The best thing about this Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes recipe is how easy it is to feed a crowd. This fix-ahead recipe is freezer-friendly, so you can prepare it in advance to simplify busy nights.
Do you remember the joy of eating sloppy joes when you were young? I certainly do, along with the memory of tangy tomato sauce smeared across my face. Yes, those were the good old days. Thanks to this easy Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes recipe, those days don’t have to be long gone, especially not now when it is so easy to recreate them.
There are many variations of the recipe on the internet and in cookbooks, but this one has the perfect blend of sweetness and tang, thanks to the brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. I am sure that once you try it, you will find that it quickly becomes a favorite in your home.
Why Homemade Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes Are Better Than The Ones In Cans
It’s tempting to think I’ll open a can and mix it with some ground beef. The problem with that is that you have no control over the flavor, sodium, and other nutrients in the mixture. When you make homemade Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes, you are in charge of what goes into your food.
Homemade sloppy joes offer a burst of freshness. You can make a large batch and freeze it in individual or family-sized portions for later use. Whether you want to feed a crowd or simplify busy nights, making sloppy joes in a crock-pot will ensure tasty meals whenever you want.
Use a Multi-Cooker Crock-Pot or Instant Pot for Added Convenience
Browning the meat is required before making your sloppy joes. While traditional crock-pots are slow cookers, some models today are multi-cookers, meaning that they can also do other functions, including sautéing. You will still need to drain the fat if you sauté it in a multi-cooker crock-pot, so you may want to use a turkey baster to help remove the fat before adding the rest of your ingredients.
How to Make Ahead and Store
If you want to prepare your sloppy joes in advance but not cook them, you will still need to cook the meat and onions and add them to the crock-pot. Mix in the additional ingredients and store in your slow cooker or crock-pot for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Once you cook your sloppy joes, they can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes make the perfect freezer meals. Cool the sloppy joes in the refrigerator overnight, portion them into airtight freezer containers (leaving a little room for expansion) and freeze for up to 3 months. It is best to thaw the containers overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, although you can pull out a container in a pinch and reheat it from frozen.
Serving Suggestions
As with any sandwich, you want a fun side salad, like potato salad, to accompany your meal. This Potato Salad with Dill Relish recipe brings a fresh, zesty flavor that pairs well with your Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes. If you prefer a warm potato side dish, I recommend Classic Scalloped Potatoes. With their cream sauce, they have the makings of a perfect meal.
Crock-Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1 can 15 ounces tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 8 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion and green bell pepper until the beef is no longer pink. Add the minced garlic in the last minute of cooking. Drain any excess grease.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the Crock Pot. Stir in the ketchup, tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to ensure even cooking.
- Serve the Sloppy Joe mixture piled onto hamburger buns, optionally accompanied by a side of coleslaw or pickles.
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