Slow Cooker Mississippi Sloppy Joes

Hand holding a sloppy joe sandwich with beef filling and yellow pepper slices, on a wooden surface.

5 from 2 votes

Slow Cooker Mississippi Sloppy Joes

🍔🎉🫑 Seasoned ground beef, onions, pepperoncini peppers, and more simmer together in your Crock-Pot to create Mississippi sloppy Joes with the perfect amount of tangy heat that's balanced with a bit of sweetness! EASY, picky-eater approved, and perfect for busy weeknights, game day parties, graduations, Father's Day, or casual events!

Please note you can halve the recipe if you prefer. Cook time will reduce by about 25%.

Prep Time10

Cook Time2

Course: Ground Beef, Slow Cooker

Cuisine: American, Slow Cooker

Keyword: Crockpot Mississippi Joes, Mississippi Sloppy Joes, Slow Cooker Mississippi Sloppy Joes

Servings:

Calories: 440cal

Equipment

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground beef (I recommend 90/10 ground beef)
1 large yellow onion finely diced
⅓ cup ketchup
1.5 ounce packet ranch dressing seasoning mix
1 ounce packet au jus gravy mix
3 tablespoon pepperoncini juice (plus more if desired with the cornstarch, if using)
2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
¾ cup pepperoncini peppers drained and sliced
⅓ cup unsalted butter sliced into pats
1 tablespoon cornstarch optional to thicken juices; mixed with either 1 tbsp water OR 1 tbsp pepperoncini juice
8 buns for serving (or mashed potatoes)

Instructions

To a large skillet, add the ground beef, onions, and cook over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes, or until the ground beef is browned and the onions are soft and translucent. If necessary, add a tablespoon olive oil if the mixture seems dry. Stir and crumble the beef as it cooks to ensure even browning.
Transfer the beef and onion mixture to the sprayed insert of a 6-quart (or 7-quart slow cooker).
Add the ketchup, ranch mix, au jus gravy mix, pepperoncini juice, brown sugar, and stir well to combine and distribute evenly.
Evenly top with the sliced pepperoncini peppers, pats of butter, place the lid on your slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 1-2 hours, or on LOW for 3-4 hours. Stir once or twice during the cooking process. Cook time is approximate and will depend on your slow cooker and how hot (or not hot) it runs as well as ambient kitchen temperature. Cook until done, whatever that means on the clock given your slow cooker.
Optional - If during the last 30 minutes or so of cooking, the meat mixture and sauce is not as thick as you'd like, you can help it tighten up by mixing 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon water (or pepperoncini juice if you want more of that flavor/heat), add that slurry to the slow cooker, stir to combine, place the lid back on, and continue slow cooking for another 20-30 minutes, or as necessary.
Tip - Everything always looks wetter/more soupy while it's hot and in the slow cooker. When it cools, and as time passes, it will dry out; keep that in mind when you're letting it simmer to not allow the meat mixture to get too dry. After all, these are sloppy Joes.
Serve in buns or as desired.

Notes

Storage: Leftover sloppy Joe meat will keep airtight in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or as needed.

Nutrition