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Bringing together two favorite comfort foods in one, sloppy Joe mac and cheese is a kid-friendly, family favorite meal that comes together in just about 30 minutes. Ground beef is mixed in a sloppy Joe sauce that is both sweet and tangy then tossed together with cheese and pasta. What is there not to love?!

A pot of rotini pasta mixed with a vibrant red sauce, topped with chopped green onions. A wooden spoon rests in the pasta. A bowl of green onions and a glass of dark beverage are nearby.
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Sloppy Joe + Mac and Cheese

I published my first cookbook, Dinner for Two, in December of 2015. Within that cookbook, there is this pasta dish I created called sloppy Joe mac and cheese. It is hands down my FAVORITE recipe in the book and also many readers’ favorite as well. I’m bias but I think all the recipes in the book are great, but if you’re looking for a kid-friendly, easy, and repeat dinner, this sloppy Joe mac and cheese is definitely the one for you.

Ground beef is tossed in a flavorful sweet and tangy tomato-based sauce along with cheese and pasta. The simplicity of this dish will make you wonder how something so simple can be that amazing all at the same time!

A bowl of sloppy joe mac and cheese mixed with a tomato-based sauce, vegetables, and herbs. A fork rests on the edge of the bowl. Green onions are in a small bowl nearby.

Recipe Tips and Variations

  • I’ve made this with a range of ground meat options. I’ve made sloppy Joe mac and cheese with ground turkey, ground chicken, and even ground lamb. Honestly, I just use what I have at the moment and they’ve all turned out great!
  • Double the sauce if you really like saucy pasta and to make this more sloppy. Truthfully, the sauce is so good that I tend to double the sauce now every time I make this dish.
  • Feel free to use whatever short cut pasta you like. I like using rotini because the spirals catch all the yummy sauce in the pockets. Mezze rigatoni, penne, elbow macaroni, and orecchiette are great options as well.
A bowl of rotini pasta with tomato sauce, green bell peppers, and pieces of meat. A fork is placed in the dish.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Allow leftovers to cool then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, reheat in a skillet on the stovetop until warmed through or portion it out into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until warmed through.

4.88 from 8 votes

Sloppy Joe Mac and Cheese

If there were ever a dish that I wanted you to drop everything to go make, this would be the one! This is the perfect weeknight dish to put on rotation!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 2

Equipment

Ingredients 

For the sauce:

  • ¾ cup (177 ml) tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestchire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

For the pasta:

  • 2 cups (120 g) rotini, or any spiral-shaped pasta
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ½ large onion, diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ½ pound (227 g) ground beef
  • 1 cup (113 g) freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions 

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to directions on the package. Drain well and set aside.
    2 cups (120 g) rotini
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside.
    ¾ cup (177 ml) tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 teaspoons Worcestchire sauce, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
    A whisk in a brown bowl of tomato sauce surrounded by chopped vegetables, shredded cheese, pasta, and ground meat on a textured surface.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat up the vegetable oil. Add the onion, green bell pepper, and garlic. Sauté until fragrant and softened, about 5 minutes.
    1 tablespoon vegetable oil, ½ large onion, 1 medium green bell pepper, 2 cloves of garlic
    Diced green bell peppers and onions are sautéing in a white pan.
  • Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up with your spatula or wooden spoon. Cook until ground beef is thoroughly cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
    ½ pound (227 g) ground beef
    A white pan with raw ground beef, chopped green bell peppers, and onions, being stirred with a wooden spoon.
  • Add the sauce to the skillet then add the pasta.
    A large skillet filled with cooked rotini pasta mixed with ground meat, green bell peppers, and tomato sauce. A wooden spoon rests inside the skillet.
  • Add the cheese on top. Turn the heat down to medium -low and toss the pasta and cheese until cheese has melted and the pasta is coated in the sauce with the ingredients evenly distributed throughout.
    1 cup (113 g) freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
    A pot filled with rotini pasta, ground meat, and vegetables, topped with shredded cheddar cheese, with a wooden spoon inside.
  • Divide evenly in bowls and serve!

Video

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 431kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 19g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

Photographs by Jess Gaertner Creative

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24 Comments

  1. Patti Pfeiff says:

    Stuck inside during Tropical Storm Debbie. Lots of rain and gray skies so we wanted a comfort meal and this was PERFECT!! We loved it. So easy and so yummy!

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      Thanks for the feedback, Patti! Glad you were able to make this during the tropical storm. Glad you were safe and hope not too much damage! xx

  2. Keri says:

    This recipe is a fam favorite! Simple and delicious 😋

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      thanks, Keri!

  3. Mike Garavelli says:

    Sloppy Joe Mac’s n Cheese made my mouth water while cooking it. We ate all of it in 5 minutes. Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Julie Chiou says:

      thanks so much for the feedback and review, Mike!