Slow Cooker Cheesy Dill Pickle Sloppy Joes will have everyone begging for seconds. This one-pot recipe combines ground beef, mild chilly sauce, and gooey melted cheese with the unique crunch of dill pickles. Together, these ingredients create the ultimate comfort food. Whether you are cooking for busy weeknights, game days, or meal prep, this dish is exactly what you are looking for!
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📝Shopping list
Follwing are the ingredients you'll need to make this sloppy joe recipe. All items are available in any grocery store. For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- extra lean ground beef 96% lean or leaner is best since this is all cooked in one pot.
- onion diced
- chili sauce I use Heinz, but you can use a spicier sauce to dial up the heat
- sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- dill pickle juice
- garlic minced
- dill pickle spears diced small. I love Grillo's pickles in this dish
- mozzarella cheese shredded
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- ONE POT This dish involves no pot other than your slow cooker. No extra step of browning the beef. No large skillet to wash!
- FLAVOR This cheesy comfort food has a unique flavor that is quite addicting. It will quickly become your favorite meal!
- CROWD PLEASER! This sloppy joe mixture can be served many different ways and will make your whole family happy!
- SLOW COOKER MAGIC - perfect for busy days. You can pop this in your slow cooker and run your errands, work, workout, or drive carpool. Your saucy ground beef meal will be ready whenever you are without standing over a hot stove.
🔪Instructions
This easy sloppy joes recipe involves just a few simple steps:
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner with the easy crock pot recipe.
Get Cooking
- 🥒 Place ground beef into a greased slow cooker and use a rubber spatula or wooden spoon to break it apart slightly
- 🥒 Add all other ingredients EXCEPT diced pickles and mozzarella cheese
- 🥒 Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours.
- 🥒 When cooking time is finished, stir diced pickles and mozzarella cheese into the ground beef mixture. When the cheese is fully melted, serve promptly and enjoy!
Serving suggestions
You will love this sloppy Joe meat recipe served:
- On fresh brioche rolls, soft hamburger buns, or any soft buns you like.
- Beside your favorite potato chips
- Topped with pickle slices (because there is no such thing as too many pickles!)
- Underneath sliced red onions, for extra oniony flavor
- Along with cool creamy coleslaw or creamy cucumber salad
- Accompanied by delicious creamed corn
- Next to a good cucumber salad or potato salad
- With a slow cooker ramen soup
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🔁Substitutions
- Are a you a fan of sweeter dishes? - Swap the chili sauce with sweet chili sauce and the dill pickles for sweet pickles or relish.
- Want a spicier kick? Drizzle with hot sauce or top with chili flakes. Spicy pickles and a spicy chili sauce will also help dial things up.
- Not a fan of cheddar, American cheese is great in this cheesy sloppy joes recipe
- Skip the ground beef and use ground turkey instead!
- Garlic powder can be used in place of minced garlic
- Are you as sloppy Joes fan? You will also love chicken satay sloppy joes, Buffalo chicken sloppy joes, or cheesesteak sloppy Joes.
Storing
Leftover homemade sloppy Joes can be stored in an airtight container. They will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
😉Hints & hacks
- If your diners will be eating at different times, melt cheese into each serving rather than the whole pot at once.
- Cooking for a larger crowd on busy weeknights? This dish can be easily made into a double batch.
- Store cheesesteak sloppy Joes leftovers in meal-sized portions for easy reheat-and-eat weeknight meals
- I always recommend the use of a slow cooker liner. Of course, this is an optional step. I like to purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Don't forget to plug your slow cooker in and turn it on! 😏
If you love this recipe...
Please let me know in the comment section below!
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Cheesy Dill Pickle Sloppy Joes
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
- measuring cups and spoons
- cutting board and knife
Ingredients
- 2 lbs extra lean ground beef 96% lean or more is best*
- 1 small onion diced
- 12 oz Heinz chili sauce
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 cup dill pickles diced small
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Place 2 lbs extra lean ground beef into a greased slow cooker
- Use a silicone or wooden spatula to break it up
- Add in 1 small onion, 12 oz Heinz chili sauce,1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, ¼ cup pickle juice, and 1 tablespoon garlic.
- Mix to fully combine
- Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high
- After cooking stir in 1 cup dill pickles and 1½ cups mozzarella cheese .
- Cover and continue to cook for a few mintues until cheese is fully melted.
- Serve on buns and enjoy!
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
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Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Tracy K Morgan says
I really wanted to love this recipe, but I didn't care for the texture of the meat with everything added to it. It reminds me of a "loose meat" sandwich from the midwest. Just an odd flavor combination, with the chili sauce added to it.
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy this dish. I guess not every flavor combo is for everyone. You can definitely make it without the chili sauce. For a different texture, I would suggest browning the beef first.