Description
This Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe delivers a classic American comfort food favorite with a simple, hands-off cooking method. Ground beef is browned with onions and bell peppers, then combined with a tangy tomato-based sauce and slow-cooked to perfection. Served on toasted buns and customizable with toppings like cheese and pickles, it’s a crowd-pleasing meal perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 1 lb. ground beef (7% fat or any preferred fat content)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
Sauce & Seasonings
- 1 cup ketchup
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce (NOT paste)
- 2 Tbsp. mustard
- 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. chili powder
- 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Instructions
- Brown the beef and vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, and diced bell pepper. Cook and crumble the beef until browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain excess fat if the beef is very fatty.
- Combine in slow cooker: Transfer the browned beef, onions, and bell peppers to the slow cooker. Add ketchup, tomato sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and brown sugar. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Cook the mixture: Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 2 hours or on LOW for 3 hours. Stir occasionally, especially if the mixture looks like it is starting to stick or burn around the edges.
- Prepare and serve: Toast your buns using a toaster or broiler for crispiness. Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto the toasted buns. Add optional toppings such as cheese, pickles, or raw chopped onions to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Toast buns for best texture; use the bagel setting on your toaster or broil the buns in the oven.
- Top with cheese, pickles, or raw chopped onions for extra flavor and texture contrast.
- Serve with sides like oven fries, fruit, or carrot sticks for a balanced meal.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken if desired, but note the flavor differs from traditional beef sloppy joes.
- Make it vegetarian by using 1 lb. of meatless crumbles; add directly to the slow cooker with no need to brown first.
- To serve a crowd, simply double the ingredients; cooking time stays the same.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of the recipe without bun or toppings)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
