By Becky Hardin
Updated Nov 4, 2025
These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are one of my favorite hands-off dinners! Cooking for two young kids is no small feat, but this recipe makes it easier on me. Made with ground beef, brown sugar, mustard, and a host of lip-smacking seasonings, these crockpot sloppy joes come out perfectly saucy.
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5-Star Review
“Love, love, love this recipe!” -Joan
Easy Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Juicy and loaded with flavor, these sloppy joes are always a family favorite and perfect for busy weeknights. When I have more time to prep, I’ll pull together a traditional recipe for sloppy joes , but this hands-off recipe lets the beef and sloppy joe seasonings simmer away while I tend to other things. Once they are done, I like to serve them on soft buns—kids, young and old, always love them.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 2 lbs. 85% lean ground beef or use chicken, turkey , or vegan meat crumbles
- ▢ ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ▢ ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper any color pepper will work
- ▢ 1 tsp kosher salt
- ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
- ▢ 8 oz. tomato sauce (½ jar)
- ▢ ½ cup ketchup
- ▢ ⅓ cup chili sauce such as Heinz
- ▢ 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ▢ 1½ tbsp yellow mustard
- ▢ 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ▢ 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- ▢ 1 tbsp ground chili powder
- ▢ 12 hamburger buns for serving
Video
Instructions
- In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes until no pink remains. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Drain any excess fat, then transfer the beef to a 6-quart crockpot. 2 lbs. 85% lean ground beef, ½ cup finely chopped onion, ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 3 cloves garlic
- Stir in remaining ingredients, cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. 8 oz. tomato sauce, ½ cup ketchup, ⅓ cup chili sauce, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1½ tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp ground chili powder
- Serve on toasted hamburger rolls or slider buns with your favorite toppings like cheese, pickles, and onions. 12 hamburger buns
Equipment
- Crockpot
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes Step by Step
Sauté the beef: In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add 2 lbs. of ground beef, ½ cup of finely chopped onion, and ½ cup of finely chopped green bell pepper. Season the beef mixture with 1 tsp of salt and ½ tsp of pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes until the ground beef is no longer pink. Stir in 3 minced cloves of garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Drain any excess fat in the skillet and then transfer to the crockpot.
Cook the filling: Add 8 oz. of tomato sauce, ½ cup of ketchup, ⅓ cup of chili sauce, 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar, 1½ tbsp of yellow mustard, 1 tbsp of brown sugar, 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce, and 1 tbsp of ground chili powder to the beef mixture. Cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Serve : Serve on hamburger rolls or slider buns. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store leftover slow cooker sloppy joes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the meat separately from the buns. Reheat the meat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Freeze crockpot sloppy joe meat in an airtight container or Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
I love these crockpot sloppy joes heaped onto homemade hamburger buns . If you’re short on time, a brioche or potato roll from the store works well, too. Add a side of potato chips or French fries and a dill pickle spear , and you’ve got one tasty meal!
more crockpot ground beef recipes
Crockpot Goulash
Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
Crockpot Taco Soup
Crockpot Sloppy Joes Recipe
Equipment
- Crockpot
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. 85% lean ground beef or use chicken, turkey , or vegan meat crumbles
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper any color pepper will work
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 oz. tomato sauce (½ jar)
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup chili sauce such as Heinz
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1½ tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp ground chili powder
- 12 hamburger buns for serving
Instructions
- In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 4-5 minutes until no pink remains. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Drain any excess fat, then transfer the beef to a 6-quart crockpot. 2 lbs. 85% lean ground beef, ½ cup finely chopped onion, ½ cup finely chopped green bell pepper, 1 tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 3 cloves garlic
- Stir in remaining ingredients, cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. 8 oz. tomato sauce, ½ cup ketchup, ⅓ cup chili sauce, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1½ tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp ground chili powder
- Serve on toasted hamburger rolls or slider buns with your favorite toppings like cheese, pickles, and onions. 12 hamburger buns
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
