Crisp tater tots atop sloppy joe-seasoned ground beef and cheese—all crispy and tasty-like. It doesn’t get any better than this fast, easy casserole with all your faves baked right in it.
Aboutamom.com’s Mexican totchos recipe went majorly viral, so we all decided more recipes combining kid and adult favorites were very much needed on our site. And so we’ve created this sloppy joe tater tot casserole—a recipe so delicious, so crispy, cheesy, and drenched in yummy sloppy joe flavor that no one can resist its scrumptious charm.
This casserole is my client Beth’s new favorite post-practice feast for her three boys. Three hungry boys, mind you, especially boys ages 10 to 12, they can devour some food! And they gobbled this down so quickly, Beth said; she hadn’t even set their milk and sides on the table yet.
So try this for your hungry family members, and get those satisfied smile-nods that mean, “Mom, I’m too busy eating your delicious food to say “thank you,” but “THANK YOU!”
Why You and Your Family Will Adore This Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Sloppy joes are about as American as apple pie and hot dogs and are just as adored. So just who is this Joe that invented this delicious bun filler of a sandwich, and why was he so sloppy? This was the question on Beth’s youngest son Will’s mind as they finished up their dessert after dinner. “I’m going to have to get back to you on that,” I told Will, “because I never tell anybody anything for certain, till I’m for certain.”
But, apparently, there was, indeed, a cook named Joe who invented the sloppy joe. The theory behind the invention is that it was created sometime around 1930 in Sioux City, Iowa. Joe, the chef, added some tomato sauce and other ingredients to a loose meat sandwich and called it a “sloppy joe,” being that it was a little messier than, say, your average loose meat (ground beef) sandwich.
Whoever invented it, we thank this Joe very much for this marvelous creation because chopped onions, bell pepper, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire stirred into a burger and placed inside a hamburger bun has turned out to be a nationwide sensation for nearly a century.
And that’s because, like tater tots and melted cheddar cheese, they just taste good. If you make this delicious casserole, you’ll get to enjoy how great it tastes in your hungry mouth all at the same time.
How to Make Ahead and Store
To refrigerate leftovers, wrap them tightly with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Warm in the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes for best results.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this hot, delicious, crispy, cheesy, savory casserole with this wonderful complement of a soft, cold, creamy Classic Pea Salad, these cheddar-y pillows of Buttermilk Biscuits, and this wonderful Classic Baklava. All of these dishes will astound and amaze your family. If you and the kids like this recipe, you’ll love the Loaded Totchos recipe.
Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper diced
- 1 can 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 package 32 ounces frozen tater tots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, onion, and bell pepper until beef is browned and vegetables are softened, about 7-10 minutes. Drain excess grease.
- Stir in tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
- Spread the beef mixture evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the beef mixture.
- Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese over the tater tots, and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
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