Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Bursting with tomato flavor and seasonings, who can say no to juicy and tender slow cooker sloppy joes? Not me and my family!

Homemade sloppy joes were one of my Mama’s favorite weeknight suppers for busy days and I’ve always loved them. I have my skillet sloppy joe recipe on here already (click here) but this slow cooker sloppy joes recipe is what I use on those days when I don’t have time to brown my beef so I just throw it all in the slow cooker. Yup, you don’t even have to cook the beef (as long as you use lean ground chuck). Toss it in and turn it on. Supper is ready when you are.

Another thing I love about this easy crock pot sloppy joes recipe is that it’s so simple to customize. If you want to add a wee little kick (like me), drop in a tablespoon of diced jalapeno peppers. If your family is anti-mustard, don’t add it. On the other hand, if you want to add chopped onion and some minced garlic for added flavor, go right ahead. Make these sloppy joes your own.

The end result will always be the same: juicy, tender, and saucy sloppy joes bursting with tomato flavor. Pop the meat on buns and dinner will be ready in a flash! If you love classic comfort food, you’re going to love this main dish.

Now, let’s make some slow cooker sloppy joes!

Recipe Ingredients

• Diced tomatoes
• Ketchup
• Mustard (maybe)
• BBQ sauce
• Sweet relish
• Lean ground chuck
• Buns for serving

How to Make Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Okay, so the beauty of this is that you can put your ground beef in the slow cooker uncooked.

Add ground chuck to the slow cooker and chop it up a bit.

Add all of your remaining ingredients on top of your beef. 

Stir that up good.

Put the lid on and place this on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

DIG IN!

Storage

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave.
• You can also store leftovers in the freezer for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating in the microwave.

Recipe Notes

• Using lean ground chuck is crucial in this recipe because your meat will be terribly greasy cooking it this way if you use regular ground beef. However, if all you have is regular ground beef, simply brown it in a skillet ahead of time, add it to the slow cooker with all the other ingredients, and cut the cooking time in half.
• You can substitute the lean ground beef for lean ground turkey or ground chicken if you like.
• Customize your crock pot sloppy joes to suit you and your family:
  • Add vegetables, like 1 red or green bell pepper, 1 celery stalk, and/or 1 diced yellow onion.
  • Add heat via a tablespoon of sriracha, diced jalapeno peppers, or chili powder.
  • For more flavor, add 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, onion powder, minced garlic, and/or Worcestershire sauce.
  • If you like more sweet than savory, add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to your sloppy joe sauce.

Recipe FAQs

How do you serve slow cooker sloppy joes?

The classic way to serve sloppy joes is on a toasted hamburger bun with toppings like pickles, cheddar cheese slices, and onion. Popular sides include fries, coleslaw, potato salad, and mac and cheese.

Can I double this sloppy joes recipe?

Yes, it’s so easy to double this sloppy joes recipe, especially if you have a large crockpot. Double the ingredients and the cooking instructions remain the same. It’s a great recipe for when you need to feed a crowd!

Can I put raw ground beef in the slow cooker?

Yes, I promise you can put raw ground beef in the slow cooker to make sloppy joes!

Check out these other slow cooker supper ideas:

How to Make Beef Stew in the Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Easy Crock Pot Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Crock Pot Chili Recipe

Crockpot Fiesta Chicken and Rice

 

“A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn’t see the clouds at all — he’s walking on them.”

~Leonard Louis Levinson

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