Description
Easy Gluten-Free Sloppy Joes is a quick and delicious weeknight dinner featuring lean