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Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

5 from 2 votes
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posted: 02/22/24

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

These Crock Pot Sloppy Joes are only 15 minutes hands on time! These homemade sloppy joes are the perfect dinner recipe to come home to.

extreme close up of crock pot sloppy joe

With three kids in about 97 activities each, family dinner time is a hot commodity. Gone are the days that felt forever long, and here we are at that time in parenting where every moment of them being home feels precious. I love our family time together so much, and that so often means coming together, even just for a short time, around the table.

When time feels both fleeting and precious, crockpot meals are something that come in a clutch. These Crockpot Pot Sloppy Joes are just such a meal. While they don’t necessarily save much more prep time than my Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe, they are a great meal for when you can’t be standing at the stove checking on a dish.

My kids love this recipe! I hope your family loves it too.

Reader Review

The best Sloppy Joe’s you’ll ever eat! And your house smells wonderful while they’re cooking. Highly recommend this recipe!

close up of a spoon dishing up sloppy joe crock pot recipe

How to Make Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

This is a brief overview of this easy dinner recipe. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post. You can either scroll there, or click to the jump to the recipe button at the top of the page.

  1. Brown the meat. You will want to break up the meat and brown it slightly in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. It doesn’t need to be cooked all the way through though. Drain any grease.
  2. Combine the ingredients for the sauce in the slow cooker. Stir together the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, mustard, salt, and ground pepper.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients. Stir in the browned meat, peppers, and onions.
  4. Cook on low for four hours or on high for two hours. Serve on buns and enjoy.

Homemade Sloppy Joes

Homemade Sloppy Joes are always a crowd pleaser. They are so easy to make, and absolutely delicious. You will love this easy dinner recipe packed with flavor.
Close up photo of Homemade Sloppy Joes sandwiches with glasses of beer in the background.
a homemade sloppy joe sitting on a metal and wood tray with chips around it and beer in the background

Turkey or Beef

Both ground turkey and ground beef work great in this recipe. It is simply a matter of personal preference. If you are using ground turkey, you will want to spray the skillet you use with cooking spray (if it is non stick) or add some olive to the pan (if it isn’t non stick), before breaking it up and browning it. If you are using ground beef, you do not need to add anything to the pan first.

Sloppy Joe Sauce

You are going to love this sloppy joe sauce recipe. It comes together easily in the base of the slow cooker, and the flavor of it is just right.

Ingredients

  • Canned Tomato Sauce: This is just tomatoes that have had their peels, pulp, and skin removed and then are pureed. This is different than spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce, which is the combination of other ingredients and seasonings.
  • Worcestershire sauce: This gives the sauce a nice tang that deepens the flavor.
  • Ketchup: This is a staple in so many sloppy joe recipes and it adds more tang and a little sweetness too.
  • Brown Sugar: This will add to the sweetness with the addition of a nice molasses flavor.
  • Spices: The addition of ground mustard, salt, and pepper round off the sauce perfectly.
close up of a hand holding sloppy joe recipe

Sloppy Joes for a Crowd

Another thing I love about this sloppy joe recipe is that it is easy to double or triple. This recipe makes about 6 sloppy joes. If you are serving a crowd, just double or triple the recipe and add 1 hour each time you add on another 6 sloppy joes worth.

In other words:

  • To make 12 sloppy joes, you will need 2 pounds of meat, 5 hours on low or 2 1/2 hours on high.
  • To make 18 sloppy joes, you will 3 pounds of meat, 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high.

When you double or triple your meat, don’t forget to do the same to the other ingredients.

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers of the sloppy joe mix should be stored in an airtight container for up to five days in your refrigerator. Please keep in mind that you should not make them into sloppy joe sandwiches before storing them. The bread and the mix should be stored separately.

Freezing Leftovers

This sloppy joe recipe freezes really well. Pour into an airtight container after cooling. Leave about an inch at the top to give room for expanding. Freeze for up to three months for the best results.

As with all leftovers, use your best discretion.

overhead view of sloppy joe mix in a crockpot

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

While these are cooking away in your slow cooker, here are some great sides that can be made in the oven to serve with these homemade sloppy joes.

  • These Baked Potato Wedges only have three ingredients and are a huge hit!
  • I find myself recommending this Roasted Cauliflower recipe all the time because my kiddos love it so much. And squeezing more veggies in always makes me feeling like I’m winning.
  • And if you really need some comfort with your Crock Pot Sloppy Joes, make these Cheesy Potatoes!

