Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Beef

Sloppy joe tater tot casserole is such an easy dinner idea. The baked casserole combines ground beef and crispy tater tots with a tangy ketchup-based sauce, and gooey layer of grated cheddar cheese. Bake until the tater tots are golden and crispy, and serve hot. Ready within 1 hour. Make-head instructions provided too!

Easy Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole recipe

If you are looking for an easy, family-friendly recipe the kids will rave about, sloppy joe casserole is the winner! It takes the rich, tangy flavors of our favorite Instant Pot Sloppy Joes and tops it with crispy tots covered in a gooey layer of cheese.

Hamburger tater tot casseroles, also known as a hot dish, typically has a seasoned ground beef layer covered with potato puffs and then baked till golden and crispy. They are ideal for effortless weeknight meals or if you love freezer meals, this easy sloppy joe casserole recipe can be prepped ahead of time.

Simply prepare the seasoned ground beef mixture, top with tater tots, wrap securely and freeze. Bake straight from frozen or use these “how to reheat a casserole” tips for perfectly baked results every time.

Ingredient Notes

Use the ingredients below to make the sloppy joe casserole with ground beef. However, hamburger tater tot casserole is adaptable to many different flavors! Love cheeseburgers? Check out cheeseburger casserole with tots for kid-approved meal. Have Mexican food craving, this uniquely flavored tater tot casserole is just the ticket!

• Ground beef – For best flavor, use ground chuck or a quality ground beef. Drain the fat away after browning to prevent an overly greasy beef mixture.
• Veggies – A mixture of bell peppers, onions, and garlic for classic sloppy joe taste.
• Worcestershire sauce – Use Lea and Perrin’s or French’s brand for gluten-free.
• Brown sugar – I like to add a touch more sweetness to sloppy joe meat, but it may be omitted to reduce sugar.
• Frozen Tater Tots – Use Ore-Ida brand for gluten-free, but any preferred tot may be used if you do not have dietary restrictions.
• Cheddar Cheese – I prefer sharp cheddar or colby jack and freshly grated is always best for ooey gooey results.

how to make Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Grease a 9X13 inch casserole dish and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown, breaking apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Transfer to colander to drain.
3. Add the onion and bell pepper to same skillet. Cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds longer.
4. Lower the heat to medium and add the beef back to the skillet and stir in ketchup, water, tomato paste, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and optional hot sauce. Simmer, loosely covered, for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, to blend the flavors. Spread in the prepared baking dish.
5. Arrange the frozen tater tots on top in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until tater tots are crisp. Remove from the oven and sprinkle on cheese. Bake for 5 additional minutes.

gluten-free tater tot casserole

Sloppy Joe Casserole can easily be made into a gluten-free recipe by simply reading ingredient labels and picking trusted brands.

Two of the ingredients you will want to be cautious of are the Worcestershire sauce and tater tots. French’s, Lea and Perrin’s (United States only) are gluten-free brands of Worcestershire.

As for the tater tots, not all brands are gluten-free. I use Ore-Ida brand tater tots since they are labeled “gluten-free” on the package.

Other potato puff brands may add wheat flour or gluten containing additives. Even if the tots are labeled “organic,” still read the label to double check.

Shortcut manwich casserole

If you’d like to skip making the homemade sloppy joe sauce, feel free to substitute canned Manwich sauce instead. Since you will be using two pounds of ground beef for the recipe, you will need two Manwich cans.

freezing and make ahead directions

Whether you want to make a day ahead, or weeks ahead, hamburger tater tot casserole can be stored both in the fridge and the freezer to save you time on a busy day. 

Make Ahead Directions:

1. Prepare the sloppy joe filling up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate in an airtight container.
2. Assemble the casserole with frozen tater tots when ready to bake and serve.
3. Bake as directed, but add an additional 5-10 minutes to cooking time. 

Freezer Meal:

This tater tot recipe with ground beef is perfect for freezing. Either double the recipe and freeze one in a disposable aluminum pan or make ahead to freeze and enjoy at a later date.

1. Prepare the sloppy joe mixture and spread on the bottom of a greased 9X13 baking dish. Allow time for the meat to cool so the frozen tater tots do not thaw.
2. Layer with frozen potato puffs. Cover the dish with foil and then wrap with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Make sure to label the dish with the recipe name and baking instructions. Freeze up to 4 months.
3. When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap and foil. Bake from frozen in a 350ºF oven for 60 minutes, or until the bottom layer is hot. If the tots need additional crisping, increase the oven temperature to 425ºF and bake until crisp.
4. Add the cheddar cheese and bake for 5 minutes longer, or until the cheese is melted.

more topping ideas

If you are looking for something besides a tater tot topping, try one of these topping ideas instead. 

• Frozen french fries – Use steak fries, waffle fries, or seasoned curly fries. Bake as you would with tater tot topping.  
• Hash browns – Refrigerated will require less time to bake than frozen, but either will work.
• Biscuits – They won’t take as long to cook as tots, so bake the casserole for 25-30 minutes and then place the biscuit dough on top. Finish baking according to biscuit package instructions, or until they appear golden brown and cooked through. 
• Elbow macaroni or other pasta of choice – Cook pasta according to the package instructions and drain. Mix with ground beef casserole ingredients and bake in 350ºF oven for 40-45 minutes. Add the cheese and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
• Crispy french fried onions – Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, then add the crispy onions and cheese. Use this recipe for homemade gluten-free fried onions.
• Onion rings – Bake as you would with tater tot topping. (not gluten-free)
• Doritos or plain potato chips – Add these the last 5 minutes with cheese.

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