Crockpot Sloppy Joes
There's something about a Sloppy Joe that instantly takes me back to my grandmother's kitchen. This Crockpot Sloppy Joe recipe is her old-fashioned recipe, and it was her clever way of using up whatever was coming out of her garden, whether bell peppers, onions, or the tomatoes she canned herself every summer. Grandma never used a drop of ketchup, and honestly, once you taste the real deal tomato flavor in these classic Sloppy Joes, you won't miss it either.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped (about a cup)
- 1 small green bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes (do not drain)
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 8 hamburger buns for serving
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground beef and break the meat up with a spatula. Drain the fat away from the ground beef and add the beef to the crockpot.
- Wipe out the skillet and turn the heat down to low. Add the tablespoon of oil along with the chopped peppers and onions to the skillet. Stir occasionally so the onions do not burn. Sauté for 5-7 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
- Add the peppers and onions to the crockpot along with the beef.
- Add the remaining ingredients (except buns) to the crockpot. Set on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours. The meat is completely cooked through, this time just allows for the meat to soak up flavor and the tomatoes to cook down.
- About 30 minutes before ready to serve, prop the lid open slightly to allow the steam to release and the liquid to reduce down a bit.
- Serve the Sloppy Joes on buns with chips or fries.