Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Brown the beef with onion and green pepper, stir it into a quick tomato, ketchup and mustard sauce, and let the slow cooker do the rest. A few hours on LOW thickens the sauce and deepens the flavour, and the cooker keeps the filling warm while everyone builds their own sandwich.
By Maya Ellison
Published
- Prep Time
- 15 mins
- Cook Time
- 4 hrs 45 mins
- Total Time
- 5 hrs
- Servings
- 8 sandwiches
How do you make Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes?
Brown 1 kg lean ground beef with onion, green pepper and garlic until it reaches 71°C (160°F), then drain. Stir it into the slow cooker with tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, vinegar and chili powder. Cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, until thick. Spoon onto 8 toasted buns.
- Total time
- 5 hrs
- Calories
- 415 per serving
- Protein
- 31 g
- Yield
- 8 sandwiches
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Method
- Slow cooking
Ingredients
Beef
Sauce
Equipment
Slow cooker (4-6 litre) · Large skillet · Wooden spoon · Instant-read thermometer
Quick Directions
Brown the beef
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Mix the sauce
Stir the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, vinegar, chili powder, salt and pepper together in the slow cooker.
Slow cook
Add the browned beef and stir to coat.
Thicken if needed
If the filling looks loose, take the lid off and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes more.
Serve
Turn the slow cooker to WARM.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these detailed steps to make the perfect slow cooker sloppy joes.
Brown the beef
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion and green pepper and cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking up the meat, until no pink remains and it reaches 71°C (160°F). Stir in the garlic for the last minute, then drain off the fat.
Mix the sauce
Stir the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, vinegar, chili powder, salt and pepper together in the slow cooker.
Slow cook
Add the browned beef and stir to coat. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, stirring once or twice if you are home, until the sauce is thick and glossy.
Thicken if needed
If the filling looks loose, take the lid off and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes more. Taste and add a little more salt, sugar or vinegar to suit.
Serve
Turn the slow cooker to WARM. Spoon the filling onto the toasted buns and add pickles, coleslaw or cheddar if you like.
Recipe Tips
- Always brown the beef first. Raw ground beef clumps in a slow cooker, releases a lot of fat into the sauce and takes too long to heat up.
- Toast the buns so the sauce doesn't soak straight through them.
- For a party, keep the filling on WARM for up to 2 hours, stirring now and then, and set the buns and toppings beside it.
- Finely chopped onion and pepper melt into the sauce, which suits picky eaters.
Variations
- Turkey sloppy joes: use ground turkey and brown it until it reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Stretch it: stir in a 540 ml / 19 oz can of rinsed lentils or kidney beans with the beef to serve 10.
- Smoky and spicy: swap the chili powder for 1 tsp smoked paprika and 1 finely chopped chipotle pepper in adobo.
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 415 |
|---|---|
| Protein | 31 g |
| Carbs | 41 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Saturated fat | 5 g |
| Fibre | 2.5 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 920 mg |
Estimated from the listed ingredients; values vary by brand.
Related Recipes
Storing & Reheating
- Fridge
- Refrigerate the filling within 2 hours in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Store the buns separately.
- Freezer
- Freeze the cooled filling for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat
- Reheat in a covered pan over medium heat, stirring and adding a splash of water if it is thick, or in the microwave, until it reaches 74°C (165°F). Do not reheat it in the slow cooker; once hot, you can hold it in the slow cooker on WARM.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes FAQs
Do you have to brown ground beef before putting it in the slow cooker?
Yes. Browning the beef first lets you drain the fat, gives the sauce more flavour and stops the meat cooking into one dense block. Cook it until it reaches 71°C (160°F) with no pink remaining, drain it, then add it to the slow cooker.
How long do sloppy joes take in the slow cooker?
Once the beef is browned, slow cooker sloppy joes take 4-5 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH. The time is mostly for the sauce to thicken and the flavours to blend.
How do I thicken watery sloppy joes?
Take the lid off and cook on HIGH for 20-30 minutes so the extra liquid can evaporate. Stirring in an extra 1-2 tablespoons of tomato paste also helps.
Can I freeze sloppy joe filling?
Yes. Cool the filling, then freeze it in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it reaches 74°C (165°F).
Disclaimer
- Nutrition information is an estimate based on the listed ingredients. It changes with the brands, portion sizes and swaps you use.
- Read ingredient labels for allergens and for diet claims such as gluten-free or vegan. Products and their ingredients can change.
- Cooking times are a guide, since ovens, air fryers and slow cookers all run differently. Use a food thermometer and cook meat, poultry and fish to the safe internal temperatures in government food safety guidance.
- This recipe is general information, not medical or nutrition advice. If you have an allergy, a health condition or a special diet, check with a qualified health professional.
