This healthy Crock Pot Sloppy Joes recipe looks and sounds unhealthy, but is packed with tons of veggies {hello zucchini, carrot, and squash} and lean beef! An easy and tasty meal everyone will enjoy!
Crock Pot Sloppy Joes are a pretty typical dinner that we eat over at the Lauren’s Latest household. It looks and sounds unhealthy, but is packed with tons of veggies {hello zucchini, carrot, and squash} and lean beef. Plus, I took it a step further and served these on whole wheat buns. Oh, and it makes for an awesome crockpot meal too! My family gobbled this up and we even had leftovers. Seriously so good!
Crock Pot Sloppy Joe Ingredients
Here is everything you’ll need to make Crock Pot Sloppy Joes!
- Lean Ground Beef – I used 90/10. You could also use ground turkey here to make it even healthier.
- Onion, Baby Carrots, Zucchini, and Yellow Squash – these are all of the vegetables that are hidden in these sloppy joes!
- Salt and Pepper – season to taste!
Sloppy Joe Sauce
If you plan on cooking this sloppy joe recipe for longer in the crock pot than what the recipe calls for, make a sauce with a tad bit more water.
- Water – as stated above, the longer you cook the more water you need to keep things “sloppy”.
- Ketchup – sweet and vinegary.
- Worcestershire Sauce – use your favorite brand of sauce for the best results.
- Dried Mustard – a sharp flavor that is activated by water, we are only using a small amount.
- Brown Sugar – to balance out all of the savory flavors.
- Chili Powder – if you like things spicy, add a little more chili powder.
- Salt and Pepper – season as you go!
Toppings
- Whole Wheat Kaiser Buns – or you could use hamburger buns. Toasting your buns is always recommended!
- Dill Pickles – we like dill pickles with our sloppy joes. Feel free to add what you like to yours.
- Cheddar Cheese – cheese adds a great creamy texture to the sandwich.
How to Make Sloppy Joes in the Crock Pot
This Crock Pot Sloppy Joes recipe is a simple one! Once you cook and drain the beef & veggies, the rest is a cakewalk. And the longer it cooks, the yummier it gets, as is the case with most crockpot meals. For the full recipe, check out the recipe card down below!
- Turn crockpot to high and set aside. In a large, nonstick skillet, brown ground beef. While meat is browning, grate onion, carrot, zucchini, and yellow squash. Drain well and spoon meat into warmed crock pot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Replace pan to the heat. Place vegetables into the hot pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until the vegetables are tender. Pour over meat in crock pot.
- Replace pan back on the heat. Pour in all ingredients for the sauce and whisk until smooth. Simmer then pour over ingredients in crock pot. Stir then cover and cook.
- Serve over tightly toasted whole wheat hamburger or kaiser buns with any desired toppings.
Crock Pot Sloppy Joe Sides
To round out this meaty meal try serving it alongside these side dishes!
Leftovers
Any leftover Crock Pot Sloppy Joes can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge for up to 5 days!
This recipe is great for meal prepping for the rest of the week.
Freezing
The beauty of this recipe is that you could even store the leftovers in the freezer for up to 4 months!
Cool completely, then transfer sloppy joe mixture into an airtight container. To use, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the crock pot or stovetop.
More Sloppy Joe Recipes to Try!
If you loved this Crock Pot Sloppy Joes recipe you’re going to love the other sloppy joes I have to offer!
Anyways, printable recipe below. Enjoy, friends!!
Healthier Crock Pot Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. lean ground beef I used 90/10
- 1 large onion
- 2/3 cup baby carrots
- 2 small zucchini
- 2 small yellow squash
sloppy joe sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 1/2 cups ketchup
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon dried mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 6-8 whole wheat kaiser rolls or hamburger buns
optional toppings:
- dill pickles
- cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Turn crockpot to high and set aside. In a large, nonstick skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat. While meat is browning, grate onion, carrot, zucchini, and yellow squash using a food processor {or you can do it by hand}. Drain well and spoon meat into warmed crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Replace pan to the heat.
- Place vegetables into the hot pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until the water from the veggies has evaporated and vegetables are tender about 7 minutes. Pour over meat in crockpot.
- Replace pan back on the heat. Pour in all ingredients for the sauce and whisk until smooth. Simmer gently 5 minutes, then pour over ingredients in crockpot. Stir to coat everything evenly. Cover and cook 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve over tightly toasted whole wheat hamburger or kaiser buns.
Karen says
You know, I’ve never been a huge sloppy joe fan, but I think these actually sound great. Plus I think my picky boys might actually eat them. And sneaking in vegetables?! Super mom win!
Sorry about the new roof–we’re going to have to do that soon, too. (As in, we probably should have done it already, but we aren’t quite ready to lay down $5-6k.) Sometimes adulthood is the pits, right!?
Hope these next couple weeks go by easily for you!
Lauren says
Oh my heavens! I wish my roof only costed $5-6k!! They found mold under the sheeting and on the trusses of our roof, so we had to do this whole mold removal and get brand new everything!! A serious nightmare to have to deal with over Christmas. But in like 3 months, I won’t even be thinking about this, right?! I keep telling myself that over and over again. Ha!!
