Home > Dinner > Crockpot Sloppy Joes Crockpot Sloppy Joes December 17, 2018 | 91 Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Our favorite Crockpot Sloppy Joes! The slow cooker makes the meat filling ultra-tender and deeply flavorful. We load that savory and slightly sweet meat filling onto toasted brioche buns for a dinner people won’t be able to stop raving about! These sandwiches are great to serve to a crowd and perfect for summer BBQs or game-day eating. Looking for more game-day meals? These French Dip Sliders and 7-Layer Bean Dip are both wildly popular! Crockpot Sloppy Joes It’s no secret we’re obsessed with Sloppy Joes — who doesn’t love these messy, saucy, slightly sweet sandwiches?! My kids would eat them for every meal if I let them! While I’ve already shared a quick stovetop Sloppy Joes recipe and a more nutritious recipe using ground turkey (Turkey Sloppy Joes) I wanted to share how we prepare Sloppy Joes using the slow cooker. You may be wondering: If we have to brown the beef and sauté the veggies before anything even goes in the slow cooker, what’s the point of using this kitchen appliance? Here’s why this recipe works: This is how we like to make this recipe ahead of time. When we’ve got a game to go to, piano lessons to attend, or something else going on in the late afternoon, it’s nice to get everything in the slow cooker, run to the event, and return to a delicious meal (and intoxicating aromas!). Having the mixture in the slow cooker is a great way to serve this recipe to a crowd. The slow cooker keeps everything nice and warm for guests to prepare their sandwiches when they’re ready to eat. This recipe doubles and triples exceptionally well so these Crockpot Sloppy Joes can feed a lot if needed! The slow cooker makes the meat ultra tender in a way the stove-top just can’t replicate. Even though the beef is browned first, the slow cooker ensures everything gets ultra tender and the flavors meld together in an unforgettable way! You end up with an intensified, deeply savory meat filling. There are some things a slow cooker cannot do, though, and browning meats and veggies is one of them. The process of browning creates caramelization (scientifically called the Maillard reaction) and an intense umami flavor. Taking the extra few minutes to brown the meats and veggies makes a world of difference in the flavor of these Sloppy Joes! QUICK TIP A slow cooker by any other name? Crock-Pot® is a trademarked product of the Rival/Sunbeam corporation. However, many recipes call for a crockpot and really mean any of the many brands of slow cookers. I actually use Crock-Pot brand slow cookers, but you may be able to adapt your own slow cooker to these recipes. The size and wattage of various cookers can affect their cooking times. Crockpot Sloppy Joe Ingredient Tips There are a few ingredients that elevate the flavor of these Sloppy Joes. I’ll explain those ingredients (none of which are sponsors of the site) below: Crushed tomatoes. The tomatoes make a big difference flavor-wise, so we recommend good-quality tomatoes (such as Cento Marzano®, Carmelina Marzano Italian®, or Muir Glen®)). For even more flavor, pick fire-roasted crushed tomatoes. This type of tomato is charred over a flame before being crushed and canned. Contact with the flame brings out the tomato’s sweetness and gives a distinct, smoky flavor. You get more flavor without any extra work. Ketchup. I can’t recommend Heinz® ketchup enough — it’s so good in these Crockpot Sloppy Joes! It’s robustly flavorful without being overly sweet or too tangy. Beef bouillon. This powder not only seasons everything nicely, but it also adds a deeper, intensely savory flavor that enhances the ground beef in this recipe. Light brown sugar. This ingredient can make or break the Sloppy Joes — too little and the filling will lack the traditional sweetness of these sandwiches. Too much and the meat filling can become too sweet and unpalatable. Add very slowly, tasting to desired preference. Quick tips Sweeten to taste. You will likely want to adjust how much brown sugar you use, depending on the crushed tomatoes and the ketchup used (some are sweeter than others). Use a food processor. This helps get your veggies (onion, carrot, and pepper) finely chopped without spending forever at the cutting board. Just add them to the processor bowl and pulse a few times. Don’t over-pulse the veggies or liquefy them; just pulse enough times to get them into small pieces equivalent to a dice. Add the Crockpot Sloppy Joe mixture to the bun right before eating. This helps to avoid soggy buns. Season to taste. Before serving, be sure to give the