from the store and mixing with your cooked ground beef. But I prefer to make my own homemade sloppy joe sauce. It’s not as hard as you think and it tastes WAY better, trust me!
You know just what you are putting in your dish and can leave out stuff that you can’t have or maybe your kids don’t like. Mine can pick out green bell peppers from the next room.
But let me tell you that the kids are going to love this recipe. Even the kids of all ages 😉 Serve it with this Strawberry Cream Cheese Icebox Cake and you will be mom of the year!
Ingredients Needed
- Ground beef –Lean ground beef or substitute ground turkey.
- Vegetables – Onion, green bell pepper. Substitute red bell pepper if needed.
- Potatoes –Frozen tater tots or substitute shredded hashbrowns potatoes
- Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese or substitute mozzarella.
- Extras – Ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth.
- Kitchen staples – Minced garlic, salt, black pepper, chili powder, brown sugar, green onions.
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How to Make Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
- Start by preheating the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onions, and bell pepper until beef is browned and vegetables are tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat. Add the garlic and cook another minute or so.
- Stir in the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, pepper and beef broth. If the mixture seems dry, add a splash more beef broth to loosen it up. Spread half of the tater tots in a single layer in the dish.
- Top with the sloppy joe mixture and spread in an even layer. Sprinkle half the shredded cheddar cheese over the meat.
- Top with the remaining tater tots and remaining cheese in an even layer. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are a crispy golden brown.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.Garnish with chopped green onions.
For the full recipe and detailed baking instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post.
How long does it last?
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or larger portions in the oven to get the tater tots crispy again.
You can also reheat it in the air fryer too!
Can I freeze it?
You can certainly make this ahead of time and freeze it for later. Or make a double batch while you’re in the mood for cooking. I suggest putting it together and baking it before freezing.
Be sure to let it cool completely, wrap tightly in with plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to bake it, let it thaw overnight in the fridge and then bake in a 350F until heated through.
Family Friendly Recipes
This sloppy joe casserole recipe is perfect all on it’s own for sure. I love that it’s really a meat and starch kind of meal, like this Big Boy casserole, but if you want to serve it with some sides, or stretch it out for a larger family, I have some ideas.
You can start off with a salad like this copycat 1905 salad or this Italian chopped salad. Serve some green beans, roasted carrots, a crack green bean casserole, or a veggie casserole along with it. Don’t forget a slice of garlic bread!
Finish it off with a strawberry shortcake fluff, or a slice of key lime pie.
Tater Tot Casseroles
I just love tater tots. I can eat them just dipped in some honey mustard but my favorite way to use them in a casserole.
My other favorite tater tot casseroles include this cracked out chicken tater tot casserole, this cowboy casserole, my Big Mac casserole, and this Philly cheesesteak tater tot casserole.
Tips for the Best Casserole
- Grease the casserole dish with cooking spray or a light coat of vegetable oil for easier cleanup.
- You can use ground beef, ground turkey, even ground chicken!
- Substitute plain tomato sauce for the ketchup if you have some extra leftover.
- If you want some more spice, add some onion powder and garlic powder.
- Make a double batch and freeze one for later or share with a neighbor!
- If you have any leftover meat mixture, make this sloppy joe garlic bread appetizer.
- Check out all my other ground beef casseroles for budget friendly dinners.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!
This sloppy joe tater tot casserole is something the whole family will love. Just like homemade sloppy joes but in an easy to put together casserole.
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 32 ounces tater tots frozen
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- Chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, onions, and bell pepper until beef is browned and vegetables are tender, 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, pepper and beef broth. If the mixture seems dry, add a splash more beef broth to loosen it up.
- Spread half of the tater tots in an even layer in the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the sloppy joe meat mixture and spread in an even layer.
- Sprinkle half the shredded cheddar cheese over the meat.
- Top with the remaining tater tots and remaining cheese in an even layer.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the casserole is bubbly and the tater tots are a crispy golden brown.
- Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with chopped green onions.
Notes
- Grease the casserole dish with cooking spray or a light coat of vegetable oil for easier cleanup.
- You can use ground beef, ground turkey, even ground chicken!
- Substitute plain tomato sauce for the ketchup if you have some extra leftover.
- If you want some more spice, add some onion powder and garlic powder.
- Make a double batch and freeze one for later or share with a neighbor!
Nutrition
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