Slow Cooker Pizza Sloppy Joes

Slow Cooker Pizza Sloppy Joes is a wonderfully delicious meal that combines two family favorites! They’re sure to be a win at dinnertime!

Pizza & Burgers – The Best of Both Worlds

After a hectic day, there’s nothing better than a quick & easy homemade dinner your whole family loves. Am I right? That’s why Sloppy Joe burgers – filled with protein, veggies and AMAZING flavor – are always in our dinner rotation! (This sweet and smoky Sloppy Joe Recipe is one of my favorites.) 

Now, I love turning all kinds of food into pizza recipes – taco pizza, breakfast pizza, etc. But this does the opposite! This converts everything you love about a cheesy Italian pepperoni pizza into a Sloppy Joe burger! I’m telling you, your kids will flip!

Other Recipes to Serve with Sloppy Joes

• Creamy and nutritious Broccoli Cheddar Mashed Potatoes make an excellent side dish for Sloppy Joes – warm, filling, and yummy!
• Or try this low-carb, Keto-friendly Mashed Cauliflower as an alternative! You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the buttery smoothness!

Ingredients

Protein: A pound each of lean ground beef and pork sausage (you could also use Italian sausage) gets you started on the Sloppy Joe base, then 16 slices of pepperoni will top them off at the end!

Liquids: Two cups of pasta or pizza sauce, apple cider vinegar, water, and Worcestershire sauce make these Pizza Sloppy Joes moist and juicy!

Seasoning: The key to making these taste OH SO GOOD is seasoning! You’ll need an onion, half a green bell pepper, garlic cloves, yellow mustard, and Italian seasoning.

Toppings: Top these Sloppy Joe Pizza Burgers with eight slices of mozzarella cheese and hamburger buns.

How to Make Slow Cooker Pizza Sloppy Joes

STEP ONE: Over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef and sausage, along with the chopped onion and bell pepper, in a large skillet, cooking until the meat is no longer pink. Drain well.

STEP TWO: Place the meat mixture into the slow cooker. Add pizza sauce, water, Worcestershire, mustard, vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, and a little crushed red pepper (optional).

STEP THREE: Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours.

STEP FOUR: When ready to serve, lightly toast the hamburger buns. Add the Sloppy Joe meat to the bottom bun and top with pepperoni and mozzarella. Serve and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Add some garlic butter to the toasted buns to increase the Italian flavor!
• For a burst of nutrition, puree some roasted vegetables and add to the pizza sauce! Veggies like spinach, kale, beans, and butternut squash will all “disappear” into the Italian seasoning and sauce.
• Cooking the meat in a skillet before adding it to the crock pot means the grease gets drained off the meat, significantly lowering the saturated fat content and making this a much healthier meal.

Why Are They Called Sloppy Joes?

Legend states that Sloppy Joe originated in a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa, in the 1950s. There was a fry cook named Joe who combined his “loose meat” (sloppy) sandwiches with tomato sauce and there you have it!

What Goes Well with Sloppy Joes?

People often ask, “What can I serve with this?” while some entrees have obvious pairings (like spaghetti with garlic bread and a side salad), other foods, like Sloppy Joes, are a little trickier. The truth is, almost anything works with these! Simple chips and fresh fruit are perfect if they’re being served in the summertime. For cold winter evenings when you want hearty comfort food, mashed potatoes or mac and cheese fill the bill beautifully! And, of course, roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts or asparagus are always a great choice!

Other Popular Pizza Recipes

• Taco Pizza
• Shrimp & Pineapple Pizza
• Fruit Pizza
• Breakfast Pizza
• Pear, Apricot & Gorgonzola Pizza
• BBQ Chicken Pizza

*This post was originally posted on 09/08/2014.