Skip the Can—These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes Are So Much Better
You can skip the can with these slow cooker sloppy joes. With a quick homemade sauce and a simple trick for keeping the beef tender, this recipe delivers that classic sweet-and-tangy flavor with a richer, more homemade taste. Let the crockpot do the work, and in a few hours you’ll have a hearty, saucy filling ready to pile high on toasted buns, perfect for feeding a crowd or stocking the freezer for later.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 slices white bread
- ¼ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 onions (chopped (about 2 cups))
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes or sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 4 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ⅛ teaspoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Tear bread into pieces and place in a large bowl. Add milk, salt and pepper and mash with a fork. Add ground beef and use your hands to combine.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add onions. Cook until softened, about 6-8 minutes. Add garlic and chili powder and cook for a minute. Next add half of the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Add the remaining ground beef and cook until all of the beef is no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease. Add the tomatoes and stir to combine. Add to the slow cooker.
- To the slow cooker, add ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, hot sauce and Worcestershire and stir to combine with the ground beef mixture. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Skim off any grease from the surface. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Stir and serve over hamburger buns.
Barbara's Notes + Tips
- Store: Let the sloppy joe mixture cool before transferring it to an airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stove over low heat or in the microwave, stirring now and then until hot.
- Freeze: This freezes well after cooking. Let it cool completely, then pack it into freezer-safe containers or bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through.
- You can substitute ground chicken or turkey for the ground beef.
Nutrition
Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 541mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 244IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3mg
