This one pan sloppy joe tater tot casserole comes together in a few simple steps! Flavorful sloppy joe topped with crispy tater tots and melty cheddar cheese, the whole family will love this easy weeknight meal!
This fun twist on a childhood favorite is such a satisfying dinner. It combines kid-friendly sloppy joes with crispy, cheesy tater tots, so really, what's not to love about it?
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Made in one skillet, this recipe requires minimal cleanup. If you don't have an oven-safe skillet, you can transfer the filling into a baking dish to bake, but this sloppy joe tater tot casserole is easily made in one pan.
- It's very easy to throw together on a busy weeknight! It's a filling meal, so you can easily eat it on its own or serve it with a side of greens for a healthier dinner.
- Most of the ingredients are kitchen staples! It's easy, simple, but still flavorful!
Ingredients You'll Need
unsalted butter & olive oil — the butter adds flavor and the olive oil keeps the butter from burning. I use olive oil, but you can also use any neutral oil.
ground beef — I'm using ground beef for a classic sloppy joe flavor, but you can use your ground meat of choice, such as ground chicken, like my ground chicken sloppy joes recipe.
onion — I use a small yellow onion, but feel free to add more if you're an onion lover!
garlic — the more garlic, the merrier!
tomato paste — did you know tomato paste is freezer-friendly? Since this sloppy joe uses only 1½ tablespoons of tomato paste, I usually freeze the rest of the canned tomato paste in single tablespoon servings.
ketchup — for that classic sweet and tangy flavor.
chicken broth — or beef or vegetable broth.
brown sugar — you can use regular or dark brown sugar.
chili powder — just a bit. I am referring to American-style chili powder and not chile powder.
Worcestershire sauce — this adds a deeper flavor to the sloppy joes. You can also swap it for some soy sauce if you don't have any Worcestershire.
salt and pepper
cheddar cheese — I like to use sharp cheddar cheese, but you can use your favorite melty cheese.
frozen tater tots — make sure you don't thaw them! They should stay frozen when you add them to your sloppy joes.
How To Make A Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat a large heat-proof skillet over medium heat.
- Add the butter and olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, and add the onions. Cook for 2 minutes and then add the ground beef. Stir/break up the beef as it cooks.
- Once the beef is mostly cooked, add the minced garlic. Drain any excess oil if necessary.
- Add the tomato paste and mix thoroughly. Then add the ketchup, chicken broth, brown sugar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well until evenly combined.
- Cook until the mixture has thickened, then remove from the heat.
- Spread the mixture evenly in your skillet and sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar evenly on top.
- Arrange the tater tots over the cheese in a single layer and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Let rest for 5 minutes to allow the casserole to be easier to serve. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve.
Tips and Notes
- Instead of ketchup, BBQ sauce can be used as well, but the flavor profile will change.
- If you're using a fattier ground beef, you'll have to strain the grease.
- It's best to use freshly shredded cheese, as pre-shredded cheese often contains anti-caking agents that can affect the way the cheese melts in the oven.
- If you want to add some extra veggies to this, you can stir in some frozen corn or peas! They're always fan favorites for little ones.
- You might not use your whole bag of tater tots if you have a smaller skillet.
Storage Tips
- You can prepare this recipe ahead of time by cooking the sloppy joe layer and storing it in the fridge. You can assemble with the tater tots and bake for dinner when ready!
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or the oven. Keep in mind that if you reheat leftovers in the microwave, the tater tots will not be as crispy.
- You can also freeze this casserole! Just make sure to transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw before reheating in the oven or microwave. If you want to reheat from frozen, you'll have to cover the casserole to prevent the tater tots from burning.
Recipe
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced finely
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1½ tablespoons tomato paste
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ½ cup chicken broth, or beef or vegetable broth
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper, or to taste
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 package frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Heat a large heat-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil to a skillet over medium heat, and add the onions. Cook for 2 minutes and then add the ground beef. Stir and break up the beef as it cooks.
- Once the beef is mostly cooked, add the minced garlic. Drain any excess oil if necessary.
- Add the tomato paste and mix thoroughly. Then add the ketchup, chicken broth, brown sugar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well until evenly combined.
- Cook until the mixture has thickened, then remove from the heat. Spread the mixture evenly in your skillet, patting it down. Then, sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar evenly on top.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots over the cheese in a single layer and transfer the skillet to the oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until the tater tots are golden and crispy.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese. Bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Let rest for 5 minutes to allow the casserole to be easier to serve. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve.
Nutrition
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