Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Put away the canned sauce and give these slow cooker Sloppy Joes a try. They are truly the best version of a childhood favorite!

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 2 hours | Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes | Servings: 6 servings

ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 1 pound ground beef

• 1/3 green bell pepper, minced

• 1/2 large yellow onion, minced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 2/3 cup ketchup

• 1/3 cup water

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard

• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

instructions

1. Over medium-high heat, brown beef, breaking apart into crumbles as it cooks, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease, then place into a slow cooker.

2. Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker, and stir well to combine all ingredients. Place lid on slow cooker.

3. Set slow cooker to high and cook for 2 hours, stirring halfway between or if mixture looks like it’s starting to burn around the edges. Mixture can also be cooked on low for 3 hours.

4. Remove from heat and serve over toasted buns.

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Jennifer is an award-winning magical realism author who enjoys creating recipes based on her novels and other published works. Follow her on Instagram @jenniferrmoorman & on Pinterest @jenniferreneem.