Easy Crockpot Sloppy Joes

This Easy Crockpot Sloppy Joes recipe is the kind of easy, filling dinner that makes busy days feel a little more manageable. Everything cooks together low and slow until it is rich, hearty, and full of comforting flavor. It is a simple, delicious meal that is perfect for nights when you need supper to be easy and satisfying.

This recipe has always been one of those reliable recipes that I can always count on to be a crowd pleaser. It’s nice because you don’t need to have hardly any perishable ingredients on hand, so it’s usually the recipe I turn to when we have just returned from being out of town, or when the fridge is running on empty and I don’t have the time or energy to get groceries.

It also helps that it cooks in a Crockpot so it’s the perfect summer recipe for when you don’t want to heat up the house, or when you are searching for something that is pretty hands off so that you can go about your day.

I hope you like it.

Make this Easy Crockpot Sloppy Joes recipe when…

• you have an empty fridge with not many fresh ingredients to choose from
• it’s hot and you don’t want to turn on the oven
• you need a classic and reliable recipe that kids and adults will love

Ingredient notes…

Here is what you’ll need to make this Easy Crockpot Sloppy Joes recipe. Please be sure to check the recipe card for the exact ingredients and measurements.

• Ground beef or ground turkey: I usually use ground beef, but I had lots of ground turkey from a previous recipe that I needed to use up, so that is what I used this time and it worked great too. I’m sure you could use some other type of ground meat like chicken or sausage if you wanted as well.
• Onion: Used to add flavor. Can omit if you want.
• Garlic: Used to add flavor. Can omit if you want.
• Tomato paste/tomato sauce/ or diced tomatoes: I usually use tomato paste, but I had ran out so I decided to substitute diced tomatoes for this and it worked okay. The sauce was a little bit more watery than normal, but still perfectly edible and it thickened more when it cooled down.
• Ketchup: To add flavor and sweetness. Can omit or sub if you want.
• Barbeque sauce: To add flavor and sweetness. Can omit or sub if you want.
• Brown sugar: For even more sweetness. Can omit if you find it already to sweet or use a brown sugar substitute.
• Worcestershire sauce: To add flavor.
• Dijon mustard: To add flavor. Could use regular mustard in place if needed.
• Paprika: To add flavor
• Cayenne pepper: To add flavor
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Hamburger buns: The classic thing to make the sloppy joes a sandwich. You could use whatever bread you prefer.

Equipment I swear by…

• A really good slow cooker
• a meat masher to help brown the ground beef
• a sharp knife
• or a veggie chopper

While the Easy Crockpot Sloppy Joes cooks…

• work on a project you have put off around the house
• do a face or hair mask
• make a yummy drink

How to make it…

See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

1. Brown the meat in a non-stick skillet, once almost browned add diced onions. A few minutes later add the minced garlic. Once everything is completely browned and softened, dump into your crockpot.
2. Add tomatoes/tomato paste/tomato sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, ketchup, barbeque sauce, Dijon mustard, and spices.
3. Mix well, cover and cook in the slow cooker.
4. Once finished, spoon the mixture onto your favorite hamburger buns, and serve with your favorite side dish. Enjoy.

My tips and tricks to make this Easy Crockpot Sloppy Joes recipe…

Spicy: Add more cayenne or some hot sauce.

Leaner/healthier/lower carb: Use ground turkey instead of beef and use sugar free ketchup, barbeque sauce, and a brown sugar substitute. Can also eat on its own or serve using lettuce wraps.

Add veggies: Sneak in some finely diced veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or carrots.

Storage notes:

Refrigerate: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 to 4 days.

Freeze: This recipe freezes wonderfully. Double or triple the batch when making it if you want to meal prep.

Are you struggling right now?

• Use jarred garlic, or garlic from the tube instead of mincing fresh garlic.
• Use prechopped onions.
• Use a crockpot liner to save effort on clean up.
• Double the batch and freeze the leftovers for more meals later.

Thank you for stopping by Comfort In a Bowl. If you have any questions, or made any additions/shortcuts that you think other people may love feel free to comment below. If you create this recipe or any other from our site, we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to share, comment and rate the recipe! Take care of yourself.

More Crockpot recipes….

• Crockpot Potato Soup
• Crockpot Marry Me Ravioli
• Crockpot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup
• Crockpot Spinach Dip Chicken Pasta
• Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken Noodles

My burnout situation…

So if you have been following along on my burnout situation, you might have seen me mention my best friend a time or two. It’s difficult because her and I no longer live in the same country.

We still make the effort to see each other several times a year. Her husband travels back and forth a lot for work, so I often end up seeing him more than I see her (he was my friend first), but we still make it work.

I think something that has been making a big difference in my healing journey is her. She’s an extremely caring best friend. She is a great listener, and it’s so strange because even when we are in different countries and haven’t talked in months sometimes, we can always pick up right where we left off like no time has passed. And for some reason we are always almost going through similar struggles.

She is a head manager for the government where she is, and she is extremely well respected, so it’s been interesting hearing how upset she gets with how my management has been acting in my work situation.

Her advice is great, as she also struggles with her mental health and goes to therapy regularly so she often has a lot of great insight and advice to things she has learned along the way that have helped her.

I’m very grateful for her friendship, and it makes the world of difference having a friend like her in my corner during everything I’m going through.

Conclusion…

I’m learning that more than one thing can be true at a time.

I can be struggling with burnout and my mental health and still grateful for things like my best friend.

I can also not be okay, but still want to make the effort and make something like Sloppy Joes for my family.

Both can be true.

And that is perfectly okay. We are complex beings.

Take care of yourself.

-Caitlin