Slow Cooker Ground Beef Sloppy Joes: Easy, Hearty, and Family‑Friendly

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Sloppy Joes

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 322

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp ground cumin (optional)
• 4 hamburger buns

Method

 

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high and brown the ground beef, breaking it up into crumbles. Drain excess fat.
2. Transfer the browned beef to the slow cooker. Add diced onion, minced garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, salt, pepper, and cumin if using.
3. Stir everything together until well combined.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours, stirring once halfway through.
5. Just before serving, taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
6. Check doneness with a food thermometer before serving.

Notes

I learned that letting the sauce rest for 10 minutes after cooking lets the juices redistribute and the flavors deepen. If you need a thicker sauce, stir in a tablespoon of tomato paste during the last 30 minutes.

Food Safety Note: Always use a food thermometer to confirm your dish has reached a safe internal temperature before serving, and follow your country’s official food safety guidelines for meat, poultry, and slow-cooking. Cook times in this recipe are estimates — appliance and ingredient variation affects actual cook time.