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These crock pot sloppy joes are the dinner I lean on when the week has got away from me. I brown the beef once, tip it into the slow cooker with ketchup, mustard, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce, and two or three hours later there is a pot of rich, tangy, saucy beef waiting to be piled onto soft buns.
I grew up thinking sloppy joes came out of a tin. The first time I made them from scratch for a school fundraiser, I was amazed how much better they were, and how little work it took. Now a pot of this goes to every football night and birthday party, with a big bowl of crisps and pickles on the side, just like the photos.
In short, these slow cooker sloppy joes are 2 1/4 lb (1 kg) of browned, drained ground beef simmered on low for 2 to 3 hours in a sauce of ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. It takes about 10 minutes hands on and 2 hours 40 minutes in total, serves 6 and fills 10 to 12 buns, at about 490 calories per serving before the bun.
Quick Breakdown
Why You’ll Love These Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
- Ten minutes hands on. Brown the beef, stir in the sauce ingredients and walk away.
- No tin of sauce. Everyday pantry staples make a sauce that is tangier and far less sugary than the canned kind.
- Feeds a crowd. Over two pounds of beef serves five or six hungry people, and it doubles easily.
- Party friendly. Keep it on warm and let everyone build their own sandwich.
- Freezer friendly. In fact, I often make a double batch and freeze half.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef. 2 1/4 lb (1 kg). An 85/15 or 80/20 mix gives the best flavour; you drain the fat anyway. Harvard Health points out that lean red meat can fit a healthy diet in sensible portions, so a 90/10 mix is a fine lighter swap.
- Ketchup. 2/3 cup (160 g), the backbone of the sauce.
- Tomato paste. 2 tablespoons (32 g). It deepens the colour and thickens the sauce without extra sugar.
- Brown sugar. 2 tablespoons (25 g). Harvard’s Nutrition Source has a useful explainer on added sugar and how much is sensible, which is one reason I prefer this to the tinned stuff.
- Mustard. 2 tablespoons (30 g) of yellow mustard for tang.
- Worcestershire sauce. 2 teaspoons (10 ml), for savoury depth.
- Garlic, salt and pepper. 2 teaspoons minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper.
- Red pepper flakes. Just a pinch, for warmth rather than heat.
- Water. 2 tablespoons, to loosen the sauce at the start.
Can You Cook Raw Ground Beef in a Crock Pot?
Yes, you can cook raw ground beef in a slow cooker, as long as it reaches 160°F (71°C), but I always brown it first, and here is why. Browning drains off the fat, so the sauce is rich rather than greasy. It also builds flavour you simply do not get from beef that only steams in a slow cooker. Finally, raw mince sets into a solid block as it cooks, while browned beef chopped very small stays as loose, saucy crumbles.
For crock pot sloppy joes, the browning takes about 10 minutes. After that, the slow cooker takes over, and the long gentle heat lets the beef soak up the ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire until every crumble is coated.
What Is the Secret to a Good Sloppy Joe?
Balance and texture. You want sweet from the brown sugar and ketchup, tang from the mustard, and savoury depth from the Worcestershire sauce. Chopping the beef really fine as it browns is the other half, because tiny crumbles hold onto the sauce and stay in the bun.
How To Make Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
1. Brown the beef. First, cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat, breaking it up and chopping it very small with a wooden spoon or potato masher as it browns.
2. Drain. Next, tip the beef into a colander or spoon off the fat from the pan.
3. Into the slow cooker. Then add the beef to your crockpot along with the brown sugar, mustard, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and water.
4. Stir. Stir well so every bit of beef is coated in the sauce.
5. Slow cook. After that, cover and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, then stir well.
6. Serve. Finally, spoon onto hamburger buns or bread, and serve with crisps, fries and pickles, of course.
A potato masher does the trick, although a ground beef chopper is made for exactly this job and breaks the mince into fine crumbles in a few seconds.
Why Is My Filling Too Watery or Too Dry?
