Sloppy Joe Casserole

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 2-quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Cook the Ground Beef:

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.

Prepare the Sloppy Joe Sauce:

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the ketchup, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to combine the flavors.

Mix in the Pasta:

Add the cooked and drained penne pasta to the skillet, stirring to coat the pasta evenly with the sloppy joe sauce.

Assemble the Casserole:

Spoon half of the pasta and sloppy joe mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded cheese. Top with the remaining pasta mixture, then sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheese on top.

Bake:

Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve:

Serve the casserole warm and enjoy!

Total Time: 35-40 minutes

Servings: 4-6