Sloppy Joe Casserole with Cheddar Bay Crust Step-by-step instructions

Before you start

Before turning on the stove, gather all your ingredients and measure them out to ensure a smooth cooking process. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit so it is hot and ready when the casserole is assembled, and lightly grease a baking dish.

Shred the cheddar cheese if using a block, and prepare the biscuit dough by cutting or tearing it into small, bite-sized pieces so it mixes easily with the cheese.

Instructions

The Beef Filling

1. 1Brown the Ground Beef
   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the beef is fully browned, about eight to ten minutes. Carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet.
   Look for The beef is fully browned and no pink remains.
   Tip Use a potato masher to break the beef into fine, even crumbles.
2. 2Simmer with Sloppy Joe Sauce
   Stir the Sloppy Joe sauce into the skillet with the browned beef. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is hot and thick, ensuring the ground meat reaches a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
   Look for The sauce is thick and clings to the meat.
   Safe temperature 160°F (71°C) internal temperature (ground meat)
   Tip If the mixture becomes too dry, add a splash of water.

At the end of this first phase, the beef mixture should be incredibly fragrant, thick, and glossy. The Sloppy Joe sauce will have combined completely with the ground beef, clinging to the meat without leaving any watery pools at the bottom of the pan. The mixture should smell intensely savory with a hint of sweet tanginess, hot and ready to be transferred to the baking dish.

The Cheddar Biscuit Topping

3. 3Prepare the Cheesy Biscuit Dough
   In a medium bowl, combine the biscuit dough and one cup of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix gently until the cheese is evenly distributed throughout the dough, being careful not to overwork the mixture.
   Look for The cheese is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
   Tip Tear the biscuit dough into small pieces before mixing for even distribution.
4. 4Assemble the Casserole
   Transfer the warm, saucy ground beef mixture into a lightly greased baking dish, spreading it into an even layer. Drop spoonfuls of the cheesy biscuit dough evenly over the top of the beef, leaving small gaps for steam to escape.
   Look for The dough is distributed evenly across the surface.
   Tip Use two spoons to easily drop the sticky dough onto the meat.

By the end of the second phase, the biscuit dough should be evenly mixed with the shredded cheddar cheese. When dropped over the warm beef filling, the dough will start to soften slightly but should remain in distinct, pillowy mounds. It does not need to cover the meat completely, as the dough will expand and merge during the baking process, leaving beautiful gaps where the sauce bubbles through.

Baking to Golden Perfection

5. 5Bake and Garnish
   Bake at 400°F (204°C) for fifteen to eighteen minutes until the biscuit topping is golden and cooked through. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese and the dried herbs, and let rest for five minutes before serving.
   Look for The biscuits are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
   Tip Let the casserole rest to allow the filling to set slightly before scooping.

Upon completing the final phase, the casserole will be beautifully baked. The biscuit topping will have risen into a puffy, golden-brown canopy with crispy, jagged edges.

The cheddar cheese within the dough will be completely melted and bubbly, and the herb flecks sprinkled over the top will glisten. You will hear a gentle, satisfying bubbling around the edges of the dish, signaling that the filling is piping hot.

Common mistakes

One common mistake is failing to drain the excess fat from the ground beef after browning. Leaving too much grease in the pan will cause the Sloppy Joe sauce to become watery and separate, resulting in a soggy bottom layer that prevents the biscuits from baking properly.

Another error is overworking the biscuit dough when mixing in the cheese, which can make the topping dense and tough. Gently fold the cheese into the dough just until combined for the fluffiest results.

How to tell it’s done

To ensure the casserole is perfectly cooked, check that the biscuit topping is firm to the touch and golden brown across the entire surface. Insert a toothpick into the center of a biscuit; it should come out clean without any wet dough.

For food safety, the ground beef filling must reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius) before serving, which is achieved during the initial simmer and reinforced during the baking time in the hot oven.

• Ground meat: 160°F (71°C) in the thickest part