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A hearty batch of slow cooker sloppy joes simmering in a crockpot.

Smoky & Sweet Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

These smoky and sweet sloppy joes are made effortlessly in a slow cooker, combining ground beef with a rich, flavorful sauce for a comforting meal perfect for any weeknight.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 sandwiches
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat
  • 1.5 lbs 80/20 lean ground beef (or ground turkey/chicken)
Produce
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
Sauce
  • 1.5 cups ketchup
  • 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (optional, for finishing)
  • 8-10 hamburger buns (brioche recommended)

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Slow cooker
  • Medium bowl
  • Whisk

Method
 

Browning Meat
  1. Brown the ground beef and diced onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat for 7-10 minutes, breaking up the meat until no pink remains and onions soften.
  2. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
Slow Cooker Assembly
  1. Transfer the cooked meat and onion mixture to your slow cooker.
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, beef broth, salt, and pepper.
  3. Pour this sauce over the meat in the slow cooker and stir to coat everything evenly.
Cooking
  1. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1.5-2 hours. To thicken the sauce, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  2. Just before serving, stir in the optional butter for richness and adjust seasonings to taste.
Serving
  1. Serve the hot sloppy joe mixture on toasted hamburger buns.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider toasting your hamburger buns before serving. To adjust the sweetness or smokiness, modify the amount of brown sugar or smoked paprika to your preference.