Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

posted on November 14, 2017 by Brenda

Keep this tried-and-true recipe for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes in your back pocket. These classic messy sandwiches are super flavorful and cook up easy in the slow cooker. I guarantee you’ll be asked for the recipe when you serve them!

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - Keep this tried-and-true recipe for crock pot sloppy joes in your back pocket. These sandwiches are super flavorful and cook up easy in the slow cooker. I guarantee you'll be asked for the recipe when you serve these sloppy joes! #sloppyjoes #beef #slowcooker #crockpot

I think my mom makes the best sloppy joes around.

And do you want to know her secret?

It’s all about the tomato juice. Mom cans it herself, preserving all the sweetness of her garden’s fresh tomatoes.

While I’ve never canned tomatoes myself, I always wish I had a few jars of Mom’s tomato sauce in my pantry. Especially when it comes to making sloppy joes.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes has become a favorite amongst our family and friends. I often hear, “Hey Brenda, I just made your sloppy joes again!” And no wonder. These sandwiches are super flavorful, can feed a crowd, and are easy to make in a slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - Keep this tried-and-true recipe for crock pot sloppy joes in your back pocket. These sandwiches are super flavorful and cook up easy in the slow cooker. I guarantee you'll be asked for the recipe when you serve these sloppy joes! #sloppyjoes #beef #slowcooker #crockpot

slow cooker sloppy joes

Since we bought this multi-cooker/slow cooker many years ago, following a recommendation from my sister Jessica, I started playing around with perfecting a crock pot sloppy joes recipe for our family. I love that I can brown the meat right in the multi-cooker, then add all the other ingredients, switch the setting to slow cook, and let it finish on its own.

AND. The multi-cooker is a cinch to clean up. LOVE!

Another thing I love about this kitchen appliance is its large capacity. Even though this recipe for sloppy joes yields a good amount of servings, I can still make a double batch using this multi-cooker.

I like to double this easy sloppy joes recipe when we need to feed a crowd. We made these sandwiches for our daughter Hatti’s confirmation party and for many other casual gatherings over the years. I also like to double the recipe and simply stash half of it away in the freezer. It’s hardly any more work, and gifts you an easy homemade meal down the road.

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - Keep this tried-and-true recipe for crock pot sloppy joes in your back pocket. These sandwiches are super flavorful and cook up easy in the slow cooker. I guarantee you'll be asked for the recipe when you serve these sloppy joes! #sloppyjoes #beef #slowcooker #crockpot

What to serve with sloppy joes

Sloppy joes are the classic messy sandwich, total comfort food.

And one of its best attributes is that it makes for some of the most wonderful leftovers. Which makes me hugely happy.

Serve the sloppy joes mixture on large or small buns, with a few different kinds of pickled things (I like to serve dill pickle chips, Pickled Red Onions, and Mom’s Refrigerator Sweet Pickles) and some thick rippled potato chips. I oftentimes don’t even utilize buns myself, and simply scoop up the sloppy joes mixture with potato chips.

Do whatever makes you happy. It’s ALL good!

And if you’re wondering about a couple side dishes to serve with these sloppy joes… How about an easy coleslaw salad using my mom’s Sweet Onion Coleslaw Dressing? Or this German Potato Salad, with a tangy vinegar/mustard dressing? Both, so good!

Like this Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes recipe? Pin it!

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes from afarmgirlsdabbles.com - Keep this tried-and-true recipe for crock pot sloppy joes in your back pocket. These sandwiches are super flavorful and cook up easy in the slow cooker. I guarantee you'll be asked for the recipe when you serve these sloppy joes! #sloppyjoes #beef #slowcooker #crockpot

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

These classic messy sandwiches are super flavorful and cook up easy in the slow cooker. They’re great for feeding a crowd. Be prepared to be asked for the recipe!

Yield: 15 to 20 servings

Prep Time:20 minutes

Cook Time:20 minutes to brown + 4 hours to slow cook

Total Time:4 hours, 20 minutes

Calories per serving: 159

Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs. lean ground beef (I also do a combination of ground beef and turkey, usually 2 lbs. beef & 1 lb. turkey)
  • 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1-1/2 c. finely chopped celery
  • 6 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5-oz.) can diced fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 c. chili sauce
  • 1/2 c. ketchup
  • 1/3 c. packed brown sugar
  • 2 T. prepared mustard
  • 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 T. dry mustard
  • 1 T. medium chili powder
  • 1 T. cumin
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp. paprika
  • 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste
  • additional salt, to taste

Directions:

In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef and onion together until beef is cooked, breaking up beef with a spatula. (Or just use this awesome multi-cooker, where I simply brown the meat right in the cooker!) Drain off fat and transfer to slow cooker. Break up any remaining larger pieces of meat. Add all remaining ingredients and stir well. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.

Serve sloppy joes on buns – I like to offer regular size buns and smaller dinner roll size buns – with pickles (I recommend these easy refrigerator pickles) and potato chips. If you have the time and initiative, butter the buns and toast on a hot griddle – this adds great flavor to the sandwich. I also like to eat sloppy joes without buns, using sturdy potato chips as my “scoops”.

Calories do not include buns, chips, or condiments.

from a farmgirl’s dabbles

©

Here are a few more slow cooker sandwich recipes you might enjoy: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches from Dinners, Dishes, & Desserts, Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches from Melanie Makes, and Slow Cooker Shredded Barbecue Beef Sandwiches from Boulder Locavore.

This post was originally published September 2012 and has been a popular reader favorite. Photographs and some of the text were updated November 2017.

Recommended for this post:

Cuisinart Multi-Cooker

GIR Ultimate Spatula

Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes

Heinz Chili Sauce

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posted in Beef, Chicken & Turkey, Main Dishes, Slow Cooker
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