Description
This Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe offers a delicious, hands-off way to enjoy a classic American comfort food. Ground beef is browned with onions and bell peppers, then slow-cooked in a savory tomato-based sauce with ketchup, mustard, and spices. Perfectly toasted buns topped with the hearty meat mixture make for a satisfying and easy meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb. ground beef (7% fat recommended, but any will work)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 cup ketchup
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce (NOT tomato paste)
- 2 Tbsp. mustard
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Instructions
- Brown the Meat and Vegetables: Set a large skillet over medium-high heat on the stovetop. When hot, add the ground beef, diced onion, and diced bell pepper. Cook until the beef is browned and crumbled and the vegetables have softened. Drain excess fat if needed, especially if using higher fat content ground beef.
- Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned beef mixture to the slow cooker. Add ketchup, tomato sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir everything together thoroughly.
- Slow Cook the Mixture: Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours or on LOW for 3 hours. Stir occasionally if you notice the mixture starting to stick or burn on the edges to prevent scorching.
- Prepare the Buns and Serve: While the mixture is finishing cooking, toast your sandwich buns—either using the bagel setting on a toaster or by broiling them lightly in an oven. Once the sloppy joe mixture is done, pile it generously onto the toasted buns. Add optional toppings such as cheese, pickles, or raw chopped onions if desired.
Notes
- Nutritional values provided do not include buns or any toppings.
- For best results, toast buns to add texture and flavor.
- Optional toppings include cheese, pickles, and raw chopped onion.
- Serve with sides like oven fries, fruit, or carrot sticks for a balanced meal.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for beef, but the flavor will differ as the traditional beef-tomato combo is a hallmark of this dish.
- To make a vegetarian version, use one pound of meatless crumbles instead of ground beef. Since these are pre-cooked, no browning is needed—just add directly to the slow cooker with the other ingredients.
- This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a crowd without adjusting cooking times.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (without bun or toppings)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
