This Easy Crock Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe is a family favorite that costs less than $1 a serving! With just 4 ingredients and almost no hands-on time, you brown the beef, dump everything in the slow cooker, and dinner is ready when you are. It’s become our go-to for busy weeknights, birthday parties, and potluc
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 4 ingredients. Ground beef, brown sugar, mustard, and ketchup — you probably have everything but the beef in your pantry right now.
- Only $0.93 a serving. This entire batch costs about $16.77, which comes out to under a dollar a person — even cheaper than a can of sloppy joe sauce.
- Truly hands-off. Brown the beef, dump everything else in, and the slow cooker does the rest while you go about your day.
- Feeds a crowd. This recipe is easy to double or triple for birthday parties, potlucks, or game day with zero extra effort.
- Freezer-friendly. Make a double batch and freeze half for a night when cooking isn’t in the cards.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes Recipe:
The slow cooker sloppy joe recipe is perfect anytime of the year! It is also great for your next get-together or birthday party.
This recipe easily can be double or tripled for your next party. It is our go to party recipe! From family gatherings to birthday parties this crockpot sloppy joes recipe is so easy to make!
Sloppy Joes is a great meal for family time. If we want something quick, we love making our Pepperoni Pizza Sloppy Joes! My kids love pizza so combining the two, pizza and sloppy joes, makes a great family time meal. Just a few more ingredients, including tomato sauce and we will have dinner on the table.
How to make Sloppy Joes in the slow cooker:
I know you will be shocked with the simple ingredients, but I don’t like to complicate things. Sometimes the easiest recipes are the best recipes. At least, that is true for me.
I think you will love how easy this 4 ingredient sloppy joe slow cooker recipe is to make.
The crock pot does all the work with this dinner. I come home after a long day and dinner is done. The family loved this easy crock pot dinner.
We love slow cooker beef recipes just for this reason. I love to be able to put all the ingredients in the crock pot in the morning and know it will be ready for my family after a long day of school and work.
A Note on the Ingredients
- Ground beef: Regular ground beef works great here. If you want a leaner version, 90/10 works too — you’ll just have less grease to drain.
- Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work fine; dark will taste slightly richer.
- Mustard: Plain yellow mustard is all you need — no need for anything fancy.
- Ketchup: Regular ketchup gives this its classic tang. No substitutes needed.
How to make Crock pot Sloppy joes:
- Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks, until it reaches 160°F on a meat thermometer and is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease, then add the beef to the slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
A Note on Flavor: This version is sweet and tangy, right down the middle — not too sharp from the mustard and not too sweet from the brown sugar. If your family prefers it less sweet, start with half the brown sugar and add more to taste at the end. If you love a tangier bite, stir in an extra tablespoon of mustard. - Cover and cook on low for 3–5 hours, or on high for 2 hours.
- Serve on hamburger buns.
This recipe will make 8 to 16 servings depending on how big your hamburger buns are. We like the bigger ones, but we also like the small buns as well. It works great for younger kids and for parties.
Equipment Note: This recipe is sized for a 6-quart slow cooker. This will still work in a smaller 3-4 quart slow cooker.
A Recipe So Simple, My Dad Didn’t Believe It
I remember making this sloppy joes in the crock pot for the first time and my father was like… where are the seasonings? Because not even salt and pepper is needed in this recipe!
And I responded, “Trust me, it is going to taste amazing.” After one bite, he agreed. He is a fan of the traditional sloppy joes on the stove top but I think I may have changed his mind.
Can you put raw ground beef in a slow cooker?
Yes! If you in the market for a new crock pot you should check out the Instant Pot Aura. This makes it so nice to cook the ground beef right in the slow cooker and then put the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot and dinner is done.
You can still cook your ground beef and then place everything in a regular crock pot if you do not own one with a browning option. Both ways, your slow cooker sloppy joes will be delicious!
Can I use ground turkey or chicken?
Yes! If you are wanting a healthier twist to the traditional sloppy joes try making it with ground turkey or ground chicken. My guess is your family won’t know the difference and you can serve them a little healthy version to a classic recipe!
Sometimes, I also sneak in some onion and bell peppers and the kids don’t even taste them since they cook all day long in the slow cooker but they still get all the nutrients from them.
Making a Bigger or Smaller Batch
This recipe is easy to scale up or down — the cook time stays about the same either way.
- To halve it: Use 1 ½ lbs ground beef, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 tablespoons mustard, and ¾ cup ketchup. Perfect for a smaller household, or if you just want fewer leftovers.
