Sloppy Joe Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey (or ground beef)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large can (24 ounces) Sloppy Joe sauce
• 2 teaspoons of your favorite meat seasoning (I used McCormick GrillMates Brown Sugar Bourbon)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 pound cooked pasta (such as elbow macaroni or penne)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1 cup crushed Ritz crackers or French fried onions (optional, for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. In a large pot, cook the meat over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and minced garlic to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
4. Stir in the Sloppy Joe sauce and bring to a simmer, cooking for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
5. Add the cooked pasta and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese to the Sloppy Joe mixture, stirring until well combined.
6. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
7. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
8. If desired, sprinkle crushed crackers or French fried onions on top for extra crunch.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10. Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.

The original recipe for this tangy and tasty hotdish can be found here.