If you're a fan of Sloppy Joes and cornbread then you're going to love this Air Fryer Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole. This is the best air fryer casserole I've tasted and it's super easy to cook.
This hearty and delicious air fryer casserole is made with ground beef and everyday pantry staples. It tastes amazing and the kids love it too!
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Why This Recipe Works
- There are many reasons to love air fryer casserole, but perhaps the biggest one is its convenience and versatility.
- Not only does the Cornbread Casserole make a great weeknight meal, it can also be easily served at parties or potlucks.
- Furthermore, an air fryer makes cooking this dish a breeze, allowing you to easily cook up an entire casserole in just a matter of minutes.
🥘 Ingredients
Here are the ingredients to make Air Fryer Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole:
- Green Bell Pepper (Diced): Provides a vibrant pop of color and a crunchy texture that contrasts nicely with the hearty ground beef.
- Ground Beef: Offers a rich, savory flavor that forms the base of the casserole.
- Yellow Onion (Diced): Add a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor that complements the robustness of the ground beef.
- Garlic Powder, Salt, And Pepper: Infuse the beef with additional flavors, enhancing its natural savory notes.
- Brown Sugar: Introduces a hint of sweetness, balancing out the savory elements and adding complexity to the overall flavor profile.
- Ketchup and Yellow Mustard: Tomato sauce provides tangy and slightly sweet notes, creating the classic sloppy joe flavor we all know and love.
- Egg and Milk: Are used in preparing the cornbread mix, the egg adds structure while milk adds moisture, ensuring a fluffy and moist cornbread topping.
- Jiffy Cornbread Mix: Forms a deliciously comforting, slightly sweet topping that pairs wonderfully with the savory sloppy joe filling.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
📖 Substitutions & Variations
- Add Cheese: Yes. To add cheddar cheese to your Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole, wait until the cornbread mix is fully cooked and then sprinkle shredded cheese over top. Place the dish back in the air fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is golden brown. Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole with cheddar cheese makes a delicious and satisfying meal that the whole family will love!
- Add Sloppy Joe Seasoning: You can buy sloppy Joe seasoning from the supermarket, however, I prefer to make my own so I can control how much salt and sugar is added to the dish.
- Tofu: You can also use chopped tofu for a vegetarian-friendly option.
Whichever protein you choose, the results will be equally delicious! - Swap Ground Beef: If you don't have ground beef on hand, there are a few different substitutes that can be used in for the meat mixture in Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole.
- Turkey: You can substitute ground turkey, chicken, or crumbled sausage.
- Beans: Beans, and lentils are a great non-meat option.
🔪 How To Make Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole in the Air Fryer?
Here is a step-by-step guide for making delicious air fryer casserole sloppy Joe cornbread style!
- Step 1: In a large skillet, Sauté the ground beef, chopped onions, and green bell pepper. Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper for seasoning. Cook until brown.
- Step 2: Once the ground beef mixture is browned, add the mustard, ketchup, and brown sugar. Cook the Sloppy Joe mixture for a further 5 minutes. Place the sloppy Joe beef mixture into a casserole baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Step 3: In a medium-sized bowl, add the water, egg, and milk to the sweet cornbread mix. Whisk until the cornbread mixture is smooth.
- Step 4: Carefully pour the cornbread batter over the Sloppy Joe mixture. Cook at 350° for 15 minutes or until cornbread is cooked through. Serve the cooked casserole garnished with sliced green onions or chopped parsley.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
When pouring the batter onto your sloppy joe mixture, you want to make sure that there are no air pockets underneath the cornbread layer.
If you love this recipe be sure to check out these delicious recipes: Slow Cooker Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, Crock Pot Chili Mac And Cheese and German Fried Cabbage With Bacon Bits.
💭 FAQs
To create a thicker cornbread layer in your Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole, simply use less liquid when preparing the batter. You can also add additional cornmeal or flour to ensure that your cornbread is sturdy and holds its shape once cooked.
There are a few factors that can cause cornbread to rise, including using an acidic ingredient in the batter, such as buttermilk or lemon juice. You can also use baking powder as a rising agent, or add some honey or sugar to help leaven the cornbread mixture. Experiment with different ingredients and cooking methods to find the best way to make your cornbread rise.
There are a few different factors that can help keep cornbread moist, including using the correct ratio of wet to dry ingredients. Additionally, you can add some extra moisture by brushing melted butter or oil onto the cornbread before cooking, or by adding a layer of sour cream on top.
Yes, you can make Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole in the oven. Simply preheat your oven to 350° and prepare the cornbread batter according to the recipe. Pour the Sloppy Joe mixture into a baking dish or pan and top with the cornbread batter. Bake for around 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
Some people choose to add sugar to their cornbread recipe in order to balance out the savory flavors of the corn and butter. Additionally, adding sugar can help create a more tender and fluffy texture in the cornbread, as well as making it taste sweeter overall. Whether you prefer your cornbread sweet or savory, there are plenty of delicious variations to choose from!
You can buy jiffy cornbread mix from most major grocery stores or online at Amazon. Cornbread mixture is a versatile mix that can be used for both savory and sweet recipes, so it's a great pantry staple to have on hand!
If you find you have partially baked cornbread after the cooking time ends, pop the sloppy joe casserole back into the air fryer for another 3-4 minutes.
To store the cornbread casserole, wrap it tightly with plastic or foil and place in the refrigerator. Cornbread casserole should last for 3-4 days when stored properly.
Yes, you can freeze cornbread casserole. To do so, make the casserole according to the recipe and let it cool completely. Then, transfer the casserole to an airtight container or freezer-safe baking dish, and either freeze for up to 1 month.
🧂Serving Suggestions
These are my favorite sides to serve with cornbread casserole
- Vegetables such as Broccoli or Air Fryer Green Beans
- Red Cabbage Slaw
- Roasted Potatoes or Sweet Potato Fries
- Instant Pot Mac And Cheese
- German Fried Cabbage With Bacon Bits
- Crispy Okra Chips
- Air Fryer Beet Chips
- Air Fryer Catfish Nuggets
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Crispy Onion Rings or Carrot Fries
- Creamed Corn. You can make creamed corn using frozen corn or canned corn.
🍽 Try These Air Fryer Dishes
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Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Green Bell Pepper Diced
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- ½ Onion Diced
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Pepper
- 3 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
- ¾ Cup Ketchup
- Teaspoon Yellow Mustard
- 12 Cups Water
- 1 Egg
- ⅓ Cup Of Milk
- 1 Box Jiffy Cornbread Mix
Instructions
- In a large skillet Sauté the ground beef, chopped onions and green bell pepper. Add the garlic powder, salt and pepper for seasoning. Cook until brown.
- Once the ground beef mixture is browned add the mustard, ketchup and brown sugar. Cook the Sloppy Joe mixture for a further 5 minutes.
- Place the sloppy Joe beef mixture into a casserole baking pan. The air fryer casserole dish should be 8 inches.
- I like to use a non stick baking pansprayed with non stick cooking spray as this helps with easy cleanup.
- In a medium-sized bowl add the water, egg and milk to the sweet cornbread mix. Whisk until the cornbread mixture is smooth.
- Carefully pour the cornbread batter over the Sloppy Joe mixture.
- You want to make sure that there are no air pockets underneath the cornbread layer.
- Place the prepared baking dish or pan into the air fryer.
- Cook at 350° for 15 minutes or until cornbread is cooked through.
- Serve the Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole garnished with extra sliced green onions or chopped parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Sweet, savory, and oh-so-satisfying—this air fryer Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole is comfort food at its finest!