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When I am short on time and craving something warm and satisfying, these 3-ingredient slow cooker pizza sloppy joes are always a hit. They are one of my favorite healthy sloppy joe recipes because they’re simple, family-friendly, and taste just like pizza in a sandwich.
This recipe is also a great option if you are looking for easy Weight Watchers dinner ideas. With just a handful of ingredients and a slow cooker, you can have a hearty meal on the table with very little effort. Perfect for busy weeknights or anytime you want a no-fuss dinner that everyone will enjoy.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Just 3 ingredients – no fuss, minimal prep, and perfect for anyone who loves 3 ingredient slow cooker meals.
Family-friendly – tastes like pizza in a sandwich, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
WW friendly – one of my go-to low point WW sloppy joes that fits easily into your daily plan.
Versatile – adapt with different proteins, veggies, or serving styles.
Perfect for meal prep – leftovers reheat beautifully for another easy dinner.
Ingredients
Here’s all you need to make this recipe (plus optional add-ins if you want to mix things up):
- Italian chicken sausage – lean Italian chicken sausage adds flavor with fewer calories. You can substitute turkey sausage, lean ground beef, ground turkey, pork or vegetarian crumbles.
- Pizza sauce or marinara – jarred sauce keeps this recipe quick and easy. Use your favorite brand or homemade.
- Mushrooms – chopped mushrooms bulk up the meat and add flavor while keeping the sloppy joes lighter.
Optional add-ins
- Chopped onions or bell peppers for extra veggies
- A little chopped turkey pepperoni for more pizza flavor
- Seasonings like basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, or crushed red pepper flakes
How to Make Pizza Sloppy Joes in the Slow Cooker
- Brown the sausage (if using raw links, remove casings first).
- Stir in chopped mushrooms and pizza sauce.
- Transfer mixture to the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours or HIGH for 2–3 hours until bubbly and flavors are blended.
That’s it! Dinner is ready to serve.
Cooking Notes
I used Italian chicken sausage as the base, but turkey sausage or lean ground beef would also work. The slow cooker keeps everything moist and flavorful, making this an easy crock pot sloppy joe recipe you can rely on.
To lighten things up, I like to bulk the meat with chopped mushrooms. You could also add onions, bell peppers, or even a little chopped pepperoni for more of that pizza flavor.
Want to take these in a new direction? Try a healthy Italian sloppy joes spin by adding fresh basil, oregano, or crushed red pepper flakes. Or make it vegetarian by swapping in lentils, chickpeas, or your favorite plant-based meat substitute.
Serving Suggestions
These pizza sloppy joes are incredibly versatile and can fit a variety of eating styles:
- On toasted hamburger buns, English muffins, or sandwich thins for a classic family-friendly WW dinner
- Inside a flatbread panini or stuffed into pita pockets for a fun twist
- Over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, or cauliflower rice for low carb sloppy joe ideas
- Scooped into a portobello mushroom cap or zucchini boat for a veggie-packed option
- As a filling for quesadillas or even baked inside bell peppers for a creative dinner swap.
Variations
- Vegetarian sloppy joes recipe – swap the meat for cooked lentils, chickpeas, or your favorite plant-based crumbles, then use vegan cheese for a dairy-free option.
- Different proteins – ground beef, turkey, pork, or even meatballs all work well. It’s an easy way to keep this in your rotation as one of your favorite Weight Watchers friendly comfort food meals.
- Spicy version – add crushed red pepper flakes, hot sauce, or use spicy Italian sausage for more heat.
- Cheesy pizza twist – stir in shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, or even a sprinkle of reduced-fat cheese before serving.
- Extra veggies – bulk it up with onions, bell peppers, spinach, or zucchini for a heartier, veggie-loaded sloppy joe.
WW Points and Nutrition
According to my calculations, each serving (without bun or cheese), has about 207 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)
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
Equipment
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 (affiliate link) 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.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 4 SmartPoints (Green plan) 4 SmartPoints (Blue plan) 4 SmartPoints (Purple plan) 5 PointsPlus (Old plan) 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
FAQs About Pizza Sloppy Joes
Can I freeze pizza sloppy joes?
Yes! Cook the filling as directed, let it cool, then portion into freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in a saucepan or microwave (affiliate link) until hot.
How do I make pizza sloppy joes without bread?
If you’re skipping the bun, try serving the filling over zucchini noodles, spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, or even tucked into lettuce wraps. It’s just as delicious and keeps the points lower.
Can I use a different protein?
Absolutely. Ground turkey, beef, pork, or even plant-based crumbles all work well. Just adjust cooking time slightly depending on the protein.
What toppings go well with pizza sloppy joes?
Shredded mozzarella or Parmesan, fresh basil, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes are great options. For a heartier version, add chopped onions, peppers, or even a little turkey pepperoni.
More Easy WW-Friendly Dinner Recipes
If you liked these pizza sloppy joes, here are a few more easy, WW-friendly meals you might enjoy:
- WW 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes – the classic made lighter
- Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew – hearty, cozy, and family-friendly
- 3-Ingredient BBQ Lentils – simple, plant-based, and budget-friendly
- Crock Pot Tomato, Beef and Macaroni Soup – an easy comfort food soup
- Southwestern Goulash – a lightened-up version of a classic family favorite
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
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.
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
Always enjoy your recipes. Thank you.
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
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.