Description
This Easy Gluten-Free Sloppy Joes recipe is a hearty and flavorful meal perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. Made with lean ground beef and a tangy tomato-based sauce, it's served on toasted gluten-free buns for a delicious twist on a classic comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil or butter
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef (93-97% lean)
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 1/2 cup finely diced green bell pepper
- 1-2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: 1/2-1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2/3 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup water (or more, if needed)
- Gluten-free buns for serving
Instructions
- Toast The Buns: If you have a few minutes, toast gluten-free buns in the oven or in a pan until golden. Brush with butter or spray with olive oil for extra crispiness.
- Brown The Beef: Heat olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up into small pieces, for 8-10 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove beef from the pan and set aside.
- Cook The Veggies: In the same skillet, add onion and green bell pepper. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until softened and onion is translucent.
- Mix In The Sauce: Return the beef to the skillet along with any juices. Add garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper, and brown sugar if using. Stir in tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and water until well combined.
- Cook To Thicken: Reduce heat to low and simmer the sloppy joe mixture, stirring regularly, for 5-8 minutes or until sauce thickens to desired consistency. Add more water if too thick or cook longer if too thin.
- Serve: Spoon the sloppy joe sauce onto toasted gluten-free buns. Alternatively, serve in baked potatoes or bowls with sides like sweet potatoes and coleslaw. Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Notes
- This recipe takes under 30 minutes, making it perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- For extra flavor, you can brush buns with butter before toasting.
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding a splash of water or cooking longer to reduce.
- Lean ground beef minimizes excess fat, but you can drain any extra fat if needed.
- Leftover sloppy joe sauce freezes well for up to 2 months in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.5 cup
- Calories: 185 kcal
- Sugar: 8.8 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 7.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.2 g
- Fiber: 0.8 g
- Protein: 16.2 g
- Cholesterol: 47.5 mg
