Big Batch Sloppy Joes (Three Meals in One Hour)

One of my freezer filling strategies is to simply double or triple my family favorite recipes. It’s an easy way to get meals in your freezer without a lot of additional work. 

I especially like when I can make a batch of a main ingredient and then whip up a couple of freezer meals with that one main ingredient (I find this not only saves time, but money as well). 

Here's one such idea…I call it Big Batch Sloppy Joes, Three Ways.

With ONE big batch of sloppy joes, you can make THREE different freezer meals: 

1. Original Sloppy Joes (on buns)
2. Sloppy Joes Tator Tot Casserole
3. Sloppy Joes Cornbread Bake

If you are low carbin' it, I have some additional serving suggestions at the bottom of this post.

Here are the recipes & instructions......(feel free to use your favorite tried & true sloppy joe recipe as a substitution).

BIG BATCH SLOPPY JOES (THREE WAYS)

Sloppy Joe Ingredients:

• 5 lbs, lean ground beef
• 2 green (or red) bell peppers, diced
• 2 small onions, diced
• 2 cups ketchup (your favorite brand)
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Sloppy Joes Tator Tot Casserole (ingredients):

• 1-1/2 cups cheddar cheese
• 32 ounces frozen tator tots (or rounds)

 
Sloppy Joes Cornbread Bake (ingredients):

• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 box 8.5 ounces cornbread mix
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk

 
Instructions:

1. Stovetop: Brown the ground beef with the onions and bell pepper on your stovetop in a large skillet. Drain the grease and then add the beef back to the pan and stir in the remaining sloppy joe ingredients. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes. Then transfer the mixture to a large container or dish and let cool completely in your refrigerator. Note: you can also cook the ground beef in your Instant Pot or Crock-Pot.
2. Once cooled, split the mixture evenly in thirds.
3. To make Original Sloppy Joes: Place 1/3 of sloppy joe mixture in a freezer bag and seal. Make sure to label and lay flat in your freezer. You will need buns on serving day. To cook: thaw completely in your refrigerator and reheat on your stovetop or in microwave. Serve on buns.
4. To make Sloppy Joes Tator Tot Casserole: Spray a casserole size baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/3 of the sloppy joe mixture in the bottom of the pan. Top with 1-1/2 cups of cheddar cheese and then top with the frozen tator tots. Cover with cling wrap/foil, label and freeze. To cook: thaw completely in your refrigerator. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes or until tator tots are well browned and filling Is hot & bubbly.
5. To make Sloppy Joes Cornbread Bake: Spray a casserole size baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/3 of the sloppy joe mixture in the bottom of the pan and stir in the corn. Mix together the cornbread mix, egg, and milk. Spread the wet cornbread mix evenly over the sloppy joe filling (as best as you can). Cover with cling wrap/foil, label, and freeze. You can also add the cornbread mix on cook day if you prefer. To cook: thaw completely in your refrigerator. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until filling is hot & bubbly and a fork poked in the center comes out clean.

Looking for lower carb options? Here are some ideas:

• Serve the sloppy joes in lettuce cups.
• Put the filling in bell peppers & top with cheese.
• Make a low carb cornbread bake with a cauliflower crust (mix together 5 cups steamed riced cauliflower, 1 egg beaten, 1-1/2 cups cheddar jack cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and pre-bake the crust for 20 minutes and then top with sloppy joe filling and cheese).

Is Adam Sandler's sloppy joe song now stuck in your head? It is mine.