Description
Hearty crockpot sloppy joes bring comfort to midwestern dinner tables with classic ground beef and tangy sauce. Slow-cooking melds rich flavors, creating an easy meal that satisfies hungry families with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 1 can (15 ounces / 425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Serving:
- Hamburger buns
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high temperature and thoroughly cook ground beef until no pink remains, carefully eliminating accumulated grease.
- Shift the browned meat into the crockpot, incorporating finely chopped onion, diced bell pepper, minced garlic, and a blend of tangy condiments including tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, along with aromatic paprika, salt, and ground pepper.
- Thoroughly mix all ingredients, ensuring even distribution of flavors and spices throughout the meat mixture.
- Secure the crockpot lid and slow-cook on low setting for 4-6 hours or high setting for 2-3 hours, allowing ingredients to meld and develop rich, robust flavors.
- After cooking duration, taste the mixture and fine-tune seasoning if required, adding extra spices or condiments to enhance overall taste profile.
- Warm hamburger buns and generously ladle the savory, saucy meat mixture onto each bun, creating a hearty and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Opt for lean ground beef to reduce excess fat and create a healthier version of this classic comfort dish.
- Customize the sweetness by adjusting brown sugar levels or substituting with honey for a more natural sugar alternative.
- Experiment with different ground meats like turkey or plant-based crumbles for dietary variations that maintain the recipe’s rich flavor profile.
- Enhance meal prep by making a double batch and freezing portions for quick future meals, ensuring the sauce stays thick and flavorful when reheated.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (on Low) or 3 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 408 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg