Ingredients
- Ground beef: look for eighty five percent lean for the best balance of flavor and less grease
- Chopped onion: gives the Sloppy Joe base its signature sweetness and texture try to pick firm onions with shiny skin
- Salt and pepper: brings out the savory beef flavors always taste and adjust
- Onion powder and paprika: makes the sauce richer and adds color use good quality paprika for better flavor
- Minced garlic: fresh is best but the pre minced jar kind will work in a pinch
- Worcestershire sauce: adds depth and a tangy punch look for a brand that lists anchovies for authentic flavor
- Tomato sauce: creates the saucy base pick a can with no added sugar for classic taste
- Ketchup: for sweetness and thickness
- Mustard: brings zing classic yellow works best for this
- Barbecue sauce: a smoky touch makes the casserole extra craveable use your favorite brand
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese: melts lusciously and gives a mild creamy bite buy a block and shred it yourself for best melting
- Crispy Crowns or Tater Tots: the real star choose tater tots that look evenly sized and not too frosty
- Dried parsley: to sprinkle over at the end for color and a hint of freshness
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Onions:
- Place a large oven safe skillet over medium high heat and add the ground beef and chopped onion Cook for about eight minutes breaking the beef into small crumbles Stir often so nothing sticks Let it brown deeply as that gives the casserole extra flavor
- Season and Simmer:
- Sprinkle in the salt pepper onion powder and paprika Stir well so it all gets into every bit Continue cooking for two minutes to let the spices bloom and taste richer
- Build the Sloppy Joe Sauce:
- Add the minced garlic Worcestershire sauce tomato sauce ketchup mustard and barbecue sauce to the pan Stir thoroughly and turn the heat down to low Let it bubble gently for at least three minutes so everything melds together If it looks dry add a splash of water
- Add the Cheese:
- Turn off the heat Sprinkle the entire top of the beef mixture evenly with the shredded Colby Jack cheese Try to cover as much as you can for that perfect melty layer
- Top with Tater Tots and Bake:
- Lay the tater tots or crispy crowns in rows on top of the cheese covering the surface with just a bit of overlap Preheat your oven to four hundred degrees Fahrenheit Bake on the middle rack for about twenty five minutes until the tots are golden brown and crunchy and the sauce is bubbly around the edges
- Garnish and Serve:
- Remove the casserole and let it sit a couple minutes Sprinkle over dried parsley for a touch of color Use a large spoon to serve and make sure to dig to the bottom for every layer