This Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole is an easy meal that the whole family will love! Made with just a few simple ingredients, it’s perfect for busy weeknights.
If you love Easy Lasagna Casserole then you may also enjoy this recipe. This casserole is an all-in-one meal that is a great way to breathe some new life into your meal rotation, plus it’s picky eater-approved.
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Air Fryer Casserole
If you have never tried making a casserole in the air fryer, then this is the recipe that you need to try. The air fryer uses hot air to make a perfectly crispy crust on this cornbread casserole.
Why I Love This Recipe
This delicious casserole is perfect for busy weeknights. With just a few simple ingredients, it’ll be the hit of your next family gathering!
- Easy to make
- Perfect for picky eaters
- Fills the house with a delicious aroma
If you love air fryer casserole recipes then you may also enjoy this Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of ingredients to help you make this recipe. After one quick trip to your local grocery store, you will be ready to make this easy weeknight meal.
ground beef – I like to use ground chuck for the best flavor, but you can use whatever type of ground beef you prefer.
bell pepper – I used a green bell pepper but any color that you have on hand will work.
cornbread mix – I used a box of Jiffy cornbread mix, but your favorite cornbread mix can also be used.
Substitutions
Beef: Instead of ground beef you can use ground turkey or ground chicken.
Cornbread Mix: If you don’t have a box of Jiffy on hand you can use homemade cornbread mix instead.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
This recipe is pretty versatile and can be easily customized to your liking. Some of my favorite add-ins include:
cheddar cheese – Add 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese if you want to make this casserole cheesy.
bacon bits – 1/4 cup of bacon bits would add a nice smoky and salty flavor to your sloppy joe casserole.
jalapeño pepper – Add a diced and seeded jalapeno pepper to add some heat to this casserole recipe.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this simple recipe. Gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this family-friendly meal.
- air fryer – You will need at least a 6-quart air fryer to make this delicious recipe.
- baking pan – You will also need an oven-safe baking dish that will fit in your air fryer basket. I used an 8 inch cake pan for this recipe.
How to Make Air Fryer Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Making this air fryer casserole recipe is simple. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a tangy and flavorful casserole that your whole family will enjoy in no time at all.
Step 1: Brown the meat and vegetables
Sauté the meat, onion, and peppers. Add the spices.
Step 2: Add sauce ingredients
Once browned, add the mustard, brown sugar, and ketchup. Cook for 5 minutes.
Step 3: Add the meat mixture to the pan
Place sloppy joe mixture into an 8” pie pan.
Step 4: Make the cornbread batter
Use the remaining ingredients to mix up the cornbread batter.
Step 5: Air fry the casserole
Pour batter over the sloppy joe mixture and cook at 350° for 15 minutes or until the cornbread is cooked through.
Step 6: Allow it to cool before serving
Let cool and slice to serve.
Serving Suggestions
This sloppy joe casserole is great by itself but I like to pair it with a side salad like this Bacon, Broccoli, and Cheese Salad or a vegetable side dish like this Instant Pot Green Beans and Potatoes recipe.
Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to make sure that your air fryer casserole turns out perfectly every time that you make it.
- Be sure to brown the beef and vegetables before adding the sauce ingredients. This will help to create a flavorful and rich casserole.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake this casserole in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the cornbread is cooked through.
- I recommend that you spray your baking dish well with a nonstick cooking spray so that clean-up is a breeze.
- You could also add a can of whole kernel corn to the meat mixture of this recipe. Just make sure that you drain it completely first.
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce would add a nice and rich flavor to this sloppy joe sauce.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave at 30-second intervals until warmed throughout.
Yes, this casserole recipe can be frozen for up to two months. Be sure to store it in an airtight container or freezer bag.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you like air fryer recipes, give these recipes a try:
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📋 Recipe
Air Fryer Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- baking dish
- Large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 box of jiffy cornbread mix
Instructions
- Sauté the meat, onion, and peppers. Add the spices.
- Once browned, add the mustard, brown sugar, and ketchup. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Place sloppy joe mixture into an 8” pie pan.
- Use the remaining ingredients to mix up the cornbread batter.
- Pour batter over the sloppy joe mixture and cook at 350° for 15 minutes or until cornbread is cooked through.
- Let cool and slice to serve.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to brown the beef and vegetables before adding the sauce ingredients. This will help to create a flavorful and rich casserole.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake this casserole in the oven at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the cornbread is cooked through.
- I recommend that you spray your baking dish well with a nonstick cooking spray so that clean-up is a breeze.
- You could also add a can of whole kernel corn to the meat mixture of this recipe. Just make sure that you drain it completely first.
- A dash of Worcestershire sauce would add a nice and rich flavor to this sloppy joe sauce.