Description
Crock Pot Sloppy Joes are a thick, savory-sweet sandwich filling made from ground beef, simmered slowly in a tangy tomato-based sauce. I love making it with ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire, and mustard, letting it bubble low and slow until it turns rich and saucy. This simple recipe is a slow cooker classic—perfect for weeknights, parties, and comfort cravings. It’s also called “slow cooker sloppy joes” or “set-it-and-forget-it sloppy joes,” and you can even find stabilized versions for meal prep. I’ve tested both classic and extra-thick styles, and both work beautifully depending on how saucy you like it. Among beef sandwich recipes, Crock Pot Sloppy Joes stand out for their nostalgic flavor, hands-off preparation, and crowd-pleasing simplicity.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80/20 preferred)
1 small yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
8 sandwich buns
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.
3. Stir in diced onion and garlic. Cook until soft and fragrant.
4. In a bowl, whisk together ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Transfer beef mixture to slow cooker and pour sauce over. Stir to combine.
6. Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours, or high for 2–3 hours.
7. Stir occasionally and taste to adjust seasoning if needed.
8. Toast sandwich buns before serving.
9. Spoon sloppy joe mixture onto buns and serve warm.
10. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Notes
Use 80/20 ground beef for best flavor balance.
Adjust sweetness and tang to your preference with more or less sugar and vinegar.
To reheat, warm gently on the stove with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Crock Pot Sloppy Joes, slow cooker sloppy joes, easy dinner, ground beef sandwich