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A hearty batch of slow cooker sloppy joes simmering in a crockpot.

Classic Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

This classic sloppy joe recipe is made easy in the slow cooker, featuring a savory and slightly sweet ground beef mixture perfect for piling onto toasted buns.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Slow cooker

Ingredients
  

Meat

  • 2 lbs lean ground beef (80/20 or 90/10)

Produce

  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper finely diced (optional)

Sauce & Seasonings

  • 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar packed
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon or yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt & black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup beef broth or water to thin if needed

Serving

  • Hamburger buns for serving

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up as it cooks, then drain excess fat.
  • Add chopped onion and bell pepper to the same skillet, sautéing for 5-7 minutes until softened, then stir in minced garlic for another minute until fragrant.

Slow Cook

  • Transfer the browned meat and sautéed vegetables to your slow cooker.
  • Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, chili powder, and smoked paprika to the slow cooker; stir to combine.
  • Season generously with salt and black pepper, then cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

Finish & Serve

  • About 30 minutes before serving, check consistency and adjust with beef broth/water if too thick, or remove lid if too thin to allow evaporation.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then serve hot on toasted hamburger buns.

Notes

For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes with the other seasonings. If you prefer a less sweet sloppy joe, reduce the amount of brown sugar or omit it entirely.