Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Mission accomplished: I have cooked a delicious, effortless dinner that the whole family loves! Slow-cooker sloppy joes are incredibly tasty and very easy to make. My secret blend of spices and easy cooking method make this my favorite meal for busy weeknights.
I love slow cookers because I do not have to do much work to get scrumptious meals that taste like I spent all day working on them. This is one of those meals. It is perfect for those on a budget because the ingredients are all very inexpensive. The kids love these with a slice of cheese and some bacon and cheese mashed potatoes.
Table of contents
One of my favorite comfort foods as a kid, sloppy joes, is a timeless treat I like to make for my family, too. I like to make them in the slow cooker because the recipe is so easy; it almost feels like someone else is cooking dinner for us. The way the house smells, everyone is drooling by dinner time.
Why you will love this recipe
- Leftovers can be frozen: I can always make extras and freeze them, too. It is so simple to pack them in a freezer bag and lay them flat in the freezer, where they can stay for up to three months.
- Timeless: These sandwiches are a timeless treat and a traditional family dinner in most American homes. I grew up with them, as I’m sure many people did.
- This is easy with the slow cooker: With my recipe, the slow cooker does all the work for me while I go about my day. All I have to do is brown the meat and dump everything in the pot.
- It’s so much better than the can: Making it myself means no preservatives or other unknown ingredients—just fresh ingredients that I put in.
What you will need
This recipe differs from the ones you had in your childhood because I use a specific seasoning blend to make the sloppy joes more flavorful. I use 80/20 ground beef, some vegetable oil for browning the meat, and some tomato sauce and ketchup to create a sweet and tangy tomato flavor.
I also add mustard, which adds a zesty kick to balance out the sweetness of the ketchup and is a key ingredient in the classic sloppy joe profile. To add a subtle sweetness and depth of flavor, I use brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce for a unique but subtle umami flavor. I also add garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
How to make
Brown the ground beef: First, I heat two teaspoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat before adding the meat. I cook it for six to eight minutes, breaking it up with a wooden spoon until brown.
Mix it up: I drain the grease from the meat before seasoning it with salt and pepper. Then, it goes into the pot with the rest of the ingredients. After stirring to combine, I cover and cook for three hours on high or six hours on low.
Prep and serve: Once it is done cooking, I spoon the meat onto hamburger buns and top them with cheese, if desired.
Expert tip
The importance of browning the meat
Browning the ground beef makes a difference. I have tried it both ways to tell my readers whether it matters. It does matter. First, it helps develop a deeper flavor with a process called the Maillard reaction. This happens when the meat is caramelized in a hot pan to make a crust. It seals in the juices and flavors while adding a rich taste.
Another thing that browning the ground beef does is that it cuts down on the grease in the whole dish. After browning the beef and before adding it to the slow cooker, I drain the grease from the pan. To make this even more effective, I blot the ground beef with a paper towel if there is a lot of grease. This also helps the sauce stick to the meat.
More tips to consider
- Use extra lean ground beef so there won’t be as much grease. I suggest 85/15 or higher.
- Always drain the grease after browning. Too much grease will make your sloppy joes too sloppy.
- If using a nonstick pan, do not add any oil when browning the beef.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the mix to thicken the sloppy joe sauce.
- Let the ground beef come to room temperature before starting, and it will cook more evenly.
Recipe variations
- Meat: This sloppy joe recipe works perfectly with other meats as well. Swap the beef with ground turkey or chicken and follow the same cooking steps. Or use ground sausage for an intense flavor. I love this with pork sausage.
- Veggies: Feel free to chop some red bell pepper or green pepper and add to the mixture.
- Sauce: You can use your favorite sauce here. Instead of tomato sauce, you can use chili sauce or homemade BBQ sauce.
- Seasoning: Mix in other seasonings like chili powder, cajun seasoning, or ranch seasoning.
- Spicy: To make the meat spicier, add red pepper flakes.
- Taco: Another way to change the flavor is to add taco seasoning to the sauce. Try my recipe for homemade taco seasoning.
- Stove-top version: If you don’t have a slow cooker or crock pot, you can easily make the recipe on the skillet. Check my Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joe’s recipe for directions.
Serving suggestions
Sometimes, I like to skip the traditional buns and make these sloppy joes on Hawaiian rolls. My kids love these with a side of my creamy macaroni and cheese and a glass of apple juice. Or forget the buns completely. I can make a sweet potato in the microwave and top it with a scoop of this savory sloppy joe mixture. That is one of my favorite ways to serve this dish.
This dish is a great picnic food with potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. It’s like a grilled cheese sandwich, delicious with creamy tomato soup. And I always have room for dessert, like my creamy banana pudding. This stuff is off-the-charts delicious, with just seven ingredients, and only takes 30 minutes to make!
It is the perfect dinner recipe for busy days to enjoy with the whole family. Paired with various side dishes, you get a complete and satisfying meal! I like to serve mine with these crispy air-fried roasted potatoes, a simple tomato and avocado salad, or creamy cucumber salad on the side.
How to store leftovers
- Refrigerate: Leftover sloppy joe mix can be kept in the fridge in a sealed container for up to five days.
- Freezing: To keep leftovers longer, put them in a freezer-safe container, and they can be frozen for three months.
- Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best flavor.
- Reheating: Heat in a saucepan on medium-low for several minutes until hot.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my sloppy joes so greasy?
One of the biggest mistakes is using the wrong ground beef. I highly recommend getting lean ground beef of 85/15 or higher. I prefer 90/10 for mine because I do not like all that grease in my sandwiches. It may also be that the meat was not appropriately drained. After browning it, carefully tilt the pan and scoop out as much grease as possible. If there is a lot of grease, pour the meat into a strainer and press the grease out before adding it to the slow cooker.
Why are my sloppy joes runny?
This can happen from too much grease or too much tomato sauce. It may also be from not cooking it long enough to let the juices reduce. If it looks like grease, let it cool, and then carefully skim the visible fat from the surface using a paper towel or spoon. If that does not work, make a cornstarch slurry from two tablespoons of water and one tablespoon of cornstarch. Add it to the mixture and let it simmer for 30 minutes; it should be thicker.
Why are my sloppy joes so sweet?
Either there is too much brown sugar or ketchup in the mixture, or maybe there is overly sweet tomato sauce. First, it is important to double-check the measurements of the ingredients before adding them each time. Mixing the ingredients is not hard. I have done it before. Also, make sure the tomato sauce you use is not too sweet. That will make the sauce sweeter than it is supposed to be.
More slow cooker recipes:
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Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Serve with:
- 6 hamburger buns
- 6 slices yellow cheese
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Next, place the ground beef in the pan and season it with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon until browned.
- Transfer to the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
- Spoon the meat onto the hamburger buns, with a slice of cheese, then serve.
Video
Notes
More tips to consider
- Use extra lean ground beef so there won’t be as much grease. I suggest 85/15 or higher.
- Always drain the grease after browning. Too much grease will make your sloppy joes too sloppy.
- If using a nonstick pan, do not add any oil when browning the beef.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the mix to thicken the sloppy joe sauce.
- Let the ground beef come to room temperature before starting, and it will cook more evenly.