Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes with Homemade Sauce
Ground beef simmered with sautéed onions and peppers in a tangy-sweet sauce of tomato, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and warm spices. Cooked low and slow for 6-8 hours until flavors meld. Serve on toasted buns for a crowd-pleasing comfort food meal.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, browned
- ½ brown onion, chopped
- ½ green pepper, chopped
- 4 oz tomato sauce
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- ⅛ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ cup flour
Instructions
- 1
Brown ground beef in a skillet with chopped onion and green pepper until beef is no longer pink
- 2
Drain excess fat from the skillet
- 3
Transfer beef and vegetable mixture to a crock pot
- 4
Add tomato sauce, water, ketchup, barbecue sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and flour
- 5
Stir to combine
- 6
Cook on LOW setting, stirring occasionally, until flavors develop
Tips
Stirring occasionally prevents sticking and allows flavors to distribute evenly
Brown the beef properly before transferring to ensure better texture and flavor development
Good to Know
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Brown beef and chop vegetables the day before. Assemble crock pot in the morning and cook as directed.
Spoon onto toasted hamburger buns. Serve with coleslaw, pickles, or potato chips on the side.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the browning step to avoid a greasy, one-dimensional texture
Do not add flour before the slow cooking to avoid lumps; stir it in with other ingredients