Classic Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
This recipe delivers a hearty, flavorful sloppy joe experience, perfect for a no-fuss meal. The slow cooker tenderizes the meat and melds the rich, tangy sauce to perfection.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Slow cooker
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 - 2 pounds ground beef 85/15 or 90/10
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 3-4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup ketchup
- 6 oz can tomato paste
- 2-3 tablespoons brown sugar light or dark
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Hamburger buns for serving
- Bell peppers (Optional) finely diced
- hot sauce (Optional) a splash for heat
Instructions
Preparation
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no pink remains, breaking it up with a spoon; drain excess grease.
- Transfer the browned beef to a slow cooker and add the diced onion, minced garlic, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Stir all ingredients thoroughly in the slow cooker to ensure the meat is well coated with the sauce.
- Cover and cook the mixture on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
- Once cooked, stir again and serve the thickened, rich sloppy joe mixture generously onto toasted hamburger buns.
Notes
For an extra layer of flavor, consider adding finely diced bell peppers along with the onion. A splash of hot sauce can provide a nice kick if you enjoy a bit of heat.