Description
This Easy Gluten-Free Sloppy Joes recipe is a quick and flavorful meal perfect for weeknight dinners. Made with extra lean ground beef and a robust tomato-based sauce, it's served best on toasted gluten-free buns for a satisfying, hearty dish that everyone will enjoy.
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 (optional, for toasting)
Instructions
- Toast The Buns: If you have a few minutes, toast gluten-free buns in the oven or in a pan until golden brown. 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 for 8-10 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until browned and cooked through. Remove the beef from the pan and set it aside. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
- Cook The Veggies: In the same skillet, add diced onion and green bell pepper. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are softened and the onion is translucent.
- Mix In The Sauce: Return the browned beef to the skillet along with any juices. Add garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper, and brown sugar if using. Stir in tomato paste, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and water until combined.
- Cook To Thicken: Reduce heat to low and simmer the mixture for 5-8 minutes, stirring regularly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Add more water if too thick, or cook longer if too thin.
- Serve: Spoon the sloppy joe mixture onto toasted gluten-free buns or serve over baked potatoes or vegetables. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Notes
- This recipe makes a great quick weeknight meal ready in under 30 minutes.
- To enhance flavor, toast the buns lightly with butter or olive oil for extra texture.
- You can adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding water or cooking it longer to reduce.
- Leftover sloppy joe mixture freezes well and can be used for packed lunches.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the ground beef with plant-based meat alternatives or lentils.
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: 48 mg
