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A sloppy Joe sandwich on a plate.
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5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

These Crock Pot Sloppy Joes take just 15 minutes to prep and are so delicious. No need to use the canned sauce, this homemade version has the slow cooker do all the cooking for you! With flavors of ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, and smoked paprika, these will be a family staple recipe!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time2 minutes
Total Time2 hours
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, crockpot
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 361kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2-3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ½ cup barbecue sauce
  • ⅓ cup packed brown sugar or brown sugar substitute
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 ½ tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 hamburger buns
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheese, pickles, or coleslaw

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until it's fully cooked. Drain the excess fat with a paper towel or in a colander.
  • In a crockpot, combine the onion, green pepper, garlic, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar or brown sugar substitute, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir until well combined.
  • Transfer the cooked ground beef to the slow cooker mixture, and stir until combined well.
  • Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, stirring every 1-1 ½ hours. Once the mixture is cooked and flavors are well combined, give it a final stir.
  • Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture onto hamburger buns. Optionally, top with shredded cheese, pickles, or coleslaw.

Notes

Tips: 

    • Brown Your Meat: Don't skip this step! Browning the meat beforehand is essential in building flavor. The beef will get nice and browned and caramelized, which is delicious. You can do this right in your slow cooker if it has the setting to do so. Otherwise, do it in a separate skillet before adding to your slow cooker.
    • Toast The Buns: Soft, pillowy buns are delicious as is, but try toasting them for extra added flavor and texture notes.
    • Don't Skimp On Toppings: Get creative and have fun with toppings! Shredded cheese, pickled onions, coleslaw, pickles, or even crushed up potato chips are all delicious on top of that delicious meat mixture.
  • Serving Suggestions: Besides a toasted bun, this meat mixture is excellent served over tortilla chips as nachos or over lettuce as a hearty salad.
Stovetop Method: On medium-high heat, cook the beef as directed. Drain any excess grease, then sauté the beef with onion, bell pepper, and garlic for 4 minutes. Reduce the heat, and add the remaining ingredients (minus the buns). Stirring often, cook the mixture for 15-20 minutes or until it reaches your desired consistency. Serve on toasted buns or as desired.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 834mg | Potassium: 837mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 629IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 5mg
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