
This easy-to-make Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Sandwiches recipe does not involve a can! It is totally made from scratch!
I used to love it when my mom would make sloppy joes for dinner when I was a kid. I don’t exactly recall what brand she used but she would pour a can of sloppy joe sauce over some ground beef and serve it on a hamburger bun.

I prefer not to use pre-made canned stuff when I can make it myself. If you plan accordingly, this is the perfect way to make Sloppy Joe sandwiches from scratch.
What’s great about this Sloppy Joe recipe is that you get to use your Slow Cooker so you can prepare this recipe ahead of time on those busy days.
Another alternative for you sloppy joe lovers is my Sloppy Joe Casserole or my Salsa Sloppy Joes. Yummy!
BBQ Sauce
For the BBQ Sauce, you can use whichever brand you like. Personally, I like Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Barbecue Sauce (no affiliation) but you can use what you have on hand or any flavor you want.

Slow Cooker Tip
Try to resist as much as possible the temptation to open the lid while it’s cooking as the slow cooker loses heat. Just opening the lid to stir the contents can make the internal temperature drop by 10°F to 15°F.
Recipe Tip
You can also add a bit of cornstarch slurry to the meat mixture to thicken it up if desired. I suggest 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cold water.
Gather your Ingredients
You will need the following ingredients to make this Sloppy Joe Sandwiches recipe. For ingredient amounts please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Lean Ground Beef – try to use the leanest ground beef you can
- Yellow Onion – sweet onion or white onions are good substitutes
- Yellow Mustard – I use French’s mustard (no affiliation)
- Ketchup – I personally only use Heinz but you can use whatever brand you want
- BBQ Sauce – you can use store-bought or one of my BBQ Sauce Recipes
- Garlic Powder – adds a savory, mellow, and concentrated garlic flavor
- Worcestershire Sauce – adds a savory, umami flavor
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Salt & Pepper
How to Make Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
- Add all the ingredients except the buns to the slow cooker. Mix so that all the ingredients are well combined.
- Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
- If the meat mixture starts looking dried out at any time, just add a bit of water to make it juicier. If the mixture is too juicy, leave the lid off of your slow cooker for the last half hour and let some of the liquids evaporate to thicken up.
- Serve up a healthy portion of the sloppy joe mixture on a toasted bun of your choice.
Recipe Video
More Recipe Ideas
Printable Recipe Card

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
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Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except the buns to the slow cooker. Mix so that all the ingredients are well combined.
- Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
- If the meat mixture starts looking dried out at any time, just add a bit of water to make it juicier. If the mixture is too juicy, leave the lid off of your slow cooker for the last half hour and let some of the liquids evaporate to thicken up.
- Serve up a healthy portion of the sloppy joe mixture on a toasted bun of your choice.
This recipe is quick and very affordable. Once in the crockpot there is no need to worry about it. Very tasty and the kids just loved it. A keeper for sure.