- To double or triple it: Simply double or triple every ingredient. Just make sure your slow cooker is large enough to hold everything without overflowing — you may need to cook it in two batches or use a large roaster instead.
Sloppy Joes Side Dish ideas:
If you are going to make this easy sloppy joes crock pot recipe then you definitely should try some of our delicious sides. I love to serve this with our microwave broccoli or our delicious grilled corn on the cob recipe.
With these easy sides, dinner takes about 30 minutes to get done! Which means more time with family instead of in the kitchen.
How to freeze sloppy joes
You have two options when freezing sloppy joes. You can freeze all the ingredients uncooked and place in it a freezer bag. Then on cooking day you will just add the bag to the crock pot with about a cup of beef broth.
The second option to freezing is to freeze your leftovers. I like to cool the slow cooker sloppy joes and then place in freezer bags. You can freeze the entire set of leftovers or freeze them individual servings for quick lunch ideas
Leftover Sloppy Joe Ideas
Turn your leftover sloppy joe meat into a whole new meal:
- Spoon it over baked potatoes or fries for an easy, mess-free dinner.
- Stuff it into crescent rolls and bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes for sloppy joe pockets the kids will love.
- Pile it onto a grilled cheese before grilling for a hearty twist on a classic.
Homemade vs. Canned: Which Is Actually Cheaper?
A can of sloppy joe sauce typically runs $2-$3 and only makes enough for about 4 servings when mixed with a pound of beef.
This homemade batch costs about $16.77 total, or just $1.40 per serving, and makes up to 15 servings — meaning you geting almost four times the servings for less than the cost of four cans of sauce. Skip the can, and you’ll have money left over for buns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Assemble everything in the slow cooker insert, cover, and refrigerate. When you’re ready to cook, the time stays the same — no need to add extra time for the cold start.
Yes, this recipe doubles and triples easily for parties and potlucks — just double or triple every ingredient and make sure your slow cooker is large enough to hold it all.
No — this recipe is intentionally kept to 4 ingredients and doesn’t need salt, pepper, or extra spices. If you’d like a little more depth, a dash of Worcestershire sauce or garlic powder works well too.
We don’t recommend it. Browning the beef first lets you drain the excess grease, which keeps the finished sloppy joes from turning greasy in the slow cooker.
Leftover sloppy joe filling keeps in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Easy Crock Pot Sloppy joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs ground beef or you can use ground turkey
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup mustard
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- 12 -15 hamburger buns
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef, drain off any excess grease, and add it to the slow cooker.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 3–5 hours.
- Serve warm on hamburger buns.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
More Sloppy Joes Recipes:
- Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes Recipe
- Quick and Easy BBQ Sloppy Joes Recipe
- Easy Sloppy Joes – Only 3 Ingredients!
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Recipe
- Sloppy Joes Stuffed Cheesy Bread
- Instant Pot Sloppy Joes Recipe
I saw some other recipes with a lot more ingredients & I was worried that this might be too plain, but it was delicious!!! We are not picky eaters, but we are snobs ? My husband & I both like to cook so we know what we like. As a working mom I’m always looking for quick crockpot or pressure cooker ideas that actually taste good & this one definitely delivered! We have 4 kids & all 4 kids loved it. This will definitely be added to our rotation. I made mine it in a pressure cooker with 1/2 cup of water, cooked for 5 minutes, & it was perfect. I also skipped browning the beef, I just dumped it in & turned it on.
Candi – Your review has made my day! Thank you so much for sharing. I’m so glad your family and you enjoyed it as much as my family does and thank you so much for taking the time to share and for the positive review!
Hello! Excited to try this tonight! Was curious if there was a preferred fat content for the beef when making sloppy joes? 80/20? 90/10? Thanks so much!
David – I think 80/20 gives it the best flavor but any will work!
Surprising how often the simplest recipes are the best recipes. I use this one as my top secret chili dog recipe for tailgate parties. I use ground turkey because it’s inexpensive and easier to get to a finely ground texture when browning. Then I blacken the hot dogs on the stove top, slice them almost through lengthwise, stuff them with as much of the Sloppy Joe mixture as they’ll hold, and then submerge them in the rest and cook on low for three. When we get to the game it’s just a matter of reheating and passing out buns. Always a hit.
Love this idea Bill! Thank you so much for sharing and for the positive review of this recipe!
I was thinking it now but I don’t see where you add no seasoning that’s what I’m puzzled by any help I’d appreciate it
Finley – It’s a very simple recipe but with amazing flavor so no additional seasonings are needed. I hope you try it out and let me know what you think!
