Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Let’s Talk About Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes—And Why They’re a Life-Saver

Hey, so here’s the deal: slow cooker sloppy joes are the dinner hero nobody saw coming. I grew up thinking these were just messy sandwiches for kids’ parties (seriously, I lost a tooth eating one at Billy’s 7th birthday; not the sandwich’s fault, for once), but now I find myself craving ’em on those can’t-be-bothered days. You know, the days when you trip over a laundry basket and just want to eat something warm without hovering over the stove. My house smells amazing whenever these are cooking. There’s something about coming home, opening the door, and boom—tomatoey, tangy, meaty madness hits you right in the face. Sorry, vegetarians, but this one’s meaty. Well, mostly… more about that later.

Why I Keep Making These Again and Again

I make this slow cooker sloppy joe recipe whenever I know I’m going to have zero energy at dinnertime (or if I’m feeling a hint lazy, let’s be honest). My crew demolishes these—probably because they’re the perfect mash-up of savory and sweet. Even my picky cousin, the one who says he only eats “gourmet,” goes for seconds (he piles on cheddar, but that’s another story). Sometimes the slow cooker does the work while I get distracted watching reruns. Pro tip: don’t multitask too hard! The only time this didn’t turn out well was when I FORGOT to plug in the slow cooker (that was a low point, ha!).

All the Stuffs You’ll Need (Plus Swaps—Because We’re Realists)

• 500g (about 1 lb) ground beef (or turkey if that’s what’s in the fridge; I’ve even gone half and half. Lentils work, sort of, but not as a straight swap—see below)
• 1 onion, diced real small (yellow, white, red—frankly, I’ve used shallots when onions went walkabout)
• 1 small green pepper, finely chopped (my grandmother swore by red, she claimed it was “more festive”)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (I sometimes just use the stuff from a jar, no shame)
• 3/4 cup ketchup (any brand is fine—the squeeze bottle works just dandy here)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (muscovado is fancy but not necessary; white works in a pinch)
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (or soy sauce, but it does taste a wee bit different)
• 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
• 1 teaspoon chili powder (I go heavy some days, depends on the vibe)
• Salt and pepper to taste (honestly, I eyeball these)
• 6 burger buns (Brioche is overkill, but pretty nice if you want to be posh!)
• Optional: a handful of shredded cheese, pickles, or whatever your heart desires

How I (Usually) Make These Sloppy Joes

1. Brown your meat: Heat a skillet and throw in the ground beef with a dash of oil. Get it pretty brown—don’t stress if it clumps, ’cause it’s all going in the slow cooker anyway. Drain the fat, unless you’re into a super saucy result (no judgment!).
2. Chuck that beef, onions, pepper, and garlic into your slow cooker. Honestly, I just toss ’em all in and give it a quick stir.
3. This next bit is easy: in a bowl (or sometimes I just do this right in the slow cooker, saves washing up), mix together ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, chili powder, salt and pepper. Pour it over the mix. Give another stir. This is usually when I sneak a little taste (if no one’s looking…).
4. Pop the lid on. Set your slow cooker to low for about 5–6 hours, or high for 2.5–3 hours. The longer, the more the flavors do their magic, but honestly, it’s hard to mess this up—unless you forget to plug it in like me (facepalm).
5. When the timer goes off, give it all a good stir; don’t worry if it looks a bit loose—it thickens as it cools a tad. Spoon a heap onto buns.
6. Cram in toppings. Or not. Completely your shout. Lately, I’ve been adding crispy onions, but that’s just because I bought a massive tub for something else and now they’re haunting my pantry.

Random Tips and Notes—A Few Honest Discoveries

• If you like less sweet sloppy joes, hold back on the brown sugar—add half, taste later. (Actually, I find it works better if you start small and adjust.)
• Don’t worry if you don’t have the exact bell pepper. Any color works. I used a wrinkled orange one once. No complaints.
• If it seems a bit greasy: a quick blot with paper towel fixes it (or you know, just embrace it!).
• Forgotten to defrost your meat? Stick it in the microwave for a few minutes—no shame here. Or check out The Kitchn’s guide if you want more detail!

