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A fun take on a classic recipe, this Sloppy Joe casserole layers a sweet, savory beef mixture underneath fluffy mashed potatoes for a hearty comfort food dinner. It’s a satisfying, warm, and complete meal that’s perfect for weeknights and meal prep.

Prep: 25 mins Cook: 35 mins Total: 1 hour
Servings: 8 1x

Ingredients

For the Potatoes: 

  • 2 lbs Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch cubes
  • 4 smashed garlic cloves
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fine salt, divided

For the Sloppy Joe Mixture

  • 2 teaspoons avocado oil or olive oil
  • ½ medium yellow onion, diced (1 cup)
  • ½ medium bell pepper, any color, diced (1 cup)
  • 2 pounds lean ground beef (we use 93/7)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon)
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons yellow or Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional garnish: ¼ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, chives, thyme, or a mix

Instructions

  1. To a large pot add the potatoes, garlic cloves, and salt. Add enough water to cover the potatoes by 1-2 inches. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat just enough to prevent the water from boiling over. Cook until the potatoes can be easily pierced with a sharp knife, 15 to 20 minutes.
  2. While the potatoes are boiling, preheat the oven to 375°F. 
  3. Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop. (If you don’t have a large oven-safe skillet, see Tips below*.) When the skillet is hot, add the oil, onion, and bell pepper. Saute until the onion starts to soften, 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Add the beef and 3 cloves garlic to the veggies in the skillet, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and almost cooked through, 10-12 minutes.
  5. To the skillet, add the tomato paste, water, mustard, coconut aminos, vinegar, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until the beef is cooked through and the vegetables are tender, 5-7 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, drain the potatoes and reserve ⅓ cup of the cooking water in the pot with the potatoes. Mash with a potato masher or handheld mixer until the potatoes are mashed, light, and fluffy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the sloppy joe mixture in the skillet, dolloping the mashed potatoes in evenly-spaced mounds. Use a spatula to spread the potatoes to cover all but the very edge of the meat mixture. Bake in the oven until hot and the edges are bubbling, 10 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped fresh parsley, if desired.
  9. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

*If you don’t have a large oven-safe skillet, make the sloppy joe filling in a large skillet of any kind. Then, transfer the filling to a 9×13-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray, then proceed with Step 6.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe, about 1 1/4 cups
  • Calories: 285
  • Fat: 10 g
  • (Sat Fat: 5 g)
  • Sodium: 628 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 22 g
  • (Fiber: 3 g
  • Sugar: 6 g)
  • Protein: 27 g
  • Cholesterol: 74 mg

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Stacie Hassing