Easy Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes Freezer Meal

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are the kind of dinner that brings everyone to the table, including the picky eaters. This recipe is made with a combination of pantry style ingredients along with ground beef and vegetables. It’s perfect when you can let it warm up in the slow cooker for a few hours before having to get dinner on the table! This recipe works well as a freezer meal option!

Sloppy Joes are the perfect choice for a quick meal. We love to pair them with Potato Chips, Air Fryer Truffle Fries or Tater Tots; they are fantastic paired together! This has become our go-to meal of choice on a busy weeknight when homework needs to be done and I can’t watch the stove!

What you’ll love about Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes:

• No babysitting the stove, dump it and let the slow cooker warm it up!
• Just a few pantry ingredients that will make this dish flavorful.
• Easy to make gluten-free, just serve on a gluten-free bun!
• The leftovers taste just as good!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes:

• Ground Beef
• Celery
• Yellow Onion or White Onion
• Green Pepper
• Water
• Ketchup
• Barbecue Sauce
• Tomato Sauce
• Brown Sugar
• Dry Mustard
• Worcestershire Sauce (Make sure it’s gluten-free if needed.)
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Cornstarch
• Salt/Pepper to taste
• Hamburger Buns or Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns

Step-by-Step Instructions for Sloppy Joes in the Slow Cooker:

1. In a medium-sized skillet, add the ground beef and begin to cook until browned.
2. Add in the celery, onions, and green pepper.
3. Cook until the ground beef is browned and the veggies are soft.
4. Drain if needed, then add the mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker.
5. Add in the water, ketchup, barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, brown sugar, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar.
6. Stir to combine.
7. Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours or until heated through and well mixed.
8. Stir the meat well, whisking in the 1/2 Tbsp of cornstarch, and let sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken. If it is already thick enough, this step can be skipped.
9. Add salt or pepper to taste and serve on buns.

Tips for the BEST Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes:

• Toast the buns before serving for some extra texture.
• Think outside the bun – serve on baked potatoes or even cornbread!
• Add pickles, cheese, and coleslaw.
• These are great for lunches, store the sloppy joe meat, and then warm up before serving.
• Make it spicy by adding red pepper flakes or sriracha.

How do you make gluten-free sloppy joes?

If you need these to be made gluten-free, use gluten-free buns and make sure to use gluten-free Worcestershire Sauce such as Lea & Perkins, which is used in the US.

Alternatively, these can be served over potatoes or rice too for a bread-free version!

How to store leftover Sloppy Joes:

Let the meat cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to serve, warm for 30 seconds in the microwave and continue until heated through.

If you prefer to freeze the meat, place it in a freezer-safe storage bag and it can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to reheat, heat the meat in the slow cooker on low for 1-2 hours or until defrosted and warm.

Freezer Sloppy Joes Instructions:

To prep these Sloppy Joes as a freezer meal, start by browning your ground beef (or turkey) in a skillet and draining the excess fat. Once the meat has cooled completely, which is a crucial step to prevent freezer burn, add it to a heavy-duty, gallon-sized freezer bag along with all remaining ingredients, do not add cornstarch and buns.

Squeeze as much air out of the bag as possible, label it with the date and cooking instructions, and freeze it flat for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready for dinner, thaw the bag in the refrigerator overnight. Pour the contents into a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on low for 2-3 hours until the sauce is thick and bubbly, following the instructions in the recipe card.

If you are doing freezer meal prep, check out the full list of freezer meal ideas!

Eating a good ole’ sloppy joe just takes me back to childhood. It reminds me of simpler times and sitting around the table with family enjoying dinner. I hope that’s the memories it brings to my kids someday too! Now it’s time to enjoy an easy meal with these Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes!