You may think of sloppy Joes as a “kid” food, but I still love eating them and serve them to my family regularly. I recently hosted a picnic-style gathering at my house for my family and friends. I didn’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so I decided I’d use my crockpot and make my famous Big Crowd Pleasing Sloppy Joes. This recipe has been a favorite at many covered dish events. It is very simple to prepare and will serve 24 hungry diners.

Ingredients

3 pounds ground beef
1 cup coarsely chopped onion
3/4 cup celery
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 can (261/2 ounces) sloppy joe sauce
24 hamburger buns

Addresses

* Cook the meat and onion in a large skillet over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally until meat is browned.
* Drain.
* Transfer meat mixture to a 31/2 to 6-quart crockpot.
*To meat mixture, add chopped celery, barbecue sauce, and sloppy joe sauce. Mix well.
* Cover and simmer 7-9 hours (or simmer 3-4 hours) or until vegetables are tender.

quick tips

1. Spray the crockpot with cooking spray for easier cleanup.
2. Buy onions and celery already chopped.
3. The Sloppy Joes will stay hot for about 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from browning too much around the edges.

You can serve any side dish with the sloppy Joes. To simplify the preparation, I usually serve French fries.

This recipe only takes about 15 minutes to prepare, but your guests will think you spent all day in the kitchen. Get ready for the compliments!