Sloppy Joe Pasta

Sloppy joes are one of those foods that seem to please everyone. They’re tangy, yummy, suitable for lunch or dinner, and decidedly kid-friendly. Pasta is also a perennial favorite, so combining the two seems like a match made in flavor heaven. Our sloppy joe pasta recipe is a baked dish not unlike lasagna, but with pasta shells for the noodles and a tomatoey sloppy joe sauce instead of a typical pasta sauce. The cottage cheese in this recipe cuts calories and adds protein compared with ricotta cheese, and the extra cheddar cheese on top makes the meal extra delicious. Get ready to add this one to your regular meal rotation.

Ingredients for Sloppy Joe Pasta

• Ground beef: The beef provides loads of protein and is the base for the sloppy joe portion of the recipe.
• Sloppy joe mix: Look for a sloppy joe mix in an envelope. It will contain all the seasonings needed to get that tangy sloppy joe flavor.
• Tomato sauce and tomato paste: These two tomato-based pantry staples create the base for the sloppy joe sauce in this recipe.
• Small shell pasta: Cooking and draining the pasta in advance will save time when putting the recipe together.
• Cottage cheese: Cottage cheese makes the dish creamy and cheesy, not unlike using ricotta cheese in stuffed shells or lasagna.
• Shredded cheddar cheese: The shredded cheddar ensures some cheesy deliciousness in every bite of your sloppy joe pasta.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the meat

In a Dutch oven, cook the ground beef over medium heat until it’s no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain the liquid from the pan.

Step 2: Add the flavorings and pasta

Stir in the sloppy joe mix, water, tomato sauce and tomato paste, and heat them through. Remove the Dutch oven from the heat and stir in the cooked pasta.

Step 3: Fill the baking dish

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spoon half the mixture into a greased 2-1/2-quart baking dish. Top that with cottage cheese, then add the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top.

Step 4: Bake the casserole

Bake the dish, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and the cheese on top is melted.

Sloppy Joe Pasta Variations

• Say cheese: Put a thin layer of shredded cheddar atop the cottage cheese for even more cheesy flavor. For a little more bite, use shredded pepper jack atop the dish instead of cheddar, or use a sharp cheddar or smoky cheddar, if you prefer either flavor.
• Toss in some peppers: Dice 1/2 cup or so of red or green bell peppers and saute them with the ground beef. They’ll add color and crunch to the dish.
• Add more tomatoes: Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of diced tomatoes to the sauce for more textural variation. If you’re using canned tomatoes, consider a spicy version with diced jalapenos for a little more heat.
• Sweeten with brown sugar: Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar for a slightly sweet flavor with a hint of molasses.

How to Store Sloppy Joe Pasta

Once the dish cools, cover it and store it in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three to four days. Storing it in portion-sized microwave-safe containers is another option that’s perfect for quick meals; just heat the portion in the microwave for one to two minutes or until it’s hot. Actual cook time depends upon your microwave’s wattage.

Sloppy Joe Pasta Tips

Could I use ricotta cheese in place of cottage cheese?

Sure! Ricotta cheese is often used in baked pasta dishes, and it’s a viable substitute for the cottage cheese in this recipe. Ricotta tends to be higher in calories than cottage cheese, but lower in sodium. Cottage cheese has more protein than ricotta, but less potassium. Compare both cheeses at the supermarket if you’re choosing a cheese based on dietary concerns.

Could I use a different type of pasta?

Absolutely! Smallish pasta shapes work best in this dish, so it’s easy to get some in every bite. Try corkscrew-shaped rotini, elbow macaroni, farfalle or bowtie pasta, or even egg noodles.

Could I use canned sloppy joe sauce?

Absolutely. Canned sloppy joe sauce such as Manwich work well for this dish, and it will save time, since it contains all the ingredients to make a flavorful sauce. Choose a can size that’s appropriate for 1 pound of ground beef, and make it according to the directions on the label. You won’t need the tomato sauce or tomato paste if you use the canned sauce, as it already contains the liquid. You’re always free to alter the recipe a bit and add a little more tomato sauce, if desired.