mixture a quick taste test. Add additional salt until the flavors sing. Toasted Brioche Buns are a Game Changer! Serve Crockpot Sloppy Joes on toasted brioche buns — it’s truly the “secret” to the best Sloppy Joes! Plus, toasted buns don’t get soggy as quickly! Here’s how to do it: Spread some softened/room temperature butter over the inside of the top and bottom buns. Either grill the buns on a hot grill for 20-30 seconds, gently toast in a 350 degree F oven until buns are warmed through and barely crispy (about 5 minutes), or brown in a sauté pan for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat (or until lightly browned). Side Dish Suggestions Serving Crockpot Sloppy Joes to a crowd? Put out some other side dishes on the table for guests to choose from. Below are some of our go-to pairings: Potato chips or a different type of chip (Doritos, Fritos, etc.) Onion rings, French fries, or sweet potato fries Baked beans Bread and butter or dill pickles Elote (or plain grilled corn on the cob) A pasta salad like this macaroni coleslaw salad or this Italian pasta salad Raw veggies with a dip or roasted vegetables Helpful Visual Guide: check out how to cut a bell pepper FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Crockpot Sloppy Joes 4.94 from 32 votes - Review this recipe Our favorite Crockpot Sloppy Joes! The slow cooker makes the meat filling ultra-tender and deeply flavorful. We load that savory and slightly sweet meat filling onto toasted brioche buns for a dinner people won't be able to stop raving about! These sandwiches are great to serve to a crowd and perfect for summer BBQs or game-day eating. SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Crockpot Sloppy Joes 4.94 from 32 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Our favorite Crockpot Sloppy Joes! The slow cooker makes the meat filling ultra-tender and deeply flavorful. We load that savory and slightly sweet meat filling onto toasted brioche buns for a dinner people won't be able to stop raving about! These sandwiches are great to serve to a crowd and perfect for summer BBQs or game-day eating. Course Dinner, lunch, Main Course, Sandwich Cuisine American Keyword Crockpot Sloppy Joes Prep Time 25 minutes Cook Time 3 hours Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes Servings 6 loaded Sloppy Joes Calories 207kcal Author Chelsea Cost $8.96 Ingredients1 tablespoon olive oil1/2 cup (72g) finely diced yellow onion1/2 cup (72g) finely diced red pepper1/2 cup (72g) finely diced carrots1 pound (16 oz.) lean ground beef2 teaspoons minced garlic1 can (14.5 oz; 411g) crushed tomatoes (we love Muir Glen fire-roasted)1 tablespoon (16g) tomato paste1/2 cup (140g) ketchup (we love Heinz)1-3 tablespoons (11g) light brown sugar Note 11 tablespoon (17g) Worcestershire sauce1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard1/2 teaspoon EACH: garlic powder, onion powder2 teaspoons beef bouillon powderFine sea salt and pepperHamburger buns (we LOVE Brioche buns) + 2-3 tablespoons of butter (optional) InstructionsPREP VEGGIES: Peel an onion and dice finely. Finely chop the red pepper and carrot. Mince the garlic. Alternatively, add a coarsely chopped carrot, coarsely chopped red pepper, coarsely chopped onion, and garlic to a food processor and pulse into diced pieces -- don't over-pulse, though; we don't want to liquefy the veggies.COOK VEGGIES: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a large skillet and place over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, carrot, and bell pepper. Sauté for 6-8 minutes or until liquid from the veggies has evaporated and veggies are soft and turning golden. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Using a wooden spoon, press the veggies to the edges of the skillet and add 1 pound ground beef in the center of the pan. Let stand for 45 seconds in the heat and then stir and crumble the meat into small pieces. Cook until no longer pink and cooked through, about 5-8 minutes. As you crumble and cook the meat, incorporate the veggies into the meat. If there is any grease from the meat, drain it off here. SLOW COOKER: Add beef and veggies to the slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients (except the hamburger buns) to the slow cooker. Season to taste with salt and pepper. I add 1 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, but add to taste preference (table salt is different so you'll use a lot less). Stir everything together. