This quick and easy Sloppy Joe Tortellini is a simple, satisfying, one pan dinner that comes together in 30 minutes. It’s a mash up of sloppy joes and cheesy pasta for a comfort food meal both kids and adults will enjoy.
What’s better than your favorite comfort food recipe? Two of your favorites…combined into one! This warm and hearty Sloppy Joe Tortellini is the ultimate comfort food mash up of savory, saucy sloppy joes with cheesy stuffed pasta. It’s simple to make, comes together fast, and is craved by the everyone, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights and family dinners. And since it’s a one-pan meal, there’s almost no clean-up involved.
Filled with seasoned ground beef, a sweet-tangy sauce, chewy tortellini and melty cheese, Sloppy Joe Tortellini is a next-level delicious dinner that hits every flavor note. This comfort food creation tastes just as great the next day, too, so leftovers are a bonus. This recipe is seriously satisfying and one for your weekly dinner rotation.
If you love these hearty flavors, try some of our other favorites. We love these crowd-pleasing Sloppy Joe Sliders for entertaining, and for another tasty twist on the classic, try our Sloppy Joe Wonton Cups.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in Under 30 Minutes: With a super simple process and everything cooked in just one pan, this dish comes together fast, so you’ve got dinner ready in no time.
- Kid-friendly: A little savory, a little sweet, and a lot delicious, this pasta dish is loved by the whole family. It’s craved by all and even picky eater-approved (yes, really!).
- Uses Simple Pantry ingredients: This no-fuss recipe is made with ingredients, spices and condiments you probably already have on hand in the fridge and pantry, so you can whip it up anytime easily.
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: Juicy and flavorful, we like 80/20 here, but feel free to use 90/10 for something slightly leaner.
- Onions & Garlic: Aromatics to flavor the beef.
- Bell Peppers: Use your favorite color or whatever’s on hand. They’re all fresh and flavorful.
- Cheese Tortellini: Fresh and cheesy, use your favorite brand.
- Ketchup: For that signature tangy, tomato note.
- Mustard: Adds a little zest.
- Worcestershire Sauce: To enhance the meat, and gives it that umami punch of flavor.
- Brown Sugar: For sweetness.
- Chili Crisp: Packed with flavor and crunchy texture, for a little kick and heat.
- SPG: The essential trinity of flavor, always.
- Beef Broth: Savory and rich, to keep everything saucy.
- Colby Jack Cheese: Melty and mild, grate this fresh.
How To Make Sloppy Joe Tortellini
1. Sauté pepper and onion in oil or bacon grease until soft.
2. Add ground beef and cook until brown.
3. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute, season with SPG.
4. Next, add brown sugar, ketchup, W sauce, Mustard, and chili crisp. Stir and allow to simmer a couple minutes.
5. Add beef broth and tortellini.
6. Bring back to a simmer and cover with lid.
7. Stir every few min until tortellini is plump.(about 10 min)
8. Cover with Colby jack and put lid back on until cheese is melted. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use Freshly Shredded Cheese: This step is worth it so everything melts beautifully. You want that cheese pull, after all! The pre-shredded stuff has a coating that keeps it from melting and it can leave a grainy texture, so avoid it.
- Don’t Overcook Tortellini: Just cook the pasta to al dente, or slightly under. It should be soft but still have a bite. No one likes overly soft or mushy tortellini.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste and adjust how much brown sugar you’d like as needed. Just remember, you can always add more, but you can’t remove it.
- Add Broth To Adjust Consistency: If the sauce thickens too much and you want to thin it out, add another splash or so of broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Let Sit Before Serving: Once it’s cooked and the cheese has melted, let the tortellini sit for a few minute so the flavors can meld and set up before digging in and serving up.
Variations
- Make It Spicy: If you like it extra hot, add in a sprinkle of chili flakes or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.
- Try Different Proteins: Instead of ground beef, use ground chicken or turkey for a different (slightly lighter) flavor profile.
- Add Veggies: Bulk it up with anything you’ve got in the crisper drawer. Mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers and onions would all be delicious add-in’s.
- Use Another Cheese: Try melty, stringy mozzarella instead of Colby jack for another cheesy flavor sensation.
What To Serve With Sloppy Joe Tortellini
This Sloppy Joe Tortellini is a delicious all-in-one pan meal and goes well with anything. Here are our favorites to serve with it.
- Baked Green Beans with Sausage
- Bacon Jam Green Beans
- Simple green salad or caesar salad
- Crusty bread or corn bread
- Cole slaw or potato salad
Storage
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm gently on the stove over medium heat until hot and the cheese is melty. You might want to add a splash of broth to loosen and refresh, if needed.
You can store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving, then reheat and enjoy.
This is a great make-ahead meal. Prep and cook this dish in advance, cool, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days before you’re ready to eat. Reheat on the stove or covered in the oven, then dinner is served!
FAQs
Can I use frozen tortellini? Yes, just be sure to slightly undercook it to al dente. If you’re cooking it ahead of time, fully drain the pasta to get rid of excess liquid, so you don’t have a watery pasta dish.
What is the best cheese to use? Anything that’s super melty with a mild flavor is a great choice. Colby Jack, cheddar, mozzarella or even Pepper Jack are delicious options.
How can I prevent soggy pasta? Be sure to fully drain the pasta after cooking it, to prevent any excess moisture. Also, avoid overcooking the tortellini, so you don’t have a mushy, overly soft texture.
More Easy Tortellini Recipes
- Easy Taco Tortellini (One Pot)
- Baked Shrimp Scampi with Tortellini
- Chicken Parmesan Tortellini Bake
- Tortellini With Sausage (One Pan)
One Pot Sloppy Joe Tortellini
Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 bell pepper
- 1/2 white onion
- minced garlic
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp W sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp chili crisp
- SPG to taste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 lb tortellini
- Colby Jack cheese
Instructions
- Saute pepper and onion in oil or bacon grease until soft.
- Add ground beef and cook until brown.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another minute, season with SPG.
- Next, add brown sugar, ketchup, W sauce, Mustard, and chili crisp. Stir and allow to simmer a couple minutes.
- Add beef broth and tortellini.
- Bring back to a simmer and cover with lid.
- Stir every few min until tortellini si plump.(about 10 min)
- Cover with colby jack and put lid back on until cheese is melted. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm gently on the stove over medium heat until hot and the cheese is melty. Add a splash of broth to loosen and refresh, if needed.
- Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before serving, then reheat and enjoy.
- This is a great make-ahead meal. Prep and cook in advance, cool, and store in the fridge for up to 2 days before you're ready to eat. Reheat on the stove or covered in the oven, then dinner is served!
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