Description
Hearty crockpot sloppy joes bring comfort and zest to family dinners with minimal kitchen effort. Ground beef simmered in tangy sauce delivers simple, satisfying flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Serving:
- 6 hamburger buns
Optional Toppings:
- Pickles
- Shredded cheese
Instructions
- Sear ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until thoroughly browned and crumbled, approximately 7-9 minutes. Carefully drain accumulated fat.
- Transfer beef to crockpot, incorporating diced onions, chopped green bell peppers, and finely minced garlic.
- Whisk together ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a separate mixing bowl until ingredients form a harmonious, smooth sauce.
- Pour prepared sauce directly over beef and vegetable mixture in crockpot, ensuring even distribution and thorough coating.
- Cover crockpot and set to low temperature, allowing mixture to simmer and develop rich flavors for 4-5 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure consistent texture.
- Once cooking cycle completes, taste and adjust seasoning if needed with additional salt or pepper.
- Serve hot scooped generously onto toasted hamburger buns. Optional garnishes include tangy pickle slices or sprinkled shredded cheese for enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Customize meat choice by swapping ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Enhance flavor depth by sautéing onions and peppers before adding to crockpot, which caramelizes natural sugars and intensifies taste profile.
- Control sauce thickness by adjusting liquid ingredients – less vinegar and tomato paste creates a tighter consistency, while more creates a saucier texture.
- Prep ahead by browning meat and chopping vegetables night before, allowing faster morning assembly and reducing day-of cooking stress.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours (on Low) or 2 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg