Crockpot Sweet Chili Sloppy Joes
If you’re looking for an easy, fun dinner idea that you can prep in the crockpot, these sweet chili sloppy Joes are IT! Messy, saucy, sweet, a little spicy, and exactly the kind of comfort food dinner everyone goes back for seconds of. The beef simmers low and slow in a sticky sweet chili sauce that feels like a fun mashup between classic sloppy joes and takeout-style sweet chili beef. They’re easy enough for busy weeknights, but also perfect for parties, game days, and casual get-togethers when you need something warm and crowd-friendly.
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- Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
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What You’ll Need
This recipe keeps the ingredient list nice and simple but still packs in plenty of flavor. Ground beef, onion, and red bell pepper make up the base, while the sweet chili sauce brings that sticky sweet-and-spicy flavor that makes these sloppy joes a little different from the classic version.
A little ketchup and Worcestershire sauce help round everything out and give the filling that rich saucy texture that’s perfect piled onto soft hamburger buns.
How We’re Making These Crockpot Sweet Sloppy Joes
Everything cooks low and slow in the crockpot until the beef becomes rich and saucy and the peppers soften right into the mixture.
The sweet chili sauce gives the sloppy joes a sticky sweet heat that’s balanced out by the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce, so the flavor ends up somewhere between classic comfort food and takeout-style sweet chili beef.
Storage & Freezing
Store leftover sweet chili sloppy joe filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
The filling also freezes really well. Let it cool completely, then freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Serving Ideas
These sweet chili sloppy joes are perfect piled onto soft hamburger buns with chips, fries, or a simple side salad for an easy family dinner.
They also work really well for parties and game days. Serve the filling straight from the crockpot with slider buns so everyone can build their own sandwiches.
For toppings, try sliced pickles, crunchy coleslaw, jalapeños, or even melted cheese on top.
Ingredient Swaps & Variations
Ground turkey or ground chicken both work well if you want a lighter version.
For extra heat, add sriracha, crushed red pepper flakes, or diced jalapeños to the sauce.
These also work really well as sliders for parties or game days instead of full-sized sandwiches.
You can even top them with extras like coleslaw or melted cheese for an extra messy comfort food version.
Crockpot Sweet Chili Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 small red bell pepper diced
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet along with the diced onion and red bell pepper. Drain any excess grease.
- Transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker.
- Stir in the sweet chili sauce, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder until everything is well combined.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, until the mixture is rich and saucy.
- Spoon onto hamburger buns and serve warm.
If you’ve tried this recipe, leave a comment and a star rating below!