Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Turkey Meatballs Tips, FAQ & printable recipe

Tips for success

For a slightly spicier kick, consider adding a dash of hot sauce or a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce to the ketchup mixture. These additions work beautifully with the existing flavors without requiring any extra cooking time. Always whisk these into the sauce before pouring it over the meatballs to ensure even distribution throughout the dish.

If you prefer a more complex sauce, you can sauté a small amount of finely diced onion or bell pepper before adding the sauce to the slow cooker.

While the basic version is delicious on its own, these additions provide a nice textural contrast. If you choose to do this, ensure the vegetables are cooked until softened so they do not remain crunchy in the final dish.

Variations

• Spicy Sloppy Joes: Add two tablespoons of chopped pickled jalapeños or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture for a version with a noticeable heat.
• Savory Herb Meatballs: Stir in a tablespoon of dried oregano or Italian seasoning into the sauce to give the meatballs a more herbaceous, rustic flavor profile.

Storage and make-ahead

Fridge

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer

Freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

Reheat

Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat or in the microwave until heated through, stirring occasionally.

Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Cool the dish at room temperature for no more than two hours before placing it into the refrigerator to ensure food safety. Properly stored, the meatballs will maintain their quality and flavor for several days when kept in the refrigerator, making them an excellent candidate for meal prep.

You can prepare the sauce up to 24 hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook.

When ready to prepare the meal, simply place the frozen meatballs in the slow cooker, pour the pre-mixed sauce over the top, and proceed with the cooking instructions. This makes the dinner preparation phase almost instantaneous on a busy evening.

Serving ideas

These meatballs are versatile enough to be served in several ways. They are excellent served as an appetizer with toothpicks, or you can pile them onto soft slider buns to create traditional sloppy joe sandwiches.

For a heartier meal, serve them over a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes, steamed rice, or even buttered egg noodles to soak up all that extra tangy sauce.

Complement the richness of the sloppy joe sauce with a side of crisp coleslaw or a fresh green salad with a sharp vinaigrette. The acidity of the salad helps balance the sweetness of the brown sugar in the sauce.

If serving as a main course, a side of roasted vegetables or steamed green beans adds a nice color and nutritional balance to the plate.

Frequently asked questions

Recipe card

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Turkey Meatballs

Prep 5 minCook 4 hTotal 4 h 5 minServes 6

Ingredients

• 24 frozen precooked turkey meatballs
• 1 1/2 cups ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard

Instructions

1. Place the frozen precooked turkey meatballs into the insert of the slow cooker, arranging them in an even layer to ensure they heat through consistently during the cooking process.
2. In a separate measuring cup, whisk together the ketchup, brown sugar, and yellow mustard until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Pour the sauce evenly over the arranged meatballs.
3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours. Once the time is up, ensure the internal temperature of the meatballs has reached 160°F (71°C). Stir gently with a large spoon to coat the meatballs thoroughly in the thickened sauce before serving.

Contains: mustard

Estimated nutrition per serving

Calories

280

Protein

18 g

Carbohydrates

22 g

Fat

12 g

Fiber

0.5 g

Sugar

18 g

Sodium

750 mg

Automatic estimate from the ingredient list, not laboratory-verified.