Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are easy to make and quick to throw together. The sauce and the meat slow cook to become a wonderful sweet and tangy mixture.

I’ve mentioned before on the blog that we celebrate birthdays with the birthday person choosing their meals for the day.  Typically, when the girls were younger, breakfast and dinner were made at home and lunch was out at their favorite restaurant.  These days, it varies as they are both adults but we still stick to at least dinner out with family and friends.  

My husband and I have our favorites for these at home birthday meals – I enjoy someone cooking me breakfast (I love all breakfast foods so it’s easy) and then dinner I definitely choose to go out! My husband is very easy – his favorite dinner to have on his birthday is Sloppy Joes and Tator Tots.  He’s a simple man. Over the years, I’ve migrated him from the canned Sloppy Joe sauces to my own slow cooked recipe for his favorite sandwich.

True to form, these delicious slow cooker Sloppy Joes were his request this year (his birthday is beginning of January) and making them gave me the chance to get this recipe on the blog as part of #NationalSlowCookerMonth. This week, I’m joining other food bloggers to celebrate all things slow cooker! We have delicious recipes from across the country to fill your meal plans with delicious slow cooker recipes – look for the recipes at the bottom of this post.

This Week I am Sharing:

• Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes (that’s this recipe)
• Slow Cooker Ham and White Bean Soup (Wednesday)
• Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Fajitas (Friday)

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe sandwiches are scrumptious, tangy, sweet, hearty, and satisfying and will take you back to your childhood. One thing I like is that I always have every ingredient on hand for the meat filling.  Another is that it makes enough for our dinner and then lunch or dinner the next day.  

I think the BEST feature of these retro sandwiches is that you make them in crockpot! You do have brown the ground beef and saute the onion on the stove, but if you have this slow cooker you don’t have to dirty a frying pan! I will admit I tend to forget I can brown the meat in mine and use the frying pan. 

Growing up we called the sandwiches steamers or Manwich. Whether you call them steamers, sloppy joes, or loose meat sandwiches, they are good. Plus, this recipe can be easily doubled to feed a crowd!

Easy sandwich recipes are perfect to have ready for dinner when life gets busy. We also love these Buffalo Turkey Sandwiches and Shredded BBQ Beef Sandwiches – both made in the slow cooker!

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

We like to serve the sloppy joe mixture on toasted buns, with or without a slice of cheese. Plus, Tator Tots are a must for us. However, creamy coleslaw goes well, too. Of course, pickles and potato chips are an easy second favorite to serve alongside these sandwiches.

Do I have to Brown the Ground Beef First?

For best results, yes, you do have to brown the ground beef first. Browning the beef first gives it a beefy caramelized flavors. It’s also a good idea to use lean ground beef and to drain off any excess fat before adding the sauce ingredients.

Can I use Ground Turkey or Chicken?

Yes, you can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken. Just be sure it’s lean meat. For a meatless version, use your favorite brand of meatless crumbles.

Ingredients

• lean ground beef
• small onion
• tomato sauce
• garlic
• ketchup
• apple cider vinegar
• yellow mustard
• Worcestershire sauce
• water
• brown sugar
• chili powder
• flour
• salt & pepper
• Sandwich Buns

How to Make Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Step 1

Spray your slow cooker with non-stick spray. This will help with clean-up. If you don’t have a slow cooker than you can use on the stove top, brown the ground beef in a large skillet. When it’s nearly done, add the finely diced onion. Cook a few minutes more, until the onion is softened. Drain excess grease.

Step 2

In your crockpot, add the tomato sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, water, brown sugar, chili powder, and flour. Whisk till smooth. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Add the cooked ground beef mixture to the crockpot and give it all a good stir.

Step 3

Cover and let it cook for 4 – 5 hours on low. Spoon filling onto sandwich buns and serve!

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are easy to make and quick to throw together. The sauce and the meat slow cook to become a wonderful sweet and tangy mixture.

4.41 from 10 votes

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Keyword: crock pot, game day food, manwich, sloppy joes, Slow cooker, steamers

Author: Lisa Kerhin

Ingredients

• 2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 small onion finely diced
• 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1/4 cup flour
• salt & pepper to taste
• Sandwich Buns

Instructions

• Spray your crockpot with non-stick spray. This will help with clean-up.
• In a large pan, brown the ground beef and when it’s nearly done, add the finely diced onion. Cook a few minutes more, until the onion is softened. Drain excess grease. I find when I use Laura’s Lean Ground Beef, I don’t need to drain the meat, but it’s your choice.
• In your crockpot, add the tomato sauce, minced garlic, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, mustard, Worchestershire sauce, water, brown sugar, chili powder, and flour. Whisk till smooth. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
• Add the cooked ground beef mixture to the crockpot and give it all a good stir.
• Cover and let it cook for 4 – 5 hours on low.
• Spoon filling onto sandwich buns and serve!

Notes

Toast your buns and add a slice of cheese, if desired.

Can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef.

Enjoy these Recipes to Celebrate #NationalSlowCookerMonth!

• Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes from Jen Around the World
• Slow Cooker Rajmafrom Magical Ingredients
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos from Kathryn’s Kitchen Blog
• Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes from Blogghetti
• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich with Au Jus from The Spiffy Cookie
• Cream Cheese and Potato Chowder from Palatable Pastime
• Terriyaki Ribs from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Olive Garden Crock Pot Chicken from The Fresh Cooky
• Slow Cooker Italian Sunday Gravy from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Crockpot Cheddar Broccoli Soup from Life Love and Good Food
• Easy Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole from Devour Dinner
• Dutch Oven or Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs from Art of Natural Living
• Slow Cooker Spaghetti from Our Good Life

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