Sloppy Joe Pasta
Updated
Updated
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!
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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! That’s what I did…and not sure why I didn’t do it sooner—this Sloppy Joe Pasta is so good! Bonus, it’s a 30-minute meal all cooked in one pot, making clean up super simple. If you’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.
Sloppy Joe Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- 1 small sweet onion, diced small
- ½ small green bell pepper, diced small
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 ¾ 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
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.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Sloppy Joe Pasta Step by Step
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 ½ 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.
Add the spices and sauce ingredients: Add in ½ cup ketchup, 1/3 cup water, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire, 2 tsp mustard, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes. Stir well to combine. Cook for a few minutes to thicken slightly.
Pour in the pasta. Pour in 2¾ 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.)
Stir in the cheese. Reduce heat to low and mix in 2 cups cheese until melted.
Remove from heat: Remove from the heat, add parsley, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Use ground turkey. The ground beef can easily be replaced with ground turkey, if prefered.
- Make it spicy. Stir in some chopped jalapeños 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.
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!
The family enjoyed this. Thank you.
My favorite meal! I did add extra cheese but it was delicious!