Crock Pot Italian Sloppy Joes made with Italian chicken or turkey sausage, tomatoes, peppers and onions made in the slow cooker for an easy weeknight meal.
Italian Sloppy Joe
This easy dinner recipe is perfect for those busy weeknights. If you don’t want to serve this on toast, you can have this over soft potato buns, 0r over spaghetti squash or pasta. If you want to go with the classic, use this sloppy Joe recipe. Slow cooker dinners are huge time savers! See more Slow Cooker recipes here.
I almost forgot about this recipe from the archives I posted back in 2013. I remade it and served it over toasted garlic-rubbed Italian bread finished with melted cheese.
Variations and Tips
You can double the recipe for more servings. On the stove top, simply simmer in a heavy pot for 30 to 40 minutes. For a more traditional Sloppy Joe, try this Sloppy Joe recipe. And for those of you who don’t have access to turkey or chicken sausage, you can easily make your own with this recipe, homemade turkey sausage.
I have not tried this in the Instant Pot, if you do please comment below. My favorite Slow Cooker is this Hamilton Beach Set and Forget 6 Quart Slow Cooker. I’m sure there may be others that are just as good, but I can only vouch for this one.
Crock Pot Italian Sloppy Joe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Italian turkey or chicken sausage, removed from casing
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped in 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 1/3 cups crushed tomatoes, Tuttorosso
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
For serving:
- 6 1-inch thick slices Italian Bread, from 1 large loaf (2 oz each)
- olive oil spray
- dried Italian seasoning or Parsley, to taste
- 2 tbsp grated cheese
- garlic clove, cut in half
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese
Instructions
- In a medium non-stick skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat, breaking up as it cooks into small bits until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add onions and garlic, and cook another 2 minutes.
- Transfer to the slow cooker and add the bell peppers, crushed tomatoes, rosemary and fresh cracked pepper.
- Cover and cook on low 4 hours.
- Prepare the garlic bread slices. Place 6 slices of the bread on a sheet pan, spray with olive oil, and sprinkle with Italian Seasoning and Parmesan on each side. Spritz with a little more oil and broil about 6 inches from the heating element, until the top of bread is golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes keeping an eye on it. When toasted, remove from oven and rub a garlic clove over the bread.
- Top each slice with 1/2 cup meat and add shredded mozzarella, about 2 1/2 tablespoons on each. Place back into the oven for about 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Gina, the recipe says to season BOTH sides of the Italian bread with olive oil, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese, although the video looks like only one side is toasted. Am I getting this wrong?
Follow the recipe, the video girl made a mistake.
the original from 2013 we’ve made over a hundred times. Seriously. Putting it on garlic toast is genius and will happen this weekend.
We recommend turkey sausage as the protein.
Enjoy!!!
Hi Gina I have been making this recipe since you first published it. My family loves it. I’m wondering how many calories for a cup of the meat mixture alone?
Amazing flavor and filling. I simmered it on the stove top for 30 mins. Great summer time dinner. Quick and easy too!
Incredibly easy to make and super delicious. Gina, we need an Instant Pot conversion recipe!!
Can I just use one pound of Italian seasoned ground turkey? I have this in the freezer and don’t want to stop at the grocery store
Sure
Hi I love your recipes! Quick question, does the nutrition information include the bread and the cheese? Thank you!
Thanks and yes
These were great! i had lots of leftovers so the next day instead of using a bun, I mixed with cauliflower rice and added spinach and cheese to make a bowl. It was amazing!
That is a good idea. I serve mine over zucchini or butternut squash noodles with spinach.
Can you use half turkey sausage and half ground turkey? Not sure if it would come out as good…
Sure!
neat idea! thanks
My family loves this! But the kids are growing so I need to double the recipe! Would you need to cook it a bit longer for doubling??
I don’t think so. Glad you enjoy it!
One of my faves. Flavorful and is like eating healthy comfort food! I sometimes have an issue finding low fat provolone but I always manage to find it somewhere!
Can you do this in an instant pot? If yes how long etc any changes in directions? freestyle points
How would you do this in the instant pot
I will double check.
Could this recipe be made in an Instant Pot?
This was so delicious! I served it over sweet potatoes (like your other sloppy joe recipe) and we LOVED it- so flavorful and filling.
Is the calorie count including the cheese?
Gina, I am so excited to try this tonight, but I just wanted to say thank you! I have been using your site for about a year now and absolutely love it. My long term relationship unexpectedly ended last June and these recipes really kept me going and motivated me to eat better. Last week I hit my goal weight after losing 15 pounds since finding your website!
Too wet to eat the regular way. Had to do open face sandwiches. Followed recipe exactly.
How long would you cook this in an Instant Pot?
Made this tonight and it was yummy. It was too wet for my white bread buns, though. (I think I added too much crushed tomatoes.) Next time I’ll make it on the stovetop and spoon it over something. I like the idea of calzone stuffing.