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This sloppy joe cornbread casserole combines two of my favorite things – sweet and tangy meat with an easy cornbread casserole recipe! My whole family devours this anytime I make it, which is pretty often since it’s so stinkin’ easy!
Family dinners, man. I love them.
We’re pretty big on eating at the dining room table and when we were looking at houses to buy I was completely shocked at the number of houses that didn’t even have dining rooms or a space to put a table in the kitchen.
Where do people eat? On the couch?? I mean, that sounds lovely and all, but what about the kids?
Can you imagine handing a kid a sloppy joe and sending him off to your carpeted living room? I die just thinking about that.
No, we eat at the table in our house, partially because I think it’s just easier, partially because there is no carpeting anywhere in sight, and partially because I’m a mean mom.
Where do you guys do dinner?
Speaking of sloppy joes, we love them in this house! Do you remember this sloppy joe tater tot casserole? Always a hit and it’s super popular among readers, too!
Well, I’m the (self-proclaimed) casserole queen, so when I noticed my children all huddled under blankets trying to stay warm this week I decided to bust out a nice, comforting casserole. Cozy and warm, here we come!
I used the cornbread base from my chicken tamale casserole and doctored it up a bit with some sloppy joe sauce making a super tangy, sweet, kid friendly family favorite! Serve this with a side salad and some steamed broccoli and you have a pretty easy meal.
I love a good Jiffy cornbread casserole, how about you?
One note, this sloppy joe cornbread casserole recipe uses the larger can of sloppy joe sauce. You DO NOT have to use all of it here. If you do, things will be extra saucy (not a bad thing!). Use your best judgement when it comes to pouring the sauce into the meat and add as much as you personally like on your sandwiches. If you like them saucy, dump it all in. If you like them dryer, leave some out. You really can’t mess this recipe up!
Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients
- 8.5 ounces corn muffin mix (Jiffy works great) 1 box
- 1 cup shredded cheddar divided
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 14.75 ounces cream-style corn 1 can
- 24 ounce can sloppy joe sauce or homemade, divided
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 sweet onion
- 1 bell pepper any color
- 1/4 cup diced green onions
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- In a medium sized bowl, add the cornbread mix, 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, milk, egg, and canned corn. Stir until well combined.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake for 15 minutes or until just set.
- Dice the onion and pepper and add to a large skillet with the butter. Cook until softened.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook through. Drain the fat.
- Add all but 1/2 cup of the sloppy joe sauce to the pan with the meat to warm.
- Remove the cornbread from the oven and use a fork to prick holes over the cornbread. Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of the sloppy joe sauce over the cornbread.
- Spoon the meat and sauce over the baked cornbread and top with the remaining cheese. Return to the oven for 15 minutes.
- Top with the green onions before serving.
Laura G says
Can this meal be frozen and reheated easily?
Karly says
I’ve never tried it, but I think it would work just fine.
Beth L says
Getting ready to try this wonderful sounding recipe. 9×13 pan seems like it might be too big for the volume of ingredients. Looks like an 8×8 in the pics posted with the recipe. Just wondering which is accurate? Smaller pan fine? Thank you!
Karly says
Hi Beth! I did use a 9×13 and it makes for a thinner base. If you use an 8×8 you’ll need to increase the bake time quite a bit.
Enjoy!
Faith says
I just made this today and I agree the 9 x 13 is too large . Tastes really good but needs a smaller pan so cornbread part will be thicker
stina kolling says
just made this for dinner. had to use 2 8x8s because i don’t have a 9×13. i may eat an entire pan by myself. this is INSANELY good!
Karly says
So glad to hear that!! ๐
Caitlin says
Omg!!! Cooking this now and my children are glued to the oven waiting!!!
Karly says
Hope they love it! ๐
Holly - FMITK says
omg. my two favorite things in one casserole!!!
Jen says
Would this work good to freeze?
Karly says
I’ve never tried it myself. I’m not very knowledgeable about freezing food, but if you’ve frozen cornbread based casseroles before, I think it would be fine!
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
Karly this meal is right up my alley! My family is going to love it too! Yum:)
Ashley@blondegirlcravings says
We eat at the table. The thought of the damage my two year old could do to my living room sends shivers down my spine. My kitchen is messy enough after meal times!
Karly says
Right? People be crazy.
Jennifer says
Sounds great!!! What do you serve as a side dish? Or do you really need a side? I’m going to try this recipe this coming week!
Karly says
I usually serve it with steamed broccoli or a salad, but you don’t even have to serve anything with it. ๐
Cheryl Damberger says
This sounds great and I would make cole slaw to serve on the side.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
We just moved here to Wisconsin about a year ago and when we were house hunting, I was also surprised at the fact that MANY houses and even brand new houses too, didn’t have the formal dining room. But every house had a breakfast nook area or room/place for a dining room table. The builders told me that people now would just rather have larger family rooms or kitchens. We always eat at the table too. . we just don’t have a formal dining room. love this cornbread bake!! Sweet and tangy meat with cornbread too?!! love this!
Leana says
Looks great – question – can I substitute the cream of corn with milk. Kids don’t like corn. – thank you
Karly says
I would just leave it out entirely. I don’t think. Maybe an extra tablespoon or two of milk, but that’s it. ๐
karen says
If the kids don’t like corn then maybe substitute biscuits in place of the corn bread – bake the biscuit in muffin tins and top with mix – that way there is no corn at all for them.
Karly says
Great idea! I actually have a recipe for that on my site. ๐
Karlina says
I make both the cornbread sloppy Joe bake and the sloppy Joe biscuits all of the time! They are both such huge hits with our family!
grace says
i love casseroles and i can’t wait to try this one–fantastic idea and execution! ๐
Karen @ On the Banks of Salt Creek says
This looks yummy. What a great twist on sloppy joes.
All my homes, prior to our new farm home, have always had a carpeted dining room. Such a pain. Not only do you have to worry about spills but chairs don’t slide in and out easily. Architects really should consult moms when they design homes.
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Oh my word this is one meal my family would inhale!!
Belinda@themoonblushbaker says
LOVE IT! I missed you on your break but you are back! and still providing the same mouthwatering family meals. I might need to copy this when my sisters and their family come home for dinner. This is clean plate recipe ๐