Sloppy joe filling is watery when the lid traps too much liquid and dry when it cooks down too far. Take the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes to thicken it, or stir in a tablespoon or two of water to loosen it. Here is how to fix each problem:
- Too runny. Take the lid off for the last 20 to 30 minutes so the extra liquid cooks away.
- Too thick. Stir in another tablespoon or two of water, a little at a time.
- Greasy. The beef was not drained well enough. Next time, drain it in a colander.
- Big lumps. Chop the beef finer while browning; it does not break down further in the slow cooker.
- Too sweet. Add another teaspoon of mustard or a splash of cider vinegar to bring back the tang.
Tips for the Best Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
- Toast the buns cut side down in a dry pan or under the grill, so they don’t go soggy.
- A potato masher is the easiest way to get fine, even crumbles.
- Taste before serving; a pinch more salt or sugar can make all the difference.
- For parties, keep crock pot sloppy joes on the warm setting and put the buns, cheese slices and pickles out beside it.
- A slice of melted cheddar on top turns them into cheesy joes, which kids adore.
Storage and Freezing
- Fridge. Store leftover crock pot sloppy joes in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer. Freeze in bags, flattened, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheating. Warm in a pan over medium heat with a splash of water until piping hot, or reheat in the slow cooker on low.
- Make ahead. Because the filling keeps for 4 days in the fridge, you can cook it a day or two before a busy evening. Reheat it in a pan or in the slow cooker on low until piping hot, then toast the buns fresh so they stay crisp.
Variations and Substitutions
- Ground turkey or chicken. Swap like for like; add a little oil when browning as it is leaner.
- Add vegetables. Brown a finely chopped onion and green pepper with the beef.
- Smoky version. Swap half the ketchup for barbecue sauce.
- Low sugar. Use reduced sugar ketchup and halve the brown sugar.
- Sloppy joe bowls. Serve over rice, baked potatoes or fries instead of buns.
- Game day spread. Pair a pot of these with my sticky grape jelly meatballs for an easy slow cooker party.
What to Serve With Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Crisps and pickles are the classic, as you can see in the photos. For something more substantial, crispy air fryer French fries are a winner with kids.
For a cool, crunchy contrast, I love a creamy coleslaw, which you can even pile inside the bun. A tangy classic potato salad rounds out a summer barbecue table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ingredients and Method
Do I have to brown the beef first for slow cooker sloppy joes?
Yes, for the best texture and flavour. Browning lets you drain the fat and keeps the beef in small crumbles instead of one solid block.
Can I cook sloppy joes on high in a slow cooker?
Yes. Because the beef is already cooked, about 1 1/2 hours on high is enough to heat it through and let the flavours blend.
What is the difference between a sloppy joe and a sloppy Jane?
A sloppy Jane is usually made with ground turkey or chicken instead of beef. Everything else stays much the same.
Can I make sloppy joes without brown sugar?
Yes. The ketchup already adds sweetness. Leave the sugar out and taste at the end.
Serving and Storage
How much sloppy joe filling should I put on each bun?
About 1/2 cup per bun, so this batch fills 10 to 12 buns and serves 6 people.
How long do leftover sloppy joes last in the fridge?
Up to 4 days in an airtight container. Refrigerate the filling within 2 hours of cooking and reheat it in a pan with a splash of water until piping hot, or 165°F (74°C).
How many calories are in a crock pot sloppy joe?
About 490 calories per serving of filling when the batch serves 6, with roughly 34 g protein. The estimate does not include the bun.
Can I freeze crock pot sloppy joes?
Yes. Cool the filling, then freeze it flat in bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until piping hot.
Can I make crock pot sloppy joes ahead for a party?
Yes. Cook them the day before, chill, then reheat in the slow cooker on low for 1 to 2 hours and switch to warm for serving.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 lb ground beef (1kg)
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (25g)
- 2 tbsp mustard (30g)
- 2/3 cup ketchup (160g)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (32g)
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (10ml)
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp water (30ml)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and chop it very small.
- Drain the fat.
- Add the beef to your crockpot, along with the rest of the ingredients.
- Stir to combine.
- Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, and stir well.
- Serve on hamburger buns or bread, with chips, fries and pickles.