Made this for the first time yesterday for a potluck supper. This was a HUGE hit. Before the cleanup, there was nothing left. I received many compliments and requests for the recipe. I was so sorry I didn’t double the recipe. I will definitely be making this again.
Sandra – Thank you for leaving this kind comment. I’m so glad everyone enjoyed the Sloppy Joes!
I don’t need that much there is only three of us. How can I half the recipe or can I freeze the extras?
Cheryl – I recommend freezing half for later. It’s an easy way to cook once but enjoy twice. Perfect for busy weeknights. Just allow to cool and place in freezer container or bag. Freeze up to 2 months.
If I make it ahead and refrigerate it prior to putting it in the crock pot, should I cook it longer?
No, the cook time would be the same.
My husband and our guests said that this was the best Sloppy Joe recipe that they’ve ever had.
Awesome! I love hearing that everyone loved it – Thank you for sharing!
I also added some bbq sauce and salt and pepper delish thank you
Husband Loves These! He called them “Rich Man Joe’s!” I had to giggle. If only he knew how easy these were. Cudos to you….
I’m so glad you loved it!
This recipe totally surprised me. It was exactly what I was looking for, a savory sloppy joe. The can recipe is way too sweet. I even added chopped onion, several tablespoons minced garlic, and Worcestershire sauce to the beef while browning. It was sooo good. The whole family ate it up, even the picky eater of the family.
Made this yesterday. I was concerned the brown sugar would make it sweet but it kinda mellows out the mustard and ketchup. Added a few dashes of worcestershire. I did not use a crockpot though. Just made it in a Dutch oven and let it simmer for over an hour. Didn’t see the point of the crockpot since I had to brown all that ground beef. One pot! Will make again. Really yummy.
I would recommend doubling the recipe if you’re feeding a large family. Other than that, this recipe is very tasty and a huge hit with our crew!
Nice traditional recipe. Except easier in crock pot.
I do add bit of Worcester sauce. And a pinch of corn starch diluted in 3 T of water
Solidifies and helps if there is a little fat residue from ground beef
Very good and easy to make.
Triied it today, it is awesome. So easy to do.
I no longer make Sloppy Joe’s any other way! GREAT flavor!
Love, love, love this recipe. Easy to put together, and my picky eaters don’t complain.
I love this sloppy joe . I can eat it over and over. I do not like the can sloppy joe and can not eat it. So I would rate this recipe a 10
Can I make this recipe just on the stovetop? For a quick dinner.
Yes, that would work great and be very easy too!
Can you make this is a pressure cooker?
Yes, you can. I would cook on high pressure for 5 minutes.
Do you drain the beef after you cook and before you put it into a crockpot?
I made these and I used turkey meat and I added a little baby rays maple bbq sauce! It was delicious!
Yum! That sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds good, never made with mustard and brown sugar, going to give it a try, but will add onions and bell pepper to it! Thanks for your awesome recipes!!
Hi! I’m cooking for two so going to use 1lb of meat, what measurement of the ingredients do you recommend? Will it make a huge difference without the mustard both me and my husband don’t love mustard.
If you are using 1 lb of ground beef, I would use 1/8 cup brown sugar and mustard and 1/2 cup of ketchup. You can definitely leave the mustard out if you don’t like it. Thanks.
As I live in UK had never made before. Big hit!! Will be making again delicious.
Great – Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this delicious and affordable recipe! I used it for a family gathering in December and it was devoured. I have another family gathering today and I’ll be making this again but DOUBLING the recipe! Definitely an easy, filling, and comforting meal to feed a crowd.
Hi there I am new with this ninja cooker could you please tell me how do you use one to cook ground beef on what setting & do you put lid on it?
Dorothy – On mine there is a “stove top” option. That’s the setting that I use to brown ground beef and I do that with the lid off. I hope you’re loving your Ninja as much as I love mine 🙂
If I’m using less beef, like 2 lbs, how much brown sugar, mustard and ketchup do I use?
Hi, Alexis , I would start with about 1/4 cup brown sugar and mustar, 1 cup ketchup. Then adjust as needed to get the consistency you like, thanks so much
These are great, I made them for family gathering . So easy and ready when we were ready to eat
Do you drain fat off ground beef?
I usually use 90 percent ground beef so its not necessary, it really just depends on your meat. But if you have a lot of fat I would definitely drain.
Looks delicious going to make I hope this weekend!
Thanks
Peggy