Sloppy Joe Experiments (Yes, Including That One Time…)

• I tried swapping in cooked lentils instead of beef. It worked… sort of, but needed major seasoning. My crew side-eyed me but did eat it. Maybe try mushrooms too, if you go veg!
• Cheddar melted on top is next-level. Pepper jack? Strange but, actually, not bad! Blue cheese, however—let’s not speak of that ever again. Bleurgh.
• Toasted the buns under the broiler once, thinking it’d be genius. Medium risk: they burned fast. Watch closely!

Do You Really Need Fancy Equipment? Well…

Sure, a slow cooker is handy (I use my battered old Crockpot, nothing fancy), but honestly, if you don’t have one, try using a large casserole dish in the oven at low heat, covered—it’s pretty forgiving. Could probably manage this on the stovetop too; just simmer low and slow. As long as you don’t wander off for three hours and forget about it, you’ll be right.

How to Store Leftovers (But They Might Vanish!)

Technically (and I checked), these keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days. You can freeze portions, too—rarely happens here, they’re gone quick as a wink. I actually think it tastes better the next day, like the flavors throw a little after-party overnight. If it thickens up too much, a splash of water in the microwave does wonders.

This Is How We Serve ‘Em

There are no rules, but here’s how I do it: pile high on soft buns, sometimes with a few chips or fries (depends what’s on special at the shop). Side salad if I’m feeling adult-y. My uncle heaps on coleslaw—says it’s a Southern thing, but we let him believe what he wants. Sometimes, we eat sloppy joe mix over baked potatoes; not traditional, but who’s checking?

Things I’ve Messed Up—And Learned From

• Don’t try to cook this on high in less than 2 hours. I did once—it was a bit chewy and sad. Patience, grasshopper!
• That tiny bit of Worcestershire? Don’t skip it. I tried once—it lost its zing and tasted a bit flat.
• Buns: too soft and you get a soggy disaster. But if that happens, just eat fast!

Questions People (Actually) Asked Me

• Can I make this vegetarian?
  Sorta! Lentils are OK but they need more flavor. Or check out this Minimalist Baker’s veggie version; it’s not bad!
• Will it burn in the slow cooker?
  As long as there’s enough sauce, you’re fine. On high, check after 2 hours. On low, pretty much foolproof.
• Do I HAVE to brown the beef first?
  You can skip it, but you’ll get a bit more grease and less flavor. Actually, I find it works better if you do—but sometimes rules are made to be broken?
• What if I don’t have ketchup?
  Try tomato sauce (the pasta kind), a dash of vinegar, and a bit more sugar. It’s not exactly the same, but close enough for a Tuesday night dinner.

Oh, and one last thing before I forget—I always have to double up this recipe when my cousin visits, or there are never leftovers. So, if you’ve got a crowd, just throw in more meat and veggies, and let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting. Easy as pie—well, easier, actually, because pie crusts and I don’t get along. Happy cooking!

★★★★★ 4.40 from 14 ratings

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

yield: 6 servings

prep: 15 mins

cook: 20 mins

total: 50 mins

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are a delicious and easy dinner made with ground beef, bell peppers, onions, and a tangy homemade sauce, all simmered to perfection in your slow cooker for a crowd-pleasing meal.

🖨️ Print Pin Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 hamburger buns, for serving

Instructions

1. 1
   In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
2. 2
   Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker. Add chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic.
3. 3
   Stir in ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, yellow mustard, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine.
4. 4
   Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
5. 5
   Serve the sloppy joe mixture on hamburger buns and enjoy.

CLICK FOR NUTRITION INFO ↑

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1 serving

Calories: 410 caloriescal

Protein: 27gg

Fat: 16gg

Saturated Fat: 0g

Trans Fat: 0g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 0mg

Potassium: 0mg

Total Carbs: 37gg

Fiber: 0g

Sugar: 0g

Net Carbs: 0g

Vitamin A: 0

Vitamin C: 0mg

Calcium: 0mg

Iron: 0mg

Nutrition Disclaimers

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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