Craving a dinner that’s both incredibly easy and deeply satisfying? Imagine the hearty, savory goodness of classic sloppy joes combined with the sweet, crumbly perfection of cornbread. That’s precisely what you get with this Sloppy Joe Casserole Pioneer Woman style recipe. It’s a family-friendly meal that’s guaranteed to become a new weeknight favorite.
Close up of a delicious Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole with melted cheese, ready to serve.
Just like many busy parents, I understand the need for meals that are simple to prepare and loved by everyone at the table. Casseroles are a lifesaver for this reason! They effortlessly combine essential food groups into a single dish, minimizing both cooking time and cleanup. This sloppy joe casserole pioneer woman recipe is inspired by those comforting, home-style meals that are both nostalgic and perfectly suited for today’s fast-paced lives.
In my household, sloppy joes are always a hit. There are never any complaints when they’re on the menu. However, even beloved dishes can become repetitive. To add a little excitement to our usual meal rotation, I decided to get creative. The result? This fantastic cornbread sloppy joe casserole! It’s a delightful twist on a classic, offering just enough variation to keep things interesting while maintaining that familiar, comforting flavor that everyone enjoys. It’s a win-win for both the kids and the cook!
Ingredients for making Pioneer Woman inspired Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole, featuring ground beef, vegetables, and cornbread mix.
Key Ingredients for Your Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
This recipe uses simple, pantry-friendly ingredients to create a flavorful and satisfying casserole. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground Beef: The heart of our sloppy joe filling. You can also use ground turkey for a leaner option, but ground beef provides the most classic flavor.
- Red Onion & Red Bell Pepper: These vegetables add a touch of sweetness and texture to the meat mixture. Diced, they cook down beautifully into the sauce.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a hint of molasses-like sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar in the sloppy joe sauce.
- Red Wine Vinegar: A key ingredient for that signature sloppy joe tang. Red wine vinegar provides a deeper flavor than white vinegar.
- BBQ Seasoning: Your favorite BBQ rub will work wonders here, adding smoky and savory notes.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This umami-rich sauce deepens the flavor profile of the sloppy joe mixture, adding complexity.
- Tomato Sauce: The base of our sloppy joe sauce, providing that rich tomato flavor we all love.
- Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix: For ease and convenience, a box of Jiffy mix is perfect for the cornbread topping. It creates a slightly sweet and tender crust.
- Egg, Vegetable Oil, & Milk: These are added to the corn muffin mix to create the perfect cornbread batter.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Melty cheddar cheese sprinkled on top adds a cheesy finish that complements both the sloppy joe filling and the cornbread.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Follow these simple steps to create this delicious sloppy joe casserole pioneer woman inspired dish:
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Preheat & Prep: Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). This ensures the oven is ready when your casserole is assembled.
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Sauté the Beef & Vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once the beef is browned, add the diced onions and red bell peppers to the skillet.
Browning ground beef with diced onions and red bell peppers in a skillet for Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole. -
Mix the Sloppy Joe Sauce: In a medium-sized bowl, prepare the BBQ sauce mixture. Combine the brown sugar, red wine vinegar, BBQ seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce. Whisk together until well combined.
Mixing the homemade BBQ sauce for Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole in a medium sized mixing bowl. -
Combine Sauce & Meat: When the vegetables in the skillet are tender, pour the prepared BBQ sauce over the beef and vegetable mixture. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Then, reduce the heat to low and simmer for an additional 5 minutes, letting the sauce thicken slightly.
Pouring the BBQ sauce over the ground beef and vegetable mixture in the skillet for Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole. -
Prepare the Cornbread Topping: While the meat mixture is simmering, prepare the cornbread topping. In a separate bowl, stir together the corn muffin mix, egg, vegetable oil, and milk. Mix until just combined – the batter will be a little lumpy, and that’s perfectly fine.
Mixing the Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix with egg, oil, and milk in a bowl for the cornbread topping of Sloppy Joe Casserole. -
Assemble the Casserole: Once the beef mixture has thickened slightly, spoon it evenly into an 8×8 inch baking dish. Pour the cornbread batter evenly over the top of the meat mixture, spreading it gently to cover.
Pouring the cornbread batter over the Sloppy Joe mixture in a baking dish to assemble the casserole. -
Bake and Melt Cheese: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean. Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven and immediately sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top. Let the cheese melt for a couple of minutes from the residual heat before serving.
Melted shredded cheese topping the baked Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole, ready to be served.
Tips and Variations for Your Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole
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Ground Turkey Option: If you prefer a leaner protein, ground turkey works wonderfully in this recipe. While ground beef offers a richer flavor, ground turkey is a healthy and delicious substitute. Ground chicken can also be used, but ground beef or turkey are generally recommended for the best taste and texture in this sloppy joe casserole pioneer woman style dish.
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Make it Ahead: You can prepare the sloppy joe mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, simply top with the cornbread batter and bake as directed.
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Customize Your Cornbread: For a sweeter cornbread, add a tablespoon of honey or sugar to the cornbread batter. For a savory kick, try adding shredded cheese or diced jalapenos to the cornbread mix.
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Biscuit Topping: If you’re not a fan of cornbread, you can easily substitute biscuit dough for the topping. Simply use store-bought biscuits or your favorite homemade biscuit recipe. Arrange the biscuits over the sloppy joe mixture before baking.
Serving Suggestions for Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
This sloppy joe casserole pioneer woman recipe is a complete meal in itself, but you can enhance your dinner with some simple side dishes. Consider serving it with:
- Side Salad: A fresh green salad or a classic coleslaw provides a crisp and refreshing contrast to the rich casserole.
- Steamed Vegetables: Steamed green beans, broccoli, or carrots are healthy and easy side options.
- Fruit Salad: A light and refreshing fruit salad makes a perfect dessert or side dish.
- Pickles: Dill pickles or sweet pickles offer a tangy bite that complements the savory casserole.
Serving spoon scooping a portion of delicious Cornbread Sloppy Joe Casserole, showcasing the layers of meat and cornbread.
Recipe Card: Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 8.5 ounce box Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Equipment:
- Large Skillet
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- 8×8 inch Baking Dish
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Heat large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, then add onions and peppers and sauté until softened.
- In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, red wine vinegar, BBQ seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato sauce.
- Add sauce to skillet with meat and vegetables. Reduce heat to medium, cook 5 minutes, then simmer on low for 5 more minutes to thicken.
- In another bowl, stir together corn muffin mix, egg, oil, and milk until just combined.
- Spoon beef mixture into baking dish. Pour cornbread batter over top.
- Bake 25-35 minutes, or until cornbread is cooked through. Sprinkle with cheese and let melt before serving.
Notes:
- For a spicier casserole, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sloppy joe mixture.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in microwave.
- Biscuits can be substituted for cornbread topping.
Enjoy this comforting and easy sloppy joe casserole pioneer woman style recipe! It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners.
