Hi there,

I haven’t thought about Sloppy Joe’s in years, but recipes for this sandwich seem to be having a moment right now. This used to be a regular weeknight meal in our home. It was another one of those dinners that my three sons could agree upon. It was usually served with Kraft macaroni and cheese. I know 😱, but I was super busy with those boys, and It was an easy, kid-friendly meal. I often made it on Halloween.

All these posts made me curious about the name. The sloppy part I understand, but who is Joe? Apparently, there is a Joe, and he was a cook in Sioux City, Iowa. He based his treat on the loose meat sandwiches that were popular in the 1930s.

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe’s-a smidge healthier

Ingredients  

• 3/4 pound ground beef
• 3/4 pound ground turkey
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper
• 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup ketchup
• 3/4 cup low sugar barbecue sauce; Ray’s makes a delicious one
• hamburger buns
• cheddar cheese slices optional

Preparation 

• Spray your slow cooker
• Add ketchup, BBQ sauce, mustard, Worcestershire, garlic powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
• Brown beef and turkey until it is still moist but crumbled. 
• When beef and turkey are done, add minced garlic and cook an additional 1-2 minutes.
• Drain beef and turkey and add to sauce in the slow cooker
• Cover and cook on low for 4 hours
• Toast your buns and serve with a slice of cheese if desired.