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I’ve been making my classic Sloppy Joe recipe for years, and I’ve perfected a Crock Pot sloppy Joe recipe that keeps all that sweet-savory tang without standing over the stovetop. Tested on countless busy school days and fall game day spreads and this is the set-it-and-forget-it method I trust for reliably saucy, crowd-pleasing sandwiches.
Why You’ll Love My Crock Pot Sloppy Joe
Easily Adaptable: Ground beef, ground turkey, or plant-based crumbles all work (see swaps below).
Truly hands-off: A quick stovetop sauté for max flavor, then the slow cooker does the rest.
Fall-friendly Brunch idea: Keep it warm for a self-serve slider bar, or top with fried eggs for a hearty breakfast sandwich.
Balanced flavor: Tangy tomato, a little sweetness, mild heat, kid-friendly but not boring.
Meal-prep magic: The sloppy Joe mixture reheats like a dream and freezes beautifully.
Ingredients For Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe
For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef: I like lean ground beef (85–90%), enough fat for flavor without it being to rich.
Substitutions: Ground turkey or ground chicken (add a splash of olive oil to keep it from drying out.) Plant-based crumbles (reduce cook time a bit) or a 50/50 ground beef-and-turkey blend. - Vegetables: Yellow onion, red bell pepper, and garlic build the base.
Substitutions: Sweet onion, green pepper for a little bite, shallots for milder flavor and you can add grated carrot or diced celery for sneaky vegetable addition to up the fiber. - Sauce & Seasoning: Tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, brown sugar, salt, black pepper.
Substitutions: Ketchup for part of the tomato sauce if you like it sweeter, smoked paprika or chipotle powder for smoky heat, white vinegar or rice vinegar in place of apple cider, Dijon mustard instead of yellow mustard for a sharper bite, coconut sugar or honey for brown sugar. - Buns and Extras: Soft hamburger buns, slider rolls, or brioche rolls.
Substitutions: Potato rolls, pretzel buns, or toasted Texas toast; for breakfast vibes, serve on English muffins or split buttermilk biscuits; dairy-free buns for allergies. Add cheddar cheese, American cheese, or pepper jack cheese if you want it cheesy.
How to Make Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Sauté the aromatics. In a skillet, warm a bit of oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and bell pepper until softened and lightly golden. Stir in garlic for 30-60 seconds.
- Build flavor. Add chili powder and tomato paste; cook 1-2 minutes until the paste deepens in color.
- Brown the beef. Add the ground beef; cook, crumbling, until no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- Load the slow cooker. Transfer everything to a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
- Sauce it up. Whisk together tomato sauce, Worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Pour over the beef and stir.
- Cook. LOW for 4-5 hours (best texture and flavor) or HIGH for 2-3 hours, until bubbly and rich.
- Thicken (optional). If you like it thicker, cook uncovered on HIGH for 20–30 minutes to reduce, or stir in a little extra tomato paste at the end.
- Serve. Pile onto warm buns. For brunch, top with a fried egg or keep it on warm for a slider bar.
How to Store Leftovers
- Refrigerator: Store leftover sloppy Joes up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water if needed.
- Freezer: Up to 3 months. Cool completely, portion, and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
- Make-Ahead: Cook fully, chill, and reheat in the slow cooker on WARM for parties.
Kellie’s Tips for the Best Sloppy Joe
Brunch it up. Make mini sliders, set out pickles, sliced cheese, and a platter of soft-scrambled eggs.
Brown first for rich flavor. That quick skillet step makes all the difference in flavor.
Balance to taste. Too sweet? Add a splash more vinegar or mustard. Too tangy? Stir in a teaspoon of brown sugar.
Control thickness. Slow cookers don’t evaporate much, crack the lid near the end to reduce or add a tablespoon more tomato paste.
Toast those buns. A little butter and a hot skillet keep them from getting soggy.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
- Fall favorites: Roasted sweet potato fries, apple-cabbage slaw, maple baked beans.
- Classic sides: Oven fries, potato salad, mac and cheese, corn on the cob.
- Fresh & crunchy: Dill pickles, sliced red onion, quick coleslaw.
- Brunch spread: Hash browns, soft-scrambled eggs, fruit salad, cheddar biscuits.
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes
- One-Pan Cheeseburger Pasta
- Weeknight Taco Skillet
- Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
- Stuffed Peppers
- Korean BBQ Ground Beef
- Classic Meatloaf
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Crock Pot Sloppy Joe Recipe
Equipment
- skillet 12 inch
- slow cooker 6-7 quart
- measuring cup
- measuring spoon
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 pounds lean ground beef, 80/20 or 90/10
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste
- Soft hamburger buns, for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Cook onion and red bell pepper until softened and lightly golden, 8–12 minutes. Stir in garlic for 1 minute. Add chili powder and tomato paste; cook 1–2 minutes until the paste darkens.
- Brown beef. Add ground beef; cook, breaking up, until no longer pink, 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Load the slow cooker. Transfer the skillet mixture to a 4–6 qt slow cooker.
- Make the sauce. Whisk Worcestershire, vinegar, mustard, brown sugar, tomato sauce, salt, and pepper. Pour over beef; stir to combine.
- Cook on Low 4-5 hours (best texture/flavor), or High 2-3 hours until bubbly and the sauce has thickened.
- If you want a thicker sauce, cook uncovered on high 20-30 min to reduce. (Optional: stir in 1 more tablespoon tomato paste at the end.)
- Spoon onto warm buns and serve. Top with cheese, pickles and crushed red pepper, if desired.
Notes
- Add Sweetness and tang: Adjust brown sugar and vinegar to taste.
- Protein swap: Ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles work, reduce cook time slightly for very lean options.
- Freezer-friendly: Cool, portion, and freeze up to 3 months.
- Brunch tip: Make sliders and keep on WARM; top with eggs for breakfast sandwiches.
- Thickness control: Crack the lid in the last 20–30 minutes to reduce the sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
