Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

Only a few simple ingredients mix together and simmer with the ground beef all day to make mouth-watering Farmhouse Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Sandwiches.

If you like this classic recipe you may also enjoy our Hamburger Casserole or Slow Cooker BBQ Country Style Ribs.

Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe

Ground beef with tomato sauce, ketchup, onion and a few flavorings like Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, pepper and garlic make super easy sloppy joe sandwiches with a delicious sauce!

The BEST way to serve Sloppy Joes is on a buttered and browned brioche bun with a thick slice of sharp cheddar cheese!

Sloppy Joes make a perfect family meal in the crock pot because they are so easy to customize. Our family craves Instant Pot Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes and we find that this tomato-based sloppy joe sauce is a more traditional homemade version. If you like bell peppers or mushrooms they can easily be added to the tomato sauce.

Just like our Farmhouse Crock Pot Chili, browning ground beef and mixing all of the flavors in the crock pot is the easiest version of this recipe in my opinion. I like to mix everything up in the morning or when there is a break in my day and let it cook on low for several hours until my family is ready to eat.

Having warm food ready to go in the crock pot that can be served on a moment’s notice is a big help to keep our family fed and working during busy planting and harvest seasons. Life on the farm is totally unpredictable and often revolves around the weather and the equipment running properly and not breaking.

For a party we have this Sloppy Joes for a Crowd recipe.

Variations of Sloppy Joes

Our families have several versions of Sloppy Joes, but this crock pot version that my sister-in-law shared with us from an old community cookbook has some of the best flavor and is certainly the easiest for meal planning!

One of the most often eaten meals growing up was sloppy joe sandwiches. Sometimes homemade sloppy joes were served and sometimes hamburger was browned and a can of Manwich was added. We like this recipe much better than Manwich.

My husband grew up in a farm family that adds brown sugar and ketchup to ground beef for a super basic sloppy Joe. When they were feeling fancy they would add onion soup mix. They have a tradition to serve sloppy joes over macaroni and cheese. The ham is easily omitted from our No-Boil Macaroni and Cheese to serve mac and cheese with Sloppy Joe meat in place of buns.

I appreciate that just like our Pulled Pork, Cowboy Baked Beans, and Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham this meat holds well in the crock pot on low.

How to Make Farmhouse Crock Pot Sloppy Joes

1. Brown 2 pounds of hamburger in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain fat.
2. Line bottom of a greased or lined crock pot with ground beef.
3. Add remaining ingredients and stir well.
4. Cook on low 4 – 6 hours or high 3 – 4 hours, stirring occasionally.

Ingredients Needed

• Ground Beef – We prefer lean and we always cook in a skillet and drain before adding to the slow cooker.
• Onion – Yellow or white onion is our preference, but sweet onion works too.
• Tomato Sauce – A 12 ounce can is our go-to, but homemade is great as well.
• Ketchup
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Chili Powder
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder

Step By Step Instructions

Brown meat in a skillet and drain well

Pour cooked and crumbled beef into a lightly greased crock.

Pour a can of tomato sauce and ketchup over the meat. Use a mini silicone spatula to clean out the can.

Stir well and sprinkle seasonings over the top.

Stir this all together. Chop an onion and stir it in the saucy meat mixture too.

Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hour or on high for 3 to 4 hours.

Does Cheese Go on Sloppy Joes?

Cheddar cheese goes well with sloppy joes on a brioche bun. Cheddar or Colby perfectly accents the saucy ground beef on Texas toast or thick-sliced artesano bread. American cheese goes well on a regular sandwich bun.

Bacon and cheese are my favorite way to dress up a sloppy joe sandwich or better yet, a Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese.

Tips for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

• Customize this recipe by adding more spices, chopped green bell peppers, mushrooms or your favorite vegetable
• This is the best sloppy joe recipe when served on buttered and browned brioche buns with cheddar cheese
• Sauce can simmer for on low for up to 6 hours, stirring a couple times is best to keep the liquids and meat mixed together
• Crock pot sloppy joes are ready to eat when the onions are tender
• No extra condiments or sauces like mayo are needed because the meat is cooked and served in a delicious sauce
• Leftovers taste amazing served on thick slices of Texas toast with grilled cheese on sandwiches

Skillet Option for Sloppy Joes

Ground beef can be browned in a large, deep skillet and drained. Return ground beef to the skillet and add onions. When onions are tender add remaining ingredients and stir well.

Allow mixture to simmer on low for at least 10 minutes. Simmering for 30 minutes allows flavors to blend more and tastes better.

Storing & Using Leftover Sloppy Joes

Homemade sloppy joes can be stored in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for 2 – 4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.

We love making grilled cheese sandwiches and adding sloppy joe meat as well as baked sliders like our Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe Sliders.

Side Dishes To Serve With Sloppy Joes

• Country Style Scalloped Corn Casserole
• Jiffy Corn Pudding
• Air Fryer Broccoli with Garlic & Parmesan
• French Onion and Beef Consomme Rice
• Chocolate Delight

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes for a Crowd

• Sautéed Zucchini, Squash and Onions
• A roaster of Cheesy Potatoes for a Crowd
• Big Batch of Homemade Brownies
• Potato Salad For A Crowd

Originally published May 18, 2020 with updates made on November 8, 2023.