This Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole recipe is an easy, family-friendly twist on classic Sloppy Joes. Seasoned ground beef, homemade sloppy joe sauce, refrigerated biscuits, and cheddar cheese come together in one easy casserole that’s ready in just 40 minutes. Using simple ingredients, it’s the perfect family-friendly dinner for busy weeknights!
It really doesn’t get any easier than this Sloppy Joe Bubble Up Casserole! Made with Pillsbury biscuits, lean ground beef or ground turkey, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and a few simple seasonings, it’s ready for the oven in under 10 minutes. Not only does this recipe take the mess out of easy sloppy joes, but it’s a family favorite dinner that my kids frequently request! For another fun twist on the classic, try my Sloppy Joe Sliders.
Quick Look: Sloppy Joe Casserole with Biscuits
Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole combines seasoned ground beef and homemade sloppy joe sauce with pieces of refrigerated biscuit dough and cheddar cheese, then bakes until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Main Ingredients: Ground beef, refrigerated biscuits, sloppy joe sauce, cheddar cheese
- Perfect For: Busy weeknights, family dinners, and potlucks
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My kids love this so much. and they are PICKY! its soooo good.
Ingredient Notes
See printable recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions.
- Ground Beef: I use 80/20 ground beef, but lean ground beef works great too. Ground turkey can also be used if preferred.
- Mustard: Use prepared yellow mustard, not dry mustard. This adds extra flavor to the homemade sloppy joe sauce.
- Pillsbury Biscuits: I use a 12-ounce package of Pillsbury Grands Jr. refrigerated biscuit dough. The biscuits get cut into quarters before being mixed with the beef mixture.
- Cheddar Cheese: I use shredded cheddar cheese, but sharp cheddar cheese can be used for a stronger flavor.
Variations & Substitutions
- Use Manwich: Short on time? Replace the homemade sloppy joe sauce with Manwich for an easy shortcut.
- Biscuit Options: If you can't find Grands Jr., regular Pillsbury Grands biscuits work too. Cut them into smaller, even pieces so they cook through. You can also use my Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits if you prefer homemade biscuit dough.
- Swap the Cheese: Colby Jack cheese can be used in place of cheddar cheese for a slightly different flavor.
- Add Veggies: Add diced onion, green bell pepper, or mushrooms to the ground beef as it cooks.
- Use BBQ Sauce: Not a fan of ketchup? Swap it for your favorite BBQ sauce to change up the flavor.
How to Make Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole
Step 1. Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
Step 2. To make the sloppy joe sauce, stir the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt into the cooked ground beef. Simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
Step 3. Transfer the meat mixture to a medium bowl. Add the quartered biscuit dough and toss until evenly combined.
Step 4. Pour the biscuit and meat mixture into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
Step 5. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
Step 6. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 28-30 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through in the center. Remove from the oven and serve!
Expert Tips
- Drain the grease: Be sure to drain any excess grease from the ground beef before adding the sloppy joe sauce ingredients. This keeps the casserole from becoming too greasy.
- Cut biscuits evenly: Cut the biscuit dough into evenly sized pieces so they cook at the same rate.
- Avoid soggy biscuits: Spread the biscuit and beef mixture evenly in the pan rather than letting the biscuit pieces pile up in one area. This helps them bake evenly and cook through.
- Check the center: Before removing the casserole from the oven, check a few biscuit pieces in the center of the pan to make sure they’re fully cooked. The tops should be golden brown and the centers shouldn’t look doughy.
- Browning too quickly? If the top is getting too brown before the biscuits are cooked through, loosely cover the pan with aluminum foil for the remaining bake time.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Casserole
This casserole is a family favorite and comes highly requested by my 3 kids! Since the sloppy joe and biscuits are pretty filling on their own, I like to keep the sides simple. A few of our favorites include:
- Side Salad: A simple green salad is an easy option for busy weeknights.
- Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts: An easy veggie side that pairs perfectly with this casserole.
- Seasoned Carrots: A simple family-friendly side that my kids enjoy.
- Bacon Wrapped Green Beans: A great option when you want something a little different.
Make Ahead, Storage, & Freezing
- Make Ahead: Prepare the sloppy joe meat mixture up to 48 hours in advance and store it covered in the fridge. When ready to bake, toss with the quartered biscuit dough, transfer to the baking dish, add cheese, and bake as directed.
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave until heated through.
- Freezer: Once baked, allow the entire casserole to cool completely. Transfer leftovers to a freezer-safe container, or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Sloppy Joe Bubble Up Casserole Recipe FAQs
Yes. Add the refrigerated biscuit dough directly from the package without baking it first. Cut each biscuit into quarters, combine with the meat mixture, and bake everything together.
Bake the casserole uncovered so the biscuits can become golden brown. If the top starts browning before the biscuit pieces in the center are fully cooked, loosely cover the pan with foil for the remaining bake time.
More Ground Beef Recipes you’ll love
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Sloppy Joe Biscuit Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup water
- 3 teaspoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 12 oz refrigerated biscuits cut into quarters
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Cook beef in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
- Make sloppy joe sauce by stirring the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt into the cooked ground beef.
- Simmer for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Combine the meat mixture and quartered biscuit dough in a medium bowl, tossing until evenly combined.
- Transfer the biscuit and meat mixture to the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
- Add cheese by sprinkling the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 28-30 minutes, or until the biscuits are golden brown and cooked through in the center. Remove from the oven and serve!
Notes
- Pillsbury Grands Jr. biscuits work great in this recipe, but regular Grands can also be used. Cut larger biscuits into smaller, even pieces so they cook through.
- Ground turkey can be used in place of the ground beef.
- For a shortcut, use Manwich sloppy joe sauce in place of the homemade sauce.
- Be sure the biscuit pieces in the center are fully cooked before removing the casserole from the oven.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
donaltman3 says
Your directions are not complete. At what point do you use the sauce you made?
Kristin says
Sorry for any confusion, the meat gets mixed into the sauce and then tossed with the biscuits. Cook the meat, add in the sauce ingredients to the cooked meat, toss in the quartered biscuits, pour into the prepared pan, add cheese, and bake! Hope that helps! Enjoy!
Bethany says
You’re cooking the sauce with the meat.
Kristin Hayes says
Yep!! Hope you enjoy! Be sure to keep me posted!!
Meghan Harper says
Dry mustard or prepared mustard?
Kristin says
Prepared mustard! Enjoy!
Marie says
I made this a couple years ago. loved it but totally forgot about it till a week ago. I was going to make just sloppy Joe’s and went thru my recipes and seen this again..i felt i scored when i had 1 can if biscuits in my fridge so I went for it.. my bf was upset cuz he wanted original also.. it’s been 1 week and he’s begging for them again. so i doubled the recipe.. there’s only the 2 of us.. but it’s just that darn good!! thank you for sharing
Kristin says
Yay!! Love hearing this and so glad you enjoyed! It’s a favorite in my house too!
Lauralee says
Can drop biscuits be used instead of the Grand biscuits?
Kristin says
Although I haven’t tried this personally, I don’t see why that wouldn’t work! Just keep an eye on the cook time as they may cook a bit faster if not as dense and thick. Enjoy!
Faith says
could I use cornbread biscuits instead of grands biscuits?
Kristin Hayes says
As long as they are the prepackaged type and not liquid, you should be good! I haven’t tried it, but don’t see why that wouldn’t be great! Its a great flavor combination too! Keep me posted!
Jan BarceLo says
I made your sloppy Joe biscuit casserole and my husband and I loved it .Well the next day I go to get it out of the refrigerator and all I had left was a small serving left . My husband had eaten it off and on the day before . He loved it and it was so easy for me to make . I thank you so very much . God Bless You and big hugs,Jan
Kristin says
Yay!! Love hearing this! So glad you both enjoyed!!
Mary Briscoe says
This is one of my hubby’s favorite dinners!! Having it again tonight! I like to add some minced garlic and diced onion too.
Kristin says
Yay!! Love hearing that and great additions on the garlic and onion!!
Mike dayton says
Shanna Lee makes the best sloppy joe casserole ever I love you
Cynthia R Newman says
can I use home made dough ? I use a pizza dough recipe more like buns. but can adjust
Kristin says
Absolutely! That works great too! Enjoy!
Diane says
Absolutely perfect!
Kristin says
Glad you enjoyed!! It is definitely a favorite in my house!
Luann says
Are Grands jar’s same size as regular biscuits? Can’t find grands jr’s.
Kristin says
They are typically a 10 count, however, if you can only find regular, that works great too. I believe regular is an 8 count, but bigger biscuits, so it evens out! Enjoy!
isa says
Are the biscuits added cooked or raw?
Ashley says
raw. they cook in the oven.
Jennifer says
my kids love this so much. and they are PICKY! its soooo good.
Kristin says
Yay!! Love hearing this! Glad you enjoyed!!
Kristin says
They go in raw and cook once assembled and baking in the oven! Enjoy!
Isaac Rivermoone says
tried it with my boyfriend, it ended up being so, so good, wrote it down in my personal recipe book to keep for later too
Kristin says
Yay!! Love hearing that! Glad you both enjoyed!
Stefen B says
Do you bake this covered? I wonder how you keep the cheese from getting hard?
Kristin says
Nope, mine didn’t need to be covered and the cheese was great. If it starts getting a little too browned in your oven, you can always put foil over it halfway through, but it shouldn’t need it! Enjoy!!
gloria says
when do you add the shredded cheese
Kristin says
Oops, good catch! I have corrected the recipe! You add it right before putting the pan in the oven! Enjoy!
Janet says
Love this and know my grandkids will also. Want to make, can this be frozen?
Kristin says
Oh yes, definitely a kid favorite! Leftovers freeze perfectly, as for freezing prior to cooking, I am not sure how that will be as I have never tried. Hope you all enjoy, be sure to let me know what you think!