Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole is a quick, easy, family-pleasing weeknight dinner recipe that's made in just one pan!

For more quick, comforting dinners, you might enjoy 30-Minue Skillet Lasagna, Skillet Shepherd's Pie, and Mini Meatloaf Muffins!

Back to school means busy days and a tired mama. So I've been keeping things simple on the cooking front, relying on my slow cooker for dinner on some days and throwing together easy, quick-to-prepare meals on others...like this Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole!

It's made in just one pan and, as a bonus, all of my kids eagerly gobble it up with nary an objection. Because, really, who wants to listen to whining at dinnertime after an already long day/week/month?

How to Make It

This Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole recipe is not rocket science, y'all. I learned long ago that topping just about any sort of meat mixture with tater tots is likely to go over well with my kids. And c'mon...who doesn't like Sloppy Joes?!

Thus, this meal idea is as easy as:

..and that's it!

Quick? Yes.

Effortless? Pretty much.

A hit with adults and kids alike? ABSOLUTELY.

Variations & Sides

You can make this Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole with either ground beef or turkey.

You can even hide some veggies in your ground meat, if you like.

Serve it with some roasted vegetables or a big green salad and dinner is done!

The best part of all might just be that there's only one pan to wash. Because after the kids are in bed, I do believe I've you've earned a glass of wine and an enriching reality TV show, not a bunch of pots and pans and dishes to wash. Am I right?

So here's to busy back-to-school weeknights and dinners that practically cook themselves! Only 39 weeks to go, y'all... 😉

More Easy Ground Beef Dinner Ideas

• Taco Sloppy Joes
• Beefy Cheesy Tortellini Bake
• Ground Beef Stroganoff
• Cheeseburger Macaroni
• Hawaiian Meatballs

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground beef, or turkey
• 8 ounces tomato sauce
• ½ cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 can (15-ounces)pinto beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 bag (16-ounces)frozen tater tots

Instructions

• Set a 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-low heat. Add a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil, and saute the garlic for a minute or two until just fragrant and very light golden brown. Add the ground beef, increase heat to medium/medium high, and cook until no longer pink, breaking apart and stirring as the meat cooks. Drain the grease from the meat.
• While the meat is browning, arrange the oven rack in the center position, preheat the oven to 425°F, and prepare the sauce. In a large measuring cup, combine the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Pour the sauce over the browned meat, stir to combine, and mix in the pinto beans. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes until heated through and slightly thickened, stirring occasionally.
• Smooth the sloppy joe mixture in the skillet and sprinkle with 1 cup of the grated cheddar. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the tater tots are browned.

Notes

• If your ketchup contains a lot of sugar or if you prefer a more savory sloppy joe mixture, you may reduce the amount of brown sugar.
• You may substitute different types of beans or cheese if you prefer.

Nutrition

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