Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole

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This simple Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole recipe is a twist on a childhood favorite. It's a budget-friendly, comfort food meal the whole family will love! Plus, it's an easy weeknight meal that takes less than an hour to make.

A slice of sloppy Joe cornbread casserole on a plate.

Looking for a comforting, hearty dish that brings together the best of two classic favorites? Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole combines the rich, savory flavors of sloppy Joes with the sweet, crumbly goodness of hearty cornbread.

Anything Sloppy Joe takes me back to my small-town grocery store, Bob’s Supermarket where you could always catch up on the local happenings. There were only 3 aisles filled with the necessities, and the walls were lined with prized taxidermy animals (which was semi-scary but cool). When my mom put a can of Manwich in her cart, I thought it was a delicacy and that we must celebrating something special.

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One night recently, it crossed my mind to make a Sloppy Joe with a sweet Southern cornbread twist. After one attempt, it was a SUCCESS! It's nostalgic and takes a Sloppy Joe to the next level! It's perfect for a family dinner, potluck, or any gathering. Another favorite sloppy Joe recipe is my Crock Pot Sloppy Joes!

old black and white photo of a man standing in front of grocery store

Table of Contents

Why You'll Like this Recipe

Comforting and Hearty: The layers of cheesy, meaty goodness on top of a golden cornbread crust make this easy dinner a guaranteed feel-good, crowd-pleaser.
Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, this sloppy joe casserole recipe is a breeze to put together.
Kid-Friendly Meal: The familiar flavors and cheesy goodness make this easy sloppy Joe casserole a hit with kids and adults alike.

Laura Ashley's Tip: We love using cornbread for this sloppy joe casserole, but you can also top it with store-bought canned biscuits for another delicious twist!

Ingredients

Scroll down for recipe amounts and instructions in the printable recipe card.

Egg: Helps bind the cornbread mixture together.
Creamed Corn: Adds moisture and a slight sweetness to the cornbread.
Sour Cream: Provides richness and a tangy flavor to the sweet cornbread.
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix: The base of the cornbread layer.
Butter: Adds richness and moisture to the cornbread.
Lean Ground Beef: The main protein for the sloppy Joe filling, providing a hearty, savory base.
Yellow Onion: Adds sweetness and depth of flavor to the beef mixture.
Garlic Powder: Enhances the savory flavors of the filling.
Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce: The key ingredient for the sloppy Joe filling, offering a perfect blend of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors.
Cheddar Cheese: Adds a gooey, melty layer of goodness that ties the whole dish together.

The ingredients to make sloppy Joe cornbread casserole.

Tools You’ll Need

How to Make Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole

Place a 12-inch skillet or 13"x9" casserole dish in the oven preheating to 400ºF.
In a medium bowl, blend together the egg, creamed corn, sour cream, and Jiffy. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Butter or spray with non stick cooking spray. Pour in the cornbread batter into the prepared dish and spread evenly. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

For the meat topping, in a large skillet on medium-high heat, crumble and cook the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain the grease in a colander or with a paper towel, then stir in the chopped onion and seasonings. Simmer for 2 minutes.

Add the Manwich sauce and ½ cup water. Stir and simmer on low for 5 minutes. Fold in ¼ cup of the shredded cheese.

Stirring manwich sauce in to beef in a skillet.

Carefully remove the base from the oven. Poke holes in the surface of the cooked cornbread base. Pour the beef mixture on top of the cornbread and spread out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Tent and cover with aluminum foil. Bake the sloppy joe pie for 20 minutes.

Cheese on top of sloppy Joe mix in a skillet.

Uncover and broil on high for an additional 3-5 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the pie to cool for 10 minutes. This is important so that it doesn’t fall apart when you slice and serve it. For a pop of color, garnish with sliced green onions or chopped fresh parsley.

Expert Tips and Substitutions

Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce: Homemade Manwich sauce also works great in this recipe. Here is how I make the equivalent to 1 can. DOUBLE the amounts if using in this recipe as it calls for 2 cans:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the following: ¾ cup tomato sauce, ¾ cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar or brown sugar substitute, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt
Meat Substitutions: You can easily swap the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken. You can also make this plant-based Vegan Sloppy Joe Slider filling.
Cheese Options: Besides cheddar, Monterey Jack, pepper jack, and a Mexican cheese blend work great as well.
Crust Options: You can substitute Jiffy Cornbread mix with another brand of box of cornbread mix. You can also use canned biscuit dough for an easy sloppy joe pie crust. In this case, you'll need a 10-12 ounce can of refrigerated biscuit dough. Quarter the biscuits then incorporate in one of these ways:
- Pour the ground beef mixture in the baking dish, top with cheese, then top with the biscuit pieces.
- Fold the biscuit dough into the sloppy Joe meat mixture, pour the mixture into the baking dish, then top with cheese.
Gluten Free: There are “no gluten-containing ingredients” in Manwich sauce per their website. You can swap the Jiffy Cornbread mix with a gluten-free alternative to make this dish gluten-free.
Extra Veggies: If you’re looking to add more veggies, you can add chopped green bell pepper, canned green chiles, or spinach.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole

Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish on its own, but pairing it with the right side dishes can elevate your meal even further. Here are some delicious options that complement the savory and sweet flavors of the casserole:

Storage

Manwich casserole leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Store in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use homemade cornbread instead of Jiffy Cornbread Mix?

Yes, you can use your favorite homemade cornbread recipe in place of the Jiffy Cornbread Mix. Just ensure the batter has a similar consistency to the boxed mix.

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the beef mixture and cornbread batter separately, then assemble and bake just before serving. Alternatively, you can bake the entire casserole and reheat it when needed.

Can I make this dish vegetarian?

Yes, substitute the ground beef with a plant-based meat alternative or use a mix of beans and vegetables for a vegetarian version.

What if I don't have Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce?

You can make your own sloppy Joe sauce by combining 1 ½ cups tomato sauce, 1 ½ cups ketchup, ¼ cup brown sugar or brown sugar substitute, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, 2 teaspoons onion powder, and 1 teaspoon salt

This is a picture of a slice of meat pie. The bottom level is cornbread and top is a mixture of beef, onion and manwhich tomato sauce. It’s topped with cheese. Next to is is a tossed green garden salad with tomatoes.

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