Sloppy Joe Pasta

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Servings 6

This Sloppy Joe Pasta is a delicious mash-up of my favorite messy ground beef sandwich and tender cooked pasta for a one-pot, 30-minute meal my entire family loves!

Sloppy joe penne pasta in skillet

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5 STAR REVIEW

Easy Sloppy Joe One Pot Pasta

What if I took the filling of a Sloppy Joe and used it as a sauce for tender cooked pasta? YES! Thatโ€™s what I didโ€ฆand not sure why I didnโ€™t do it soonerโ€”this Sloppy Joe Pasta is so good! Bonus, itโ€™s a 30-minute meal all cooked in one pot, making clean up super simple. If youโ€™re looking for an easy weeknight dinner for your family, this is it.

This pasta dish is rich, a little tangy, and cheesy; I love the perfect balance of flavors and the oh-so-creamy consistency. It’s really nothing fancy, just simple pantry ingredients that come together for a delicious meal.

You’ll want to try these homemade Sloppy Joes and this recipe for Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes if you love Sloppy Joes as much as I do.

5 from 2

Sloppy Joe Pasta

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
This Sloppy Joe Pasta is a delicious mash-up of your favorite messy ground beef sandwich and tender cooked pasta for a one-pot, 30 minute meal the entire family will love!
See below the recipe card for step-by-step images.

Ingredients 

  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lb. lean ground beef
  • 1 small sweet onion, diced small
  • ยฝ small green bell pepper, diced small
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • ยฝ cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tsp yellow mustard
  • ยฝ tsp kosher salt
  • ยผ tsp black pepper
  • ยผ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 ยพ cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 12 oz. (3 cups) uncooked penne pasta, (this is about 3/4 of a box), or any ribbed pasta
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • fresh chopped parsley, for garnish

Instructions 

  • Warm oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion, and bell pepper; breaking up the meat into very tiny crumbles with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 5 minutes until beef is cooked through and vegetables are tender. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Drain off grease.
  • Stir in tomato paste until thoroughly combined.
  • Add in ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine. Cook for a few minutes to thicken slightly.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil; add in the pasta and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer (it should still be bubbling) and cook the pasta until al dente, stirring a few times to ensure it doesn't scorch on the bottom of the pan, 10-13 minutes. (Take a bite and test before continuing.)
  • Reduce heat to low and stir in the cheese until melted.
  • Remove from heat and serve with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 558kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 691mg | Potassium: 700mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 573IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 312mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

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How to Make Sloppy Joe Pasta Step by Step

Browning the beef and veggies in a skillet.

Brown the beef and veggies. Warm 1 tbsp oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb. beef, 1 onion, and ยฝ bell pepper; breaking up the meat into very tiny crumbles with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 5 minutes until beef is cooked through and vegetables are tender. Stir in 2 cloves garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Drain off grease. Stir in 1 tbsp tomato paste until thoroughly combined.

Adding the ingredients to make the sauce to the skillet.

Add the spices and sauce ingredients: Add in ยฝ cup ketchup, 1/3 cup water, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire, 2 tsp mustard, ยฝ tsp salt, ยผ tsp pepper, and ยผ tsp red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine. Cook for a few minutes to thicken slightly.

Adding chicken broth to the skillet.

Pour in the pasta. Pour in 2ยพ cups chicken broth and bring to a boil; add in 3 cups pasta and stir to combine. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer (it should still be bubbling) and cook the pasta until al dente, stirring a few times to ensure it doesn’t scorch on the bottom of the pan, 10-13 minutes. (Take a bite and test before continuing.)

Adding cheese to the skillet.

Stir in the cheese. Reduce heat to low and mix in 2 cups cheese until melted.

Portion of sloppy joe pasta on white plate with salad.

Remove from heat: Remove from the heat, add parsley, serve, and enjoy!

overhead beef penne pasta in skillet with serving spoon

Recipe Variations

  • Use ground turkey. The ground beef can easily be replaced with ground turkey, if prefered.
  • Make it spicy. Stir in some chopped jalapeรฑos along with the onion and bell pepper, or use pepper jack cheese instead of the cheddar.
  • Want it richer? Beef broth can be used instead of the chicken broth for a deeper flavor.
close up forkful of sloppy joe pasta

Don’t use the full box of pasta

How to Store

Cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. It is best eaten up within 2-3 days.

You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Gently reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a bit of chicken broth to loosen, if necessary.

What to Serve with Sloppy Joe Pasta

Sloppy Joe Pasta is pretty filling on its own, but to round out the meal, you can serve it with a simple side salad and homemade garlic bread!

More One Pot Pasta Recipes:

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About Amy Flanigan

Well, hey there! Amy here, founder and COO at BellyFull. If youโ€™re looking for tried and true, fuss-free, budget-friendly, delicious, every day recipes, youโ€™ve come to the right place.

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2 Comments

  1. Melissa says:

    5 stars
    The family enjoyed this. Thank you.

  2. Stephanie P says:

    5 stars
    My favorite meal! I did add extra cheese but it was delicious!