Like these but want a different spin? Try my Italian Sloppy Joes!

If you make this Crock Pot Sloppy Joe recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave me a comment and let me know what you think! I love hearing from you!

extreme close up of crock pot sloppy joe
5 from 2 votes

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

Serves: 6 people
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 15 minutes
These Crock Pot Sloppy Joes are only 15 minutes hands on time! These homemade sloppy joes are the perfect dinner recipe to come home to.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground turkey or ground beef read more here (453.59 grams)
  • 1 green bell pepepr diced
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce (425 grams)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup (59.14 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

  • Spray your crock pot with cooking spray and set aside.
  • Place a large skillet over medium heat. (If using ground turkey, spray it lightly with cooking spray.) Once the skillet is warm, add the ground meat and cook, breaking it up for 5 to 7 minutes or until browned. No need to cook it all the way through. Drain off any excess grease.
    1 pound ground turkey or ground beef
  • As the meat is cooking, dice your green bell pepper and onion.
    1 green bell pepepr, 1 small yellow onion
  • In the base of the crock pot combine the tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, ground mustard, salt, and ground pepper. Whisk to combine.
    15 ounces tomato sauce, 1/4 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • Add the meat, onion, and the bell pepper to the crock pot. If using beef, drain the fat first. Stir to combine.
  • Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours. Serve on buns and enjoy!

Notes

Please note that the nutritional information is based on using ground turkey and a heaping 1/2 cup for each sloppy joe. It does not account for the bun as buns vary so greatly.
Serving: 0.5cup Calories: 193kcal (10%) Carbohydrates: 17g (6%) Protein: 17g (34%) Fat: 7g (11%) Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Cholesterol: 52mg (17%) Sodium: 687mg (30%) Potassium: 333mg (10%) Fiber: 3g (13%) Sugar: 13g (14%) Vitamin A: 29IU (1%) Vitamin C: 59mg (72%) Calcium: 19mg (2%) Iron: 6mg (33%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
extreme close up of crock pot sloppy joe

did you make this

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Shari Giarraputo says

    I’m with you regarding travel soccer. We are looking forward to not running around like a crazy family. I was wondering if I could not put the green pepper in. I would like to know if there is anything else I can replace it with.

    Thank you so much

    • Lisa Longley says

      You can just leave it out if you want! Or replace it with a red bell pepper.

  2. Karen Delancey says

    Will make this soon, but wondering why the ketchup and onion wasn’t mentioned in the instructions. Typo mistake?
    Thank you,
    Karen Delancey
    [email protected]

    • Lisa Longley says

      Oye. Totally a mistake. Thank you for catching it!

      • Karen says

        You’re welcome! Can’t wait to try this recipe. My grandson loves sloppy Joe’s! Thank you!

  3. Vonda Bitzer says

    It was

  4. Andrea Neel says

    Another WINNING RECIPE from you. These were seriously the BEST Sloppy Joes I’ve ever had. I used 2 lbs and we had enough leftovers for Halloween night and had another family come join us. I but buttered pickles with mine and served with chips :)

    Thanks for adding yet another great one to our family rotation of recipes. :)

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m really happy you liked them Andrea!

  5. Linda says

    5 stars
    Looks like something quick and easy I can put together and share with my son’s family! Thanks for another great recipe!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope they love it!

  6. Amanda says

    5 stars
    The best Sloppy Joe’s you’ll ever eat! And your house smells wonderful while they’re cooking. Highly recommend this recipe!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked this!

  7. Marti Ravencroft says

    Everything looks soooooo good. I can’t wait to try these.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I hope you love them!

  8. Mary says

    Great Sloppy Joes my family really liked them! I’ll be making these again!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad that liked these, Mary!

  9. Debi Kuykendall says

    Hi I’m wondering if you or anyone else has tried freezing the leftovers? I can always cut recipe in half as I’m just cooking for 3 now. But making the full recipe and freezing would be great! Heat up the frozen leftovers in crockpot as Sept-Dec are busiest time for my business. Would love input. Thanks, Debi

    • Lisa Longley says

      These would freeze great! I would suggest freezing in individual portions in a sandwich bag and lying them flat in the freezer for easy stacking and storing.

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