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    Home » Dinners » Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

    Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

    Published: Oct 12, 2021 · Modified: Oct 12, 2021 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Crock Pot Sloppy Joes on a white plate next to a stack of wooden plates

    Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are an easy crock pot dinner recipe. Ground beef and veggies simmer in the slow cooker for a tasty, hands-off dinner. Perfect lunch or dinner for busy days!

    Wooden spoon stirring sloppy joes in a slow cooker.

    All-day crock pot recipes are amazing, and I make them on a regular basis. I love it when I don't have to worry about making dinner because it's in the crock pot first thing in the morning.

    Other days, though, I need something that I can throw in the slow cooker and then walk away from for a few hours. These crock pot sloppy joes are perfect for either time!

    I can just brown the ground beef, toss everything into the crock pot, go run errands (do pick-ups, after school activities, whatever), and I come home to a finished dinner. It's great!

    Ingredients and substitutions

    • Lean ground beef - I like to use 90% lean ground beef. It's lean enough that the ground beef mixture doesn't end up too fatty, but it has enough fat that it doesn't dry out while it cooks.
    • White or yellow onion
    • Bell pepper - I usually use red, but green, yellow, or orange peppers will all work.
    • Ketchup
    • Tomato sauce - Tomato sauce is just canned tomato puree.
    • Tomato paste
    • Brown sugar
    • Apple cider vinegar
    • Yellow mustard
    • Molasses - The molasses gives the mixture a richer depth of flavor. However, you can omit it if you prefer.
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Liquid smoke
    • Ancho chili powder - Regular chili powder works, too.
    • Salt
    • Garlic powder - Be sure to use garlic powder, not garlic salt.

    How to make Sloppy Joes in the slow cooker

    Browned ground beef in a slow cooker insert.

    Add ground beef to large skillet, and brown over medium heat. If your slow cooker has a stovetop function, feel free to brown the ground beef in the slow cooker.

    Browned ground beef onion and bell pepper in a slow cooker.

    Drain browned ground beef, and return to pan along with onion and bell pepper.
    Cook, stirring regularly, until vegetables are just softened, about 2-3 minutes.

    Sloppy Joe Mixture in a slow cooker insert.

    Add beef and vegetable mixture to slow cooker along with remaining ingredients. Stir to combine.

    Cover, and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours.

    Wooden spoon scooping sloppy joe from a crock pot.

    Tips

    • Buns: Hamburger buns can make all the difference with Sloppy Joes! Toasting the buns before adding the meat mixture helps the buns hold up better. We've tried everything from fluffy white bread buns to whole wheat buns to brioche buns to Hawaiian buns, and every type of bun has gone well with the Sloppy Joes.
    • Toppings: The sandwiches are delicious as-is. However, some people like to add toppings like cheese or pickles to their sandwiches.
    • Sides: Green salad, fruit salad, fries, chips, and fresh veggies all go well with Sloppy Joes.

    Can I skip browning the ground beef?

    I wouldn't recommend it. Browning the beef takes about 10 minutes, but it's 10 minutes well-spent.

    Browning and draining the ground beef keeps all of the fat from ending up in your sauce. Otherwise, you'd end up a greasy, watery sauce.

    Can I use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef?

    Absolutely! If you prefer to use ground turkey or ground chicken, either one will work in this recipe.

    Since ground turkey and ground chicken tend to be leaner, you'll just need to add a bit of oil to your pan to keep the meat from sticking as you brown it.

    Can I make this vegetarian?

    You can! Feel free to use either meatless crumbles or drained and rinsed canned beans (like kidney beans) in place of the ground beef.

    If you're using either of those ingredients, you can skip browning, and just add a bit of oil to the pan when sautéing the vegetables.

    Wooden spoon holding a scoop of sloppy joe mix.

    Can I double the recipe?

    Absolutely! I almost always make a double batch of Sloppy Joes to have as leftovers or to freeze for another day.

    I use a 6 quart slow cooker, and it works well. When doubling the recipe, there's no need to increase the cooking time.

    How to freeze

    It's really easy to freeze Sloppy Joes! Simply cook the Sloppy Joes as directed.

    Let the mixture cool to room temperature. Place in a freezer-safe container, and freeze.

    How long will this keep?

    Sloppy Joes keep and reheat well. When stored in the fridge in an airtight container, the meat mixture should keep for up to 5 days.

    Sloppy joe on a plate next to a blue napkin.

    More easy crock pot recipes!

    • Crock Pot Mississippi Pot Roast
    • Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
    • Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

    More easy sandwich recipes!

    • California Club Croissant Sandwich
    • Baked Hawaiian Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

    If you’ve tried this crock pot sloppy joe recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Sloppy joe on a plate next to a blue napkin.

    Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

    Delicious slow cooker Sloppy Joes are an easy crock pot dinner recipe that takes just minutes to throw together!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
    Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 244kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
    • 1 cup chopped white or yellow onion
    • 1 cup chopped bell pepper
    • ½ cup ketchup
    • 8 ounce can tomato sauce
    • 6 ounce can tomato paste
    • ¼ cup brown sugar firmly packed*
    • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
    • 1 tablespoon molasses
    • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
    • ½ tablespoon liquid smoke
    • 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions

    • Add ground beef to large skillet, and brown over medium heat.
    • Drain browned ground beef, and return to pan along with onion and bell pepper.
    • Cook, stirring regularly, until vegetables are just softened, about 2-3 minutes.
    • Add beef and vegetable mixture to slow cooker along with remaining ingredients.
    • Stir to combine.
    • Cover, and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours.

    Notes

    • Beef: I use 90% lean ground beef. See the notes above the recipe for using ground chicken or ground turkey.
    • Brown sugar: We like our sloppy joes a little on the sweeter side. If you don't, try starting with half the brown sugar (2 tablespoons - unpacked), and go from there by taste.
    • Chili powder: There is no kick to this recipe. The chili powder just gives the dish some extra flavor. If you like a little more heat, increase the chili powder to taste.
    • Nutrition values are estimates.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 728mg | Potassium: 775mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1186IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!

    Originally published 4/19/18. Updated on 10/12/21 with additional pictures, new tips and information, and the recipe has been slightly modified.

    « Easy Popcorn Ball Recipe
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jean-Marie

      August 13, 2019 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      Made these for a party of adults. From the fist bite, everyone loved this recipe.

      Reply
      • Kate

        August 14, 2019 at 9:56 pm

        I'm so glad that it was a hit! Thanks for taking the time to comment! =)

        Reply
    2. Jen

      April 28, 2018 at 1:01 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Kate

        April 28, 2018 at 1:19 am

        I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting! =)

        Reply

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