Crock Pot Sloppy Joes: Comfort Food Made Simple

Name: Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 130 min
Total time: 145 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef; 1 large green bell pepper (chopped); 1 medium white onion (chopped); 1 cup ketchup; ½ tablespoon worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper

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Make the perfect Crock Pot Sloppy Joes with ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. This slow cooker recipe takes just 15 minutes prep time for a delicious family dinner everyone will love!

Crock pot sloppy joes sandwich with ground beef filling and a dollop of coleslaw is served on a plate with potato chips. Another crock pot sloppy joes sandwich and more chips are visible in the background.

👩‍🍳 The combination of ketchup, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce creates that classic sloppy joe taste we all crave – tangy, slightly sweet, and deeply satisfying!

My 2 Best Tips For Making Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe
How To Make Sloppy Joes in the Slow Cooker
Recipe FAQs
More Tasty Beef Recipes To Try

My 2 Best Tips For Making Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

Brown the Meat First: Don’t skip the browning step! Cooking the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat before adding it to the crock pot develops deeper flavors and prevents that mushy texture you sometimes get with slow cooker ground beef dishes.

Control the Consistency: If your sloppy joes seem too thin after cooking, remove the lid and cook on high for an additional 15-20 minutes to reduce the liquid. For thicker results from the start, add a tablespoon of tomato paste.

🩷 Melissa

When you need a hearty meal that practically cooks itself, sloppy joes never fail! This crock-pot recipe is as simple as browning the meat and tossing everything in the crock pot to let the magic happen.

Bonus tip: You can brown the ground beef during a meal prep session and stick it in the freezer in 2-pound portions for easy meals like this!

You can even double or triple this recipe and freeze the extra for other busy nights!

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Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

By: Melissa Griffiths

Prep: 15

Cook: 2 10

Total: 2 25

Servings:

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Ingredients

Instructions

Cook your ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until cooked all the way through. Break up the ground beef with a spatula as it cooks.
Add the ground beef to a slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. Give everything a quick stir to combine.
Cook on high heat for 2 hours (or low for 4 hours).
Serve your sloppy joe filling on top of a warm bun and a side of coleslaw, potato chips, etc.

Notes

Slow Cooker Size: 4-quart

Recipe Variations & Substitutions:

You can substitute the white onion for a yellow onion if you want to add a little extra sweetness to your sloppy joes.

Serving Suggestions:

Toast your hamburger buns lightly for extra texture contrast. Brioche buns or potato rolls take this comfort food to the next level!
Classic sides include coleslaw, potato chips, baked beans, or crispy sweet potato fries.
For healthier options, try roasted vegetables or a simple green salad.

Storing & Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat single servings in the microwave for about a minute, or reheat larger portions on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring frequently.

Make Ahead Options:

You can double or triple this recipe and freeze the extra in meal-sized portions for other busy nights when you need a quick dinner. It would also make a super easy lunch!
Ground beef can be browned in bulk during a meal prep session and stored in 2-pound portions to toss into the crock-pot for this recipe. Talk about quick prep!

Nutrition

Calories: 446kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 107mg, Sodium: 877mg, Potassium: 605mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 380IU, Vitamin C: 19mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 3mg

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How To Make Sloppy Joes in the Slow Cooker

A frying pan filled with cooked ground beef, perfect for making crock pot sloppy joes, sits on a white marble surface.

Step 1: Cook your ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, or until cooked all the way through. Break up the ground beef with a spatula as it cooks.

A crock pot sloppy joes mixture with ground beef, chopped green bell peppers, diced onions, brown sugar, and spices sits on a white marble surface.

Step 2: Add the ground beef to a slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. Give everything a quick stir to combine.

Ground beef mixed with chopped onions and green peppers in a black slow cooker, perfect for making crock pot sloppy joes, viewed from above on a white marble background.

Step 3: Cook on high heat for 2 hours (or low for 4 hours).

A crock pot sloppy joes sandwich topped with coleslaw sits on a plate, with a slow cooker and tortilla chips in the background.

Step 4: Serve your sloppy joe filling on top of a warm bun and a side of coleslaw, potato chips, etc.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef?

Yes! Ground turkey works wonderfully in this recipe. You might want to add an extra tablespoon of worcestershire sauce to boost the savory flavors, as turkey is naturally milder than beef.

How long can I cook this on low heat instead of high?

Cook on low heat for 4 hours if you prefer a longer cooking time. Since we pre-cook the ground beef, this recipe is quite flexible with timing.

Why do you use ketchup instead of tomato sauce?

Ketchup brings the perfect balance of sweetness and tang that defines classic sloppy joes. Tomato sauce or paste makes the dish a bit too tart and doesn’t give that nostalgic flavor profile.