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That Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole You Absolutely Have to Make
Ok, let’s be real for a second. Some nights, the thought of making a complicated dinner is just… too much.
You know those days. You’ve worked, you’ve handled things, and now you’re just staring into the fridge hoping a fully-cooked meal will magically appear.
It won’t. I’ve tried. It never works.
But what if I told you that you could have the messy, beefy goodness of a sloppy joe combined with the fluffy, buttery perfection of a biscuit? All in one single, glorious casserole dish.
Yep. This is that recipe. It’s the ultimate comfort food mashup, and it’s SO ridiculously easy to make. It’s a total game-changer for weeknight dinners.
What You’ll Need
Here’s the simple stuff you’ll need to grab. No weird, hard-to-find ingredients, I promise.
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional, but good!)
- 1 can (15 oz) sloppy joe sauce (like Manwich)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated biscuits (like the Pillsbury Grands!)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Required Tools
You probably have all of this already, which is the best part.
- Large skillet
- 9×9 inch baking dish (or something similar in size)
- Mixing spoon or spatula
- Small bowl (for the butter topping)
How to Make Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole
Alright, let’s get this done. It’s super straightforward.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Go ahead and lightly grease your 9×9 inch baking dish.
Step 2: Get your skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, chopped onion, and bell pepper if you’re using it.
Step 3: Cook it all up, breaking the beef apart with your spoon, until it’s no longer pink. This usually takes about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any extra grease. Nobody wants that.
Step 4: Pour in that can of sloppy joe sauce. Stir it all together until it’s nicely mixed and heated through. Let it simmer for just a minute or two.
Step 5: Take the skillet off the heat. Spread the beef mixture evenly into the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Just plop it in there.
Step 6: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese all over the top of the meat mixture. Be generous.
Step 7: Now for the fun part. Open that can of biscuits. Arrange the raw biscuits on top of the cheese layer. They can be touching, it’s fine.
Step 8: In that small bowl, mix the melted butter and garlic powder together. Brush this glorious garlic butter mixture over the tops of all the biscuits.
Step 9: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the biscuits are a beautiful golden brown and cooked all the way through.
Step 10: Let it cool for a few minutes before you dig in. It will be HOT. Seriously, let it rest so you don’t burn your mouth. Then, serve it up!
Pro Tips
I’ve made this a LOT. Here are a few things I’ve learned that make it even better.
- Don’t Drown the Meat. If your sloppy joe sauce seems extra watery, let it simmer for a few extra minutes in the pan to thicken up. This prevents a soggy bottom on your biscuits.
- Cheese is Your Friend. Don’t be shy with the cheese. I often use more than half a cup. A layer of cheese between the meat and biscuits creates a little barrier that helps the biscuits bake perfectly.
- Give The Biscuits Space. While they can touch, don’t squish them together too tightly. Giving them a tiny bit of room helps the heat circulate so the sides can cook properly.
- The Foil Trick. If you notice the tops of your biscuits are getting perfectly brown but you think the insides need another minute, just lightly tent a piece of aluminum foil over the top of the dish for the last 5 minutes of baking.
Substitutions and Variations
Want to mix it up? I get it. Here are some easy swaps you can make.
| Ingredient | Substitution Idea | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | Ground turkey or chicken | A leaner option. |
| Cheddar Cheese | Monterey Jack, Colby, or a Mexican blend | Changes the flavor profile slightly. All melt well. |
| Green Bell Pepper | Corn or diced carrots | An easy way to sneak in other veggies. |
| Refrigerated Biscuits | Crescent roll dough or cornbread topping | Creates a totally different (but still amazing) topping. |
Make-Ahead Tips
Yes! You can totally prep this ahead of time to make dinner even faster.
Just cook the sloppy joe meat mixture as directed (steps 2-4), let it cool completely, and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
When you’re ready to bake, just spread the cold meat mixture in the dish, top with cheese and biscuits, and bake. You might need to add about 5-10 extra minutes to the baking time since the filling is starting cold.
Meal Pairing and Efficiency
This casserole is pretty much a meal in itself, with protein, carbs, and some veggies.
If you want to round it out, a simple side salad with a vinaigrette is perfect. Or some steamed green beans. You don’t need much.
To be super efficient, you can chop your onion and pepper while the skillet is heating up. While the casserole is in the oven, you have the perfect amount of time to throw that salad together and set the table.
Nutritional Info (An Estimation!)
Just a heads-up, this is a rough estimate. It’ll change based on the exact brands of sauce, beef, and biscuits you use.
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 450-550 kcal |
| Protein | 25g |
| Fat | 22g |
| Carbohydrates | 35g |
Tips for Leftovers and Storage
If you actually have leftovers, storing them is easy.
Just cover the casserole dish with foil or plastic wrap, or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container. It’ll keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, the oven is your best bet to get the biscuits crispy again. Pop it in at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes. The microwave works too, but the biscuits will be softer. Still delicious, just soft.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some questions I get asked all the time.
Q1. Can I use my own homemade sloppy joe sauce?
Ans: Absolutely! And I bet it will be even better. Just use about 1.5 to 2 cups of your homemade sauce in place of the canned stuff.
Q2. My biscuits were still a little doughy on the bottom. What happened?
Ans: This is a common issue! It usually means the meat mixture was a little too liquidy. Next time, try simmering the sauce a bit longer to thicken it up before putting it in the dish. Also, that cheese layer really does help create a barrier.
Q3. Can I make this gluten-free?
Ans: Yes, you can. The meat part is easy. Just make sure your sloppy joe sauce is certified gluten-free. The tricky part is the biscuits. You’d need to find a good gluten-free refrigerated biscuit dough or make your own GF biscuit topping to spoon on top.
Q4. Can I freeze this casserole?
Ans: I’ve had mixed results with this. The meat part freezes perfectly, but the baked biscuits can get a bit strange in texture after thawing and reheating. My advice is to freeze the meat filling only, and then assemble and bake with fresh biscuits when you’re ready to eat.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it. An incredibly easy, super comforting dinner that your whole family will actually get excited about.
It’s warm, it’s cheesy, it’s beefy, and it has buttery biscuits on top. I mean, what’s not to love?
Give it a try the next time you need a win on a busy weeknight. I promise you won’t regret it.
Now I have to ask, what’s your go-to comfort food casserole? Drop a comment below and let me know. I’m always looking for new ideas!
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