Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

Sloppy joes meets crispy tots for this Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole everyone will love! This cheesy one-pan meal uses a homemade ground turkey sloppy joe base, then it’s baked with cheddar cheese and tater tots!

Sunday dinner. Mid-week leftovers. Lunch and supper. Saturday morning breakfast (put an egg on it!). Midnight snack?? These are all the times I would eat this meal.

And yes, that means basically anytime. It’s comfort food central, between the cheese, potatoes, and sloppy joe mixture. Bake them all stacked together for the ultimate cozy one-pan dish!

The base of this recipe comes from my Favorite Homemade Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes. Then I added cheese and potatoes. How could it get any better?!

What are the ingredients in this Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole?

While it might look like there are a lot of ingredients going on here, several of them are just condiments you probably already have in your fridge!

There are also a few fresh produce items and a couple pantry items you might have or should be able to find easily at the grocery store. Here’s what I used for this casserole with a little explanation for each:

• butter – Using butter for the first veggie sauté adds amazing flavor!
• yellow onion, jalapeño & garlic – These are the veggies we have going on in the sloppy joe base mixture. They held add delicious background flavors to the recipe. Onion and garlic make everything better.
• ground turkey meat – I recommend using 90%, 93%, or even 85% lean ground turkey for this recipe. Avoid ground turkey breast (which will be 99% lean), as it is too lean and will lack flavor.
• tomato paste – This helps give a delicious background tomato goodness that combines with the onion and garlic for a rich sauce flavor base.
• barbecue sauce, worcestershire sauce & yellow mustard – Condiments are super important to this recipe and help flavor the sloppy joe mixture with savory and familiar notes that really amp up the sauce.
• cornstarch – This helps the sauce thicken up and hold together for a nice thick casserole base. You can also use arrowroot powder here in the same way.
• tomato sauce – Along with the half and half, this makes up the most of the saucy sloppy joe base!
• half & half – In order to make the sauce a bit more creamy and balance out all of the acid from the tomato paste and sauce, we add some half & half here. If your stomach doesn’t get along with half & half (like me!), you can opt for plain Nutpods.
• red pepper flakes – This casserole is not spicy! The red pepper flakes give it the most subtle background flavor kick. Just stick with a small pinch.
• salt – We add just a touch of salt in the middle of cooking to help season, and I always taste test the sloppy joe mixture before putting the cheese and tots on to check!
• shredded cheddar cheese – I used a cheddar blend here, but any kind like Mexican blend, colby jack or just plain cheddar would all work.
• frozen tater tots – Any brand of frozen tots will work. I use about half of a 32 ounce bag for this casserole.
• garnish: sliced green onions and hot sauce – Optional; top with whatever you’d like! I added some sliced green onions for contrast!

How do you make Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole?

For my Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole, there are three main steps: make the sloppy joe mixture, assemble the rest of the casserole on top, and bake! Let’s break it down:

After you preheat the oven, it’s time to start the sloppy joe mixture on the stovetop. I used a 10-inch cast iron pan – it’s important to use a pan that can also go into the oven. A Dutch oven would work too.

Follow the recipe to cook the veggies first, then add the ground meat and garlic. Now is when it gets saucy – add the thicker condiments and cornstarch first. This way, your tomato paste can get some heat on it, and the cornstarch can mix in with the meat and veggies before adding the liquids.

Once those ingredients are completely mixed in, add the tomato sauce and half and half or dairy-free substitute, along with the red pepper flakes and salt. Stir constantly until completely mixed together.

From here, let the mixture come to a simmer with the heat on low. After simmering for a few minutes, the sauce will reduce and thicken even further.

Remove the pan from heat and prepare to move on to the next main step: assembly!

Taking care not to touch the hot pan, dump the cheese on top of the sloppy joe mixture and spread it into an even layer.

Next, arrange the frozen tater tots on top of the cheese in circles around the pan. Start with the outer edge and work inward until you have one flat layer of tater tots completely covering the cheese.

