These easy Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are the perfect sandwiches for busy days when you need an easy weeknight meal! Made with lean ground beef in a sweet, tangy sauce and topped with cheese, these sloppy joes are a meal the whole family can enjoy!
Slow Cooker recipes make everything easier, am I right? This meal is pretty simple. Basically, all you need to do is put everything in the Crock Pot and wait, similar to this Crockpot Pot Roast. Even though you will need to cook the ground beef over the stove first, this recipe does make the BEST sloppy joes, and it’s so much better than using canned sauce!
It helps contain the mess that is Sloppy Joes, too! Although I admit, the mess completes the meal, even if the family does go through an above-average amount of paper towels when you serve them!
SAVE THIS EASY RECIPE FOR SLOW COOKER SLOPPY JOES TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
Tips for Perfect Homemade Sloppy Joes
For a few extra tips, make sure to remember these things when you’re making the Sloppy Joes!
- Spice it up however, you like it. Of course, I’m the one who doesn’t want anything to do with spicy food. Siracha or red pepper flakes give the Sloppy Joes a great kick.
- Embrace the mess! Just make sure there are paper towels or baby wipes within arm’s reach of you and your kids! You’ll thank me later.
- I don’t always do this, but using a toasted bun helps everything stay together better, and it tastes delicious! Pop buns in the toaster on the bagel setting or just put them under the broiler for a few minutes.
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- Ground Beef: I use lean ground beef, but you can use any kind, or substitute ground turkey instead.
- Olive Oil: for sauteeing the vegetables.
- Chopped Onions and Green Peppers: these add lots of flavor to your ground beef mixture.
- Crushed Tomatoes, Barbecue Sauce, and Ketchup: these ingredients form the base of your sloppy joe sauce.
- Cornstarch: for thickening
- Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and ground black pepper: these add flavor to the sauce.
- Shredded Colby Jack cheese: if desired, use the cheese for topping the sandwiches, or a slice of cheese works just as well.
See the recipe card below for exact amounts and directions!
How to make Sloppy Joes in a Slow Cooker
- First, on the stove top, heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and green peppers and sauté until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
- Next, add the ground beef and cook it until browned through. Place this ground beef mixture into the slow cooker.
- Now, add the can of crushed tomatoes, barbecue sauce, ketchup, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, and the seasonings as directed. Stir until all these ingredients are completely combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. If you feel the mixture is too runny, use the remainder of the cornstarch (2 tablespoons) mixed with 2 tablespoons of water to form a slurry, add it about 45 minutes before serving, and stir well. We like ours on the thicker side.
- Serve the sloppy joes on hamburger buns topped with shredded Colby Jack cheese. The cheese is optional but takes these delicious slow cooker sandwiches to the next level!
FAQs
Do I have to brown the meat first?
It’s best to brown and crumble the ground beef on the stovetop before adding it to the crockpot. It gives you the best flavor when you have that brown, almost seared flavor from the beef.
How do I store leftover Sloppy Joes?
Let the meat cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and place it in the fridge. It will keep for 3-4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave, or you can heat it on the stovetop in a saucepan until warm throughout. I actually think this sloppy joes recipe tastes even better the next day!
Can you freeze Sloppy Joe meat?
Yes, this meat freezes well. Place it in a freezer bag (or freezer-safe container) and lay it flat in the freezer. Store it for up to a month.
Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
What should I serve with Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes?
Sloppy joes go really well with a side of your favorite potato chips and a salad or serve it with this yummy potato salad!
More Sandwich Recipes
Easy sandwich recipes are a must for busy weeknights when you need quick and easy dinners! Here are some recipes you should try next time:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Sandwiches
- Easy Meatball Sub Sandwiches
- Ham and Cheese Party Sandwiches
- Crockpot BBQ Root Beer Chicken Sandwiches
FOLLOW ME
FACEBOOK ~ PINTEREST
INSTAGRAM ~ TWITTER
YOUTUBE
Keep an eye out for more of my easy recipes each week!
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Lean Ground Beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 2 green peppers seeded, and chopped
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 18 ounces barbecue sauce
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 4 tablespoons cornstarch divided
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add onion and green peppers and saute until soft, about 3 – 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned.
- Place contents of skillet into your slow cooker.
- Add the can of crushed tomatoes, barbecue sauce, ketchup, 2 tablespoons of the corn starch, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Stir until completely combined.
- Cook on low for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. If you feel the sauce is still too thin, mix the remaining two tablespoons of cornstarch with one tablespoon of water. Add it to the slow cooker about 45 minutes before you're ready to serve them.
- Serve on hamburger rolls topped with shredded Colby/Jack cheese, if desired.
Nutrition
This post was originally published June 18, 2015. It has been updated in format and with pictures on May 29, 2024.
Comments & Reviews
I LOVE sloppy joes, but I must confess. I don’t love taking pictures of them! Outstanding job, Lynne. They look fantastic. I also put cheese on my sloppy joes and people think its a little weird sometimes!
Thanks so much, Nicole! It can be very difficult to photograph an uncooperative food. haha 😉
Cheese on sloppy joes is the best and I can’t understand why it took me so long to figure that out!
Hey Miss Lynne – I too confess to using the canned variety (probably a little more than I should), especially when I can find the Barbecue or Bold varieties, but I do a lot of doctoring first. (…a little cumin, cayenne or smoked paprika, and my favorite staple – Bone Suckin’ Sauce!) Thanx for this – I’m going to try it this weekend. I’ve put cheese on Joe’s my whole life but here’s another thing I like to do. Instead of putting these on buns, I boil some cavatappi and add it to the mix – Sloppy Joe Mac. It’s not very original, but my husband and my Dad LOVE it and ask for it regularly.
Funny Diana, I never thought about putting my own stamp on the canned goods! DUH!! LOL
Thank YOU for that tip! This recipe is definitely one I’ll be keeping in our regular menu – I think I may even make it tonight! 😉
Making this today for lunch. 1 question recipe says 4 tablespoons of Corn Starch divided in direction only says 2 tablespoons when did I suppose to add the other 2 tablespoons? I put all 4 same time.
Gwen, GOOD question! Sorry about that. I wasn’t aware of the error and I thank you for bringing it to my attention.
Put the two tablespoons of cornstarch into the slow cooker as directed. Then after the 4 hours if you feel the sauce hasn’t thickened enough, mix the remaining two tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water, add to pot, and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes or so until thickened.
Hope that helps, and let me know!
Gwen, Disregard my comment about adding the cornstarch at the end.
I found this note about when to add the remaining corn starch in the post above the recipe where it says Tips.
If you feel the mixture is too runny, add the remainder of the cornstarch (tablespoon(s)) of cornstarch about 45 minutes before serving and stir well. We like ours on the thicker side.