Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
40aprons.com/crockpot-sloppy-joes/These diner-style Sloppy Joes are everything you want in a weeknight dinner: rich, saucy, savory, a little sweet, and ridiculously easy, with a thick, tangy tomato sauce with just enough sweetness to make it kid-friendly, but enough depth from Worcestershire, mustard, garlic, and smoked paprika to make it suitable for the whole family!
Recipe Makes (Approximate):
Equipment
- 6-quart slow cooker
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef (ground turkey, or a mix)
- 1 small onion (finely diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (finely diced, optional but great)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
For Serving
- Burger buns (brioche buns, or whole wheat buns)
- Pickles
- Shredded cheddar
- Coleslaw
Instructions
- To brown the meat, add the ground beef to a large skillet (or inside the slow cooker if you have a sear-and-stew model) over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease if needed.
- Stir in onion and bell pepper. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, just until slightly softened. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Add the beef mixture to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the ketchup, tomato sauce, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using. Stir really well so that everything is combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours, until the mixture is thick, rich, and flavorful.
- Taste, and if needed add a little more salt for savoriness, vinegar for tang, or brown sugar for sweetness. If the mixture is too loose, cook uncovered on high for 15 to 20 minutes to thicken to your desired consistency.
- Spoon onto toasted buns and serve warm with your choice of toppings.
Recipe Notes
Storage suggestions: For meal prep, the sloppy joe filling keeps beautifully in the fridge for 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. It reheats beautifully in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Nutrition Information (Approximate)
Calories: 190calProtein: 16gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 729mgPotassium: 492mgTotal Carbs: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 9gNet Carbs: 11gVitamin A: 483IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 2mg
https://40aprons.com/crockpot-sloppy-joes/