Erin says
Ugh…I had a baby last New Year’s Eve…I feel your pain, with being pregnant. Not the roof thing (which SUCKS!) These look AMAZING! I’m running out of crock pot ideas, so these are great!
Melisa says
Been there and done that before. We had to replace a wood shingle roof that did not have the any backing under it, so the roof was open while they replaced it and tons of debris filled my attic space and of course it was twice the cost of a regular roof replacement. I also really glad that we can go back to the normal routine at my house too. 🙂 Happy New Year.
Gail says
Remember you wont have to do it again for another 20 years. I had to replace 2 air cond. 6k and re paint our house which is 3 stories and really hard to paint if you don’t have the equipment to reach the sky. 7k later and it looks great but I wont be buying any new shoes for awhile. I was glad for the air, Christmas was hot. 84. 2016 WILL be better.. We all demand it. Cant wait to hear about your progress.
Dot McFadden says
My husband loves Sloppy Joes and this will be right down his alley. As for me, I love anything with zucchini…I will certainly enjoy making this. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes!
beejsteph says
Lauren,
I Love The Recipe!! As For All The Housing Repair Woes Of Being An Adult…I Am So VERY SORRY! 🙁 I Have Learned One Very IMPORTANT Lesson In Buying A House, Car, Or Any MAJOR Purchase Of Great Value…NEVER Buy Those Kinds Of Things Based On Someone’s Word!! ALWAYS Get Written Statements, Receipts Etc From The Person Who Completed The Said Repair…Such As A Roof, Car/Engine/Transmission Repairs…Because MOST Of The Time There Is A Warranty That Comes With Those Repairs.
ALWAYS GET An Inspection When You Buy A House, Car, Trailer, Boat Etc!!! ALWAYS!! That Way There Is NOTHING Left To The Wind. It Is Not About Hurting Someone’s Feelings By Having An Inspection. It Is All About “PROTECTING” You And Your Beautiful Family!
Can’t Wait To See Pics Of Your New Arrival In A Few Weeks!! Praying ALL Goes AMAZING With Your Delivery! Blessings To You And Your Beautiful Family This New Yr!! 🙂
Aprile Blair says
Thank you for the recipe! Do you think this would taste as good if cooked on the stovetop and if so, how long do you think it should simmer. Thanks!
Cassidy says
Converted this to pressure cooker and used ground turkey and added a thing of mushroom. It turned out AMAZING! The meat was sauted and I only pressure cooked for 7 mins. Dinner was served. Thank you for this delicious recipe. I’ve already shared it twice and only made it two days ago.
Deborah Combs says
Please have the calorie and fat content
Stef says
Sloppy joes are a family favorite and I am looking to make some healthier recipes so these sloppy joes will be perfect!
Marilyn says
I love the way these are above and beyond with all the veggies. Substance. Are we able to pin your recipes? I don’t see the pin…
Charli says
Just stumbled across your blog tonight. I am a teacher trying to make it through the last week of school. I made this and it was incredible. I will easily be making myself come home for dinner. Thank you for a great recipe that made me feel like a kid again. You can’t even taste the veggies.
Jeanine says
This looks yummy! I have never thought about making sloppy joes with vegetables. Thank you for this recipe and all your other ones.
Amy says
I would like to make this as a freezer meal. Would you recommend cooking before freezing, or putting all the uncooked ingredients in a freezer bag then pouring together in the crockpot?
Mina says
These were a HUGE hit with the kiddos! I did replace the ketchup with 2 cans tomato paste and water, and omitted the brown sugar. So wonderfully tasty and a definite crowd pleaser. Mahalo!
Karen says
I’m commenting again so that I can give this recipe 5 stars. It’s one of my go-tos whenever I need to make a lot of food—whether for a large group or for bringing a meal to someone. I usually make it as part of a baked potato bar, and it is just soooooo good. I mean, it’s good on its own. And it’s good on a potato. Or it’s good as a chip dip (that’s how my kids eat it). It’s one of my husband’s favorite meals. (And my MIL’s, too.)
Lori says
Do you think it would be okay if I let this cook for 8 hours? If so would you recommend adding extra liquid?
Lauren says
If you cook it for 8 hours, make sure it’s on low! Even then, 8 hours is a long time to cook it since everything is already cooked. Extra liquid might be a good idea, but not too much.
Lori says
Gotcha – my work schedule just doesn’t let me come home for lunch to turn off the crockpot! Only way to know for sure is to try I guess! Thanks! 🙂
Ashley S says
Always looking for new kid friendly, yummy, crockpot meals! Will definitely try this!
Kylene says
I have made these to put over baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and on buns. My family loves them!!
Brandi W. says
So if all of the ingredients are already cooked, why does it need the crock pot? I understand that the sauce would need to cook down a bit, but why not just reduce the amount of liquid in the sauce and just cook it all on the stove top quickly?
Lauren says
You can totally do that, but the veggies cook down and the sauce becomes more delicious as it cooks low and slow.
Jana says
Has anyone tried to freeze leftovers? Do they get too watery?
Emily Voelker says
We loved these sloppy joes!