Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

This recipe is courtesy of Southern Living Magazine, April 2007.

• Ready In: 4 hrs 25 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 lbs lean ground beef
• 1 (16 ounce) package pork sausage
• 1  small onion, chopped
• 1⁄2 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1⁄2 cup ketchup
• 1⁄4 cup  firmly packed brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons cider vinegar
• 2  tablespoons yellow mustard
• 1  tablespoon chili powder
• 1  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 8  hamburger buns, toasted

Directions

1. Brown beef and sausage with onion and bell pepper in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, stirring 10 minutes or until beef and sausage crumble and are no longer pink.
2. Drain well.
3. Place beef mixture in a 4 1/2-qt. slow cooker.
4. Stir in tomato sauce and next 9 ingredients.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH 4 hours.
6. Serve on hamburger buns.
7. Note: To freeze leftover Sloppy Joe mixture, let cool completely.
8. Place in zip-top plastic freezer bags; lay bags flat, and stack in freezer.
9. Freeze up to 1 month.
10. Thaw overnight in the fridge, or defrost in the microwave.