Finally, bake for around 25 minutes! If you want a crisper top, broil for an additional 3-4 minutes at the end of cooking. You’ll be able to tell it’s done when the tots appear browned and crispy, and the sauce is bubbling.

What kind of ground turkey should I use?

I would recommend using either 90% lean ground turkey, or 93% lean ground turkey. Another option that will work is to use 85% lean ground turkey, though you may need to remove a little bit of grease after cooking the meat.

For this recipe, I would avoid ground turkey breast or 99% lean ground turkey. This option does not have enough fat and the final dish will lack flavor.

Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey?

Yes, you can use ground beef instead of ground turkey, but I find it makes the dish quite rich. I prefer to use ground turkey.

If you use ground beef, you will most likely need to remove some grease into a disposable container after cooking the meat.

What can I use in place of the half and half?

If you don’t like to cook with half and half or you’re trying to cut back on some dairy products, try using plain unsweetened Nutpods creamer. It’s made from almonds and coconuts, but doesn’t really have a strong taste of either one.

I always use plain Nutpods instead of half and half in this recipe, and nobody can ever tell! Nutpods even suggests this as a use for their product. I think it’s a perfect substitution.

Testing notes for Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole:

Here are some things I noticed while testing this recipe:

• Avoid using 99% lean ground turkey, as it is too lean and you can easily tell it’s ground turkey. Fat = flavor!
• You can swap the cornstarch for arrowroot powder, if needed. I tested with arrowroot powder and saw no noticeable difference.
• Broiling is not necessary, but it really helps give you that perfectly crispy, golden brown top.

How do you meal prep this Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole?

There are a couple ways to save time by preparing all or part of this recipe ahead of time. Here are some options:

1. Complete prep: This casserole tastes great as leftovers directly from the fridge. Prepare recipe from start to finish. Then, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 4 days.
2. Partially prep & cook later: Prep your sloppy joe base mixture up to 48 hours ahead of time. When it’s time to eat, preheat the oven and assemble the rest of the casserole as directed in the recipe.
3. Partially prep & freeze: Make recipe as written through step 3, and then let your sloppy joe mixture cool for a few minutes. Spoon into 2-Cup Souper Cups Trays or other freezer friendly airtight container. Add cheese and arrange tater tots on top if you wish, or freeze only the sloppy joe mixture. Freeze for up to 3-6 months for best quality. (Note – I have not tested this but I think it would work just fine! Will update when I do.)

What should you serve with this recipe?

When making this for dinner, I usually will eat it on it’s own. But it would also be good with a side salad or light vegetable snack before serving.

Alternative customization ideas:

Here are some suggestions if you’d like to modify this recipe for your own tastes:

• Make it spicy and add another heavy pinch of red chili pepper flakes.
• Add some frozen corn to the sauce.
• Swap the basic cheddar for your favorite cheese.
• To make it saucier, add 1/4-1/2 cup water while simmering the sauce.

What kind of pan should you use to make this tater tot casserole recipe?

I would recommend using a 10-inch cast iron pan for this recipe. You can also use any skillet that is oven-safe. A Dutch oven would also work.

Is this recipe freezer-friendly?

Yes – I think the best way to freeze this meal would be to freeze the prepared sloppy joe mixture by itself, using Souper Cubes trays. You could also assemble into complete individual casseroles and freeze in 2-Cup Souper Cubes Trays (affiliate link!).

How to store prepared Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole:

Store prepared Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How to freeze prepared Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole:

To freeze portions, make recipe as written through step 3, and then let your sloppy joe mixture cool. Spoon into 2-cup Souper Cups Trays or other freezer friendly airtight container. Add cheese and arrange tater tots on top if you wish, or freeze only the sloppy joe mixture. Freeze for up to 3-6 months for best quality.

How to reheat Turkey Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole:

To reheat from the fridge, microwave for 2 minutes, checking and stirring after 90 seconds.

Alternatively, place leftovers in an oven safe container, uncovered, and into a cold oven. Turn the oven on to 350F and set a timer for 25 minutes. Check temperature and add more time if needed until the center is hot.