These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are the perfect way to feed a crowd because they can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Ground beef and peppers are cooked in the Crock Pot in a quick zesty sauce for a family favorite meal that’s ready when you are!
Sloppy Joes has been a long time favorite around here, in fact, my husband requested them as his birthday dinner last month! :)
For years I made the canned variety of sauce, not realizing how easy (and delicious) they are to make homemade. A simple mixture of ground beef, onion, green pepper simmered in a quick sauce made of ingredients you likely already have on hand!
While you can make sloppy joes on the stove top fairly quickly, I love this crock pot version because I can prep everything as far as 24 hours in advance. I find that the beef is more tender and the flavor is better if it’s simmered all day. Not to mention, it’s perfect to come home to after soccer practice so we aren’t waiting for dinner.
Note: For those of you that have asked about the chopper used in the video, you can find info on it here or get it on Amazon here!
If you are planning a party or gathering, these Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are the perfect meal to serve. Not only does everyone love them, you can have everything prepped and ready long before your guests arrive. You can even turn them into these delicious sloppy joe sliders!
The day of my party, I just simple pop it in my crock pot and a few hours later a meal is ready when we are! Once it’s cooked you can turn your slow cooker to warm and leave it for people to serve themselves as they’re ready to eat (and slider buns make a great addition to the table as well)!
I use a lean ground beef and drain it before adding it to the slow cooker however this recipe does work well with ground turkey (I sometimes add a beef boullion cube just to add a little bit more flavor if using turkey).
If you’re not familiar with chili sauce, it is delicious. It is a zesty sauce (it’s not spicy) similar to ketchup but less sweet and has way more flavor. I use it to top my meatloaf (mixed 50/50 with ketchup) or mixed 50/50 with barbecue sauce for the best rib sauce ever!
When cooking a single batch of this recipe, I use a 4 QT slow cooker however if you’re doubling it for a crowd, I’d recommend a 6QT slow cooker. And if you’re taking this on a camping trip or would like to prepare ahead of time, you can put all ingredients in a plastic freezer bag or container until it is ready to cook.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 large onion chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup chili sauce
- 1 ½ cups green bell pepper chopped
- 1 cup celery chopped
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons prepared mustard
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- rolls for serving
Instructions
- Brown ground beef, onion, and garlic until no pink remains. Drain any fat.
- Place beef in a 4 qt slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients (except rolls) and stir to combine.
- Cook on low 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours.
- Serve over rolls or slider buns.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Dinner
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I’ve made this multiple times. Hands down the best sloppy joe recipe!
Absolutely delicious. Tripled the recipe for a crowd. Made it just as the recipe required except omitted green bell peppers because I didn’t have any. It was a hit!!
What type of prepared mustard? Yellow, Dijon. Which do you normally use?
I use yellow mustard.
Going to make this tonite and wondering which prepared mustered you used?
Any prepared yellow mustard will work just fine in this recipe Tami!
This has become my families go to sloppy Joe recipe. So easy and so good. If I don’t have celery I just use celery salt. Either way it’s awesome. Thank you!
I need some simple nutrition meals 4 breakfast, lunch & dinner
Theresa,
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This is my 2nd time making these. They are so tasty and delicous!
This came out perfect!! Instead of green peppers I used a couple diced jalapeño peppers (we like it spicy). I have been looking for a home made sloppy joe sauce recipe and I am so glad I found your recipe!!! Thank you
Alternative to the chili sauce? it can be hard to find!
We love to make our own, Jackie! You can follow this easy chili sauce recipe to make your own version too!
Excellent! I tripled the recipe for my 8 quart crockpot and a large group that was coming for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed it & my guests even took some home because it was so delicious!
That is awesome Lisa! So happy you all enjoyed it!
Made this for supper tonight…so delicious…will definitely make this again
Easy to make
Thank you
You’re welcome Carole!
When doubling this recipe everything is doubled? Including vinegar? 4 Tbs seems like a lot. Thank you.
I would double all ingredients, but feel free to add less vinegar if you prefer. You can always add a tiny bit more later. Enjoy Cynthia!
Unfortunately my husband and I found this recipe sickingly salty
I’m sorry to hear that Connie. There is no added salt, but a few of the ingredients seem to add just the right amount of salt for us. Is it possible that your chili powder had salt in it?
excellent and easy
Can’t wait to try these recipes!!
Made these sloppy joes about 2 weeks ago and they were delicious! Heading to a secret santa party and am making them again! Would HIGHLY suggest trying these even thou they do take a little extra time and ingredients than your canned version!
I wouldn’t make any changes to this recipe because while it was good, it wasn’t good enough to want leftovers. I had to leave out tomato paste, celery and replace Worcestershire with a little soy sauce and liquid smoke. I thought it was very good initially, just wasn’t enthused with the leftovers. Stick to the recipe, don’t be like me. ;)
Thanks for sharing LL!
hello Holly and happy new year! how to make this recipe on the stove top? Dying to try it and don’t own a slow cooker.
Many thanks
You can make this on the stove top as well. After browning meat, onion and garlic, mix together all sauce ingredients and add to the mixture. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Let bubble approximately 7-9 minutes or until thickened. Enjoy!