👉Sloppy Joe TaterTotCasserole

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole (Cheesy, Crispy, Crowd-Pleaser!)

If sloppy joes and tater tots had a baby, this would be it 🤎
This Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole is layered with crispy tots, saucy beef, melty nacho cheese, and gooey cheddar—all baked to golden perfection. It’s easy, hearty, and guaranteed to disappear fast!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ultimate comfort food

• Family-friendly and filling

• Simple ingredients

• Perfect for busy weeknights

• Great for potlucks and game day

Ingredients

• 2 lbs ground beef

• 2 cans sloppy joe mix

• 1½ jars nacho cheese sauce

• 1 bag tater tots (rounds or classic)

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Brown the Beef: Cook ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully browned. Drain grease.

2. Make It Sloppy: Stir in sloppy joe mix and set aside.

3. Bake Tots: Preheat oven to 450°F. Bake tater tots on a sheet pan for 15 minutes until lightly crispy.

4. Layer: Reduce oven temp to 350°F. Place baked tots evenly in the bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish.

5. Add Beef: Spoon sloppy joe mixture evenly over the tots.

6. Cheese It Up: Spread nacho cheese sauce over the beef layer.

7. Top & Bake: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top. Bake at 350°F until cheese is melted and bubbly (about 15–20 minutes).

8. Broil: Broil for 1–2 minutes until lightly browned on top.

9. Serve & Enjoy!

Pro Tip

Pre-baking the tots keeps them crispy and prevents sogginess—don’t skip this step!

Variations & Substitutions

• Spicy Version: Add jalapeños or use spicy nacho cheese

• BBQ Twist: Use BBQ sloppy joe sauce

• Protein Swap: Ground turkey or chicken works great

• Cheese Swap: Pepper jack, Colby-Jack, or Mexican blend

• Loaded Style: Add bacon bits or green onions

• Tex-Mex: Add taco seasoning to the beef

• Veggie Boost: Add diced bell peppers or onions

Serving Ideas

• Serve with a simple green salad

• Pair with coleslaw or corn

• Great with pickles or jalapeño slices

• Perfect as a game-day main dish

Storage & Reheating

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers up to 3 days

• Reheat: Oven at 350°F or microwave

• Freezing: Freeze baked casserole up to 2 months

20 Helpful Tips

1. Drain beef well

2. Use a deep 9×13 dish

3. Pre-bake tots for best texture

4. Spread layers evenly

5. Don’t overbroil

6. Use thick nacho cheese

7. Add cheese last

8. Let rest before serving

9. Double for large crowds

10. Line pan for easy cleanup

11. Use freshly shredded cheese

12. Add extra tots if desired

13. Serve hot for best flavor

14. Try tater tot rounds

15. Season beef if needed

16. Don’t skip broiling step

17. Great make-ahead meal

18. Keep leftovers covered

19. Perfect freezer meal

20. Kid-approved favorite!

20 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make this ahead of time?
   Yes, assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours.

2. Do I have to pre-bake the tots?
   Yes, it keeps them crispy.

3. Can I use homemade sloppy joe sauce?
   Absolutely!

4. What nacho cheese works best?
   Any thick jarred cheese sauce.

5. Can I make it spicy?
   Yes—add jalapeños or hot sauce.

6. Can I use frozen tots directly?
   Bake them first as directed.

7. Is this recipe kid-friendly?
   Very!

8. Can I halve the recipe?
   Yes, use an 8×8 dish.

9. Can I use ground turkey?
   Yes, season well.

10. Does it reheat well?
    Yes, especially in the oven.

11. Can I add vegetables?
    Yes—onions and peppers work great.

12. Can I use Velveeta instead?
    Yes, melted Velveeta works well.

13. Is this freezer-friendly?
    Yes, after baking.

14. Can I use sweet potato tots?
    Yes for a fun twist.

15. What size bag of tots?
    Standard 28–32 oz bag.

16. Can I use shredded cheese only?
    Yes, but nacho cheese adds creaminess.

17. Should I cover it while baking?
    No—bake uncovered.

18. Why broil at the end?
    For golden, bubbly cheese.

19. Can I bring this to a potluck?
    Perfect potluck dish!

20. How long does it stay good?
    Up to 3 days refrigerated.