Description
Sizzling Crockpot Sloppy Joes bring messy comfort to dinner tables with minimal effort. Ground beef simmered in tangy sauce creates a hearty meal you’ll crave all week long.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) ketchup
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons (25 grams) brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) salt
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 grams) black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon (1.25 grams) red pepper flakes
Additional:
- hamburger buns
Instructions
- Sauté ground beef with onions and garlic in a skillet over medium heat until meat browns, carefully draining accumulated fat.
- Transfer the seasoned meat mixture into the crockpot, ensuring even distribution.
- Create a tangy sauce by whisking together ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper in a separate mixing bowl.
- Pour the prepared sauce over the meat, gently stirring to ensure complete coating and flavor integration.
- Cover the crockpot and slow cook on low temperature for 4-6 hours or high temperature for 2-3 hours, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- Once meat becomes tender and sauce thickens, verify seasoning and adjust if needed.
- Lightly toast hamburger buns to provide a crisp foundation for the saucy meat mixture.
- Spoon the rich, savory sloppy joe filling generously onto prepared buns, ensuring each serving has ample sauce and meat.
Notes
- Optimize meat flavor by using lean ground beef (90/10) to reduce excess grease while maintaining rich taste.
- Create vegetarian version by substituting ground beef with plant-based crumbles or lentils for protein-packed alternative.
- Enhance sauce depth by adding a splash of beef broth or coffee for complex, robust undertones.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium ketchup and adjusting added salt to suit dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 354 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg