These 5 crockpot lunch recipes turn a few minutes of prep into hot, hearty sandwiches with almost no effort. Load the slow cooker in the morning (or the night before), and by lunchtime you have tender meat ready to pile onto a bun.
Slow cooker sandwiches are also perfect for meal prep. One batch of pulled pork or pastrami covers several lunches, and most fillings reheat beautifully. Every recipe below comes from Fork To Spoon, with a link to the full instructions.
1. Slow Cooker Root Beer Sloppy Joes
Root beer gives classic sloppy joes a sweet, tangy, almost caramel-like sauce that kids and adults both love. Brown the ground beef first, then let it simmer on LOW for about 4 hours.
Key ingredients: ground beef, onion and bell peppers, root beer and ketchup, brown sugar and mustard, Worcestershire sauce.
Tip: Use regular root beer, not diet. The sugar is what builds that rich flavor. For a thicker filling, cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Root Beer Sloppy Joes
2. Jack Daniel’s Crock Pot Pulled Pork
This pulled pork tastes like it came off a smoker, but your crockpot does all the work. A boneless pork shoulder gets a smoky spice rub, cooks in cola on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, then gets tossed in a homemade Jack Daniel’s whiskey BBQ sauce.
Key ingredients: pork shoulder, cola and sliced onion, brown sugar and smoky spices, Jack Daniel’s BBQ sauce, plus buns, slaw and pickles to serve.
Tip: The pork is ready to shred at about 200 to 205°F. Leftovers keep up to 4 days in the fridge and freeze well, so make a big batch for lunches all week.
Get the recipe: Jack Daniel’s Crock Pot Pulled Pork
3. Slow Cooker Homemade Pastrami
Get deli-style pastrami at home with no smoker and no days of curing. A beef brisket gets a peppery spice rub and cooks on LOW for 8 to 10 hours until juicy and tender.
Key ingredients: beef brisket, brown sugar and black pepper, paprika and pastrami spices, beef broth and cider vinegar, plus rye bread and Dijon to serve.
Tip: Slice it thin against the grain. It makes a classic Reuben, a simple rye sandwich with Swiss, or a grab-and-go snack all week.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Homemade Pastrami
4. Slow Cooker Meatball Sliders
These meatball sliders get a sweet-and-tangy twist from whole berry cranberry sauce mixed with tomato sauce. They take about 5 hours total on LOW and are just as good for a family lunch as for game day.
Key ingredients: ground beef and breadcrumbs, egg and onion-mushroom soup mix, cranberry and tomato sauces, seasonings, plus slider rolls, provolone and arugula.
Tip: The provolone melts over the meatball and holds the slider together, while peppery arugula balances the sweet sauce.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Meatball Sliders
5. Slow Cooker Root Beer Sloppy Joe Sliders
The slider version of recipe #1 is made for small appetites, packed lunches and get-togethers. Mini buns hold the same sweet and tangy root beer beef filling.
Key ingredients: browned ground beef, onion and bell peppers, root beer (not diet), ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and slider buns.
Tip: Top each slider with a little cheddar or a pickle slice. Keep the filling on WARM in the slow cooker so everyone can build their own.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Root Beer Sloppy Joe Sliders
Tips for packing and meal-prepping crockpot lunches
- Pack the filling and bread separately. Keep buns in a bag and the meat in a sealed container so the bread doesn’t get soggy.
- Use a thermos for hot lunches. Fill it with boiling water for a few minutes, empty it, then add the hot filling to keep it warm until noon.
- Portion before freezing. Freeze pulled pork or sloppy joe filling in single-lunch portions so you can thaw just what you need.
- Reheat with a splash of liquid. A spoonful of broth or sauce keeps shredded meat juicy in the microwave.
- Cool leftovers quickly. Refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking and eat within 3 to 4 days.
Crockpot lunch recipes FAQ
What is the easiest crockpot lunch recipe?
Root beer sloppy joes are the quickest. After browning the beef, they need about 10 minutes of prep and roughly 4 hours on LOW.
Can I make slow cooker sandwiches ahead of time?
Yes. All five fillings keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, and pulled pork and sloppy joe filling freeze well for longer storage.
Do I need to brown ground beef before putting it in the crockpot?
For sloppy joes and sliders, yes. Browning adds flavor, improves texture and lets you drain off extra fat.
What should I serve with crockpot sandwiches?
Coleslaw, pickles, chips, potato salad or a simple green salad all pair well with these slow cooker sandwiches.
Make lunch the easy way
With these 5 crockpot lunch recipes, a hot, satisfying sandwich is only a few minutes of prep away. Start with the root beer sloppy joes for a quick win, or make a big batch of Jack Daniel’s pulled pork or homemade pastrami to cover lunches all week.
Find more easy slow cooker ideas and full recipes at Fork To Spoon. Pin this post so you have these crockpot sandwich recipes ready next time lunch sneaks up on you.