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours, stirring the mixture occasionally if you can. Taste and adjust any seasonings (adding extra salt, pepper, or brown sugar) if desired -- the flavors should sing! FINISH: Spoon the mixture on top of toasted buns (See Note 2). Add the filling right before eating and enjoy immediately to avoid soggy buns! Recipe NotesNote 1: Sugar: Add brown sugar to taste -- if you don't like it sweet, you may only want a teaspoon or two and on the flip side you may want up to 3+ tablespoons. Remember, you can always add more at the end! Note 2: Buns: I like to toast the buns; it adds flavor and keeps the buns from getting soggy too quickly. Spread some softened butter over the inside of the top and bottom buns. Either grill the buns on a hot grill for 20-30 seconds, gently toast in a 350 degree F oven until buns are warmed through and barely crispy (about 5 minutes), or brown in a sauté pan for 2-3 minutes over medium-high heat (or until lightly browned). Nutritional information does not include buns as those will vary. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 562mg | Potassium: 714mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 4200IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 3mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
This recipe sounds so yummy and I can’t wait to make it in my new Eagles Crockpot! ‘E A G L E S!’ Reply
Thanks for offering the giveaway, Chelsea!! I would love to win a Colts Croc-Pot! It would be perfect to make your Sloppy Joes for holiday get togethers! My grandsons favorite!! Reply
Hi – This sounds yummy and easy – I will be making it tonight. Thanks for the recipes – and I would LOVE a Wisconsin Badgers Crock Pot!!! Reply
I live in a family full of 49er fans, so I would pick that one. I would be really excited if they featured MLB teams, then i would love a San Francisco Giants crockpot. Reply
I LOVE your recipes! My crockpot burns everything and needs to be replaced!as a teachers, I can’t live without it! I would LOVE an OSU crockpot. Reply
would love to win the cardinals slow cooker. Use slowcookers all the time. Such a time saver especially this time of year Reply
I was hoping I might win a Patriot’s crock pot…..we here in Mass. are crazy about the Pats and to carry a crock pot with their logo on it to a potluck would be….as we tend to say here…WICKED COOL!! Reply
Maybe the Cleveland Browns will start winning if enough people have a new Crock Pot with their logo….. probably not but we would have good tailgate food! Thanks for a fun giveaway! Reply
This recipe looks awesome!! I would love to win a Cincinnati Bengals Crock Pot!! Thanks for your fantastic recipes, Chelsea! Reply
Oh, yum! These take me back to my childhood days and I’m sure yours taste 30 times better, lol. I would love the Atlanta Falcons one! Reply
My crockpot is 20+ yrs old?. I’d love to win the Dallas Cowboys crockpot! My kids keep asking, “Is this a Chelsea dinner?” Ha! Reply
I would love to win the Jacksonville Jaguars one! First time in the playoffs in 10 years! And I love crock pot recipes. Will definitely be trying this sloppy joes one! Reply
Recipe sounds delicious! I will be trying it tonight. Would love to win the Panthers carry and go crock pot! Love your blog. Keep up the good work. Reply
Iove your recipes!! I would love to win a jets crockpot for meal prepping during the school year Reply
Yum!! This recipe looks so yummy! Love me so Sloppy Joe’s ? I want the Denver Broncos Crockpot so bad!!!! ❤ Reply
Hi. Your recipe is so awesome.can’t wait to try it in a Detroit Lions NFL Crock-Pot. Thanks in advance. Reply
This recipe is so good! I would love the Clemson Tiger cook and carry crock pot! Thanks for all your fabulous recipes! Reply
My family loved this recipe. I’m going to make it again. Can you tell me if the calories include the toasted buns? Thanks Reply
I’m so glad they did! The calories are for the meat filling (buns vary so much from brand to brand!) Thanks! 🙂 Reply
I would like to win a green Bay Packers crock pot so my twin granddaughters and can cook together Reply
Super flavorful, easy and delicious! Def crowd pleaser! I know sloppy joe’s aren’t rocket science…but the balance of flavors here was great and so is the ease of the crockpot method! Thank you! Reply
I would love an Auburn Tiger one…WDE!!! I am trying your crockpot recipes as I am disabled mentally and physically so these really help me out and I appreciate you…thank you so much and you are AWESOME!!! Reply
Easy and delicious. Seconds requested! Used frozen pepper and onion mix which seemed to work well. Will definitly make again. Reply
I love your recipe site and your simple to follow instructions. Oh… If I should win the Crock Pot My FAVORITE team is the.. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Than3 Reply
