WW Recipe of the Day: 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian (Pizza) Sloppy Joes
(207 calories | 4 4 4 myWW *SmartPoints value per serving)
Here's a fun Italian inspired variation on traditional sloppy joes that's sure to please the entire family. It did mine!
WW Friendly Slow Cooker Italian Pizza Sloppy Joes
Just 3 ingredients combine to form the foundation for a winning dinner. Perfect for busy days.
How Many Calories and Weight Watchers Points in these Crock Pot Italian Sloppy Joes?
According to my calculations, each serving (without a bun or cheese), has about 207 calories and
4 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
4 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
Curious about Weight Watchers new myWW Green, Blue and Purple plans? Watch this short video to learn more:
Slow Cooker Italian (Pizza) Sloppy Joe's Cooking Notes
I used Italian chicken sausage as the starting point, but turkey sausage or lean ground beef also would work. And I bulked the meat up with chopped mushrooms.
This recipe can be adapted in a variety of ways to work with what you like and/or have on hand - chopped onions, bell peppers and/or a little chopped pepperoni would be nice.
Or take the recipe in a vegetarian direction by substituting the meat with lentils, chick peas or your favorite meat substitute.
This simple satisfying recipe has been added to my "make again" soon file.
Slow Cooker Italian Sloppy Joes Recipe Variations
vegetarian/vegan - substitute cooked lentils or chickpeas for the meat and use vegan cheese
different meats - sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork would all work
optional additions - chopped onions, chopped red and/or green bell peppers, chopped turkey pepperoni
additional seasonings - basil, oregano, rosemary, Italian seasoning blend, crushed red pepper flakes
serving ideas - english muffins, sandwich thins, flat breads panini style, garlic toast, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, lettuce wraps, stuffed into a cooked portabello mushroom, or zucchini boat, or filling for a quesadilla.
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you like these lightened Italian sloppy joe's, be sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly recipes including WW 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joe's, Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew, 3-Ingredient BBQ Lentils, Crock Pot Tomato, Beef & Macaroni Soup and Skinny Southwestern Goulash
If you've made these Italian Pizza Sloppy Joes, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Slow Cooker Italian (Pizza) Sloppy Joe Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound bulk Italian chicken or turkey sausage
- 8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
- 2 cups favorite marinara sauce (I like Classico Tomato & Basil)
- 6 light hamburger buns, toasted (optional, for serving)
- Thinly sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 3- or 4-Quart.
- Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain of any excess fat.
- Spray slow cooker insert with non-stick cooking spray.
- Combine cooked sausage, chopped mushrooms and marinara sauce in the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW heat setting, 6 to 8 hours
- Serve on your favorite light bun, english muffins, flat bread, cooked portabella mushrooms, zucchini noodles, etc.
Recipe Notes
Slow Cooker Italian Sloppy Joes Recipe Variations
vegetarian/vegan - substitute cooked lentils or chickpeas for the meat and use vegan cheese different meats - sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork would all work optional additions - chopped onions, chopped red and/or green bell peppers, chopped turkey pepperoni additional seasonings - basil, oregano, rosemary, Italian seasoning blend, crushed red pepper flakes serving ideas - english muffins, sandwich thins, flat breads panini style, garlic toast, zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, lettuce wraps, stuffed into a cooked portabello mushroom, or zucchini boat, or filling for a quesadilla.*PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
More Easy Weight Watchers Friendly Sloppy Joe Recipes
Weight Watcher Girl shares her recipe for WW friendly sloppy joe's in this video:
- WW Sloppy Joe Baked Sweet Potatoes (SkinnyTaste)
- Sloppy Joe Casserole (DrizzleMeSkinny)
- Sloppy Joe Cauliflower Rice (SkinnyKitchen)
- Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Chicken (HungryGirl)
- Deep Dish Sloppy Joe Casserole (EmilyBites)
- Vegetarian Slow Cooker Tuscan Lentil Sloppy Joes (SlenderKitchen)
- Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes (SlenderKitchen)
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Hi, I'm Martha. Simple Nourished Living chronicles the easy and delicious Weight Watchers friendly recipes, tips & hints that help me balance my love of food and desire to be happy, healthy and slim. 
Lauren Beno
When making Sloppy Joes make sure to have the amount of vegs to be equal or more than the amount of cooked meat. Cuts on calories and gives you your cooked vegs for that meal. Also served as an open faced burger [ more meat less bread]. When cooking for a large group [pot luck], it saves money serving a large group.
Chrys Alam
Hi Martha,
Thank you so very much for these recipes. You just made my meal planning for this week a healthy, delicious breeze!
Happy Autumn!
Chrys
DEBRA L LEMAY
Always enjoy your recipes. Thank you.
Barbara L
What is your favorite slow cooker for smaller amounts? I have always used Crock Pots, but there are other types, I know. Would love some insights.
Martha McKinnon
I have 1-1/2, 2-quart and 3-quart slow cookers from a variety of makers including Crock Pot, Hamilton Beach and West Bend. They've all served me well. ~Martha
Suzanne McCausland
We love, love this recipe. Always make a double batch so I can freeze for later meals. Somethings we put it over a baked potato, yummy