Sloppy Joe Crescent Roll Casserole Recipe

Golden brown crescent rolls meet the tangy goodness of sloppy joe mixture for this easy twist on a classic. Add this sloppy joe crescent roll casserole recipe into your rotation PRONTO. 

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Sloppy Joe Crescent Roll Casserole

If you are what you eat, then this should be called Sloppy Joe's World. Okay, I don't have this all the time, but every time I eat my Healthy Sloppy Joes—a lighter take on an all-time favorite—I wonder why I don't make them more. They've full of savory flavor with a hint of sweet and are an absolute crowd pleaser. 

This Sloppy Joe Crescent Roll Casserole Recipe takes the core of any great sloppy joe recipe—the meat mixture—and combines it with crescent dough to create an easy sloppy joe casserole recipe that will make even the pickiest of picky eaters into a true believer. 

What is a sloppy joe?

A sloppy joe is a popular sandwich in the United States, especially in school cafeterias. It's typically a seasoned ground beef, onion, and ketchup combination in between hamburger buns. While you might not have the best memories of this school lunch, this Sloppy Joe recipe is an upgrade!

Sloppy joe casserole ingredients

Here's what's involved in making this casserole:

Meat

• 1 lb extra lean ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small white onion finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• salt & pepper to taste

Casserole

• 8 oz crescent rolls
• ½ cup shredded provolone or white italian cheese

Sauce

• ¾ cup sugar free ketchup
• 2 tsp mustard
• 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp paprika

Sloppy joe casserole substitution ideas

​As with classic sloppy joes, this recipe is pretty simple, but you should have no trouble making substitutions for whatever suits you best. 

Meat: Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken, or even use a meat substitute. The sauce combo with the onions and pepper is very versatile. Additionally, if you like a little more heat, add in some chili powder or even a bit of cayenne to the meat while cooking. As it stands, the recipe has a medium heat level, which I find is good for the whole family. 

Rolls: While using a favorite crescent roll dough should work well, you could also achieve a similar result with flaky biscuit dough. 

Cheese: I'm a big fan of using provolone in combination with the sloppy joe meat, but you can definitely use cheddar cheese or another favorite. 

Sauce: You can replace the sugar-free ketchup with tomato sauce without any issue, though you'll miss out on the umami flavor that the ketchup provides. 

Toppings: Try green onions, sesame seeds, or even diced pickles on top of the cheese. You're limited by your imagination here!

How to make sloppy joe casserole

• Preheat the oven to 375F.
• Grease an 11 x 13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Open the can of crescent rolls, unroll, and lay evenly on bottom of the prepared baking dish, covering completely.
• Add sauce ingredients to a small bow. Stir well and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onion, and pepper. Saute for about 5 mins.
• Add the beef to the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook meat completely, until there is no pink.
• Add the sauce to the skillet as well. Stir well.
• Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for about 5 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
• Spread the ground beef mixture in an even layer on top of the crescent rolls. Use a spoon to evenly disperse.
• Sprinkle a layer of cheese evenly across the top of the meat.
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until crescent rolls are lightly browned.
• Let cool and enjoy!

How long does sloppy joe casserole last in the fridge? 

As with most recipes here, the key is finding a good airtight container for storage. This cooked casserole will last up to 5 days in the fridge when stored properly in one of those, and it will also freeze (if you let it sit for that long, that is!).

You can also store by putting aluminum foil or plastic wrap over the casserole dish and placing the whole thing into the freezer, but I personally wouldn't do that for longer than 2 or 3 days as it can be a little bit less airtight than a tupperware container, for example. 

How to reheat sloppy joe casserole

This casserole can be reheated in the microwave as single servings. Additionally, if you stored the whole casserole dish in the fridge, you should be able to pop it back into the oven for 10-15 mins at a low temperature (~300F). This is why I love casseroles: they're easy recipes that reheat well and taste just as good the next time. It's great for an easy dinner or even an afternoon snack.

​Want more recipes?

If you liked this Sloppy Joe Crescent Roll Casserole Recipe, consider trying one of these other Jordo's World favorites:

• Healthy Tuscan Chicken Pasta
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Cinnamon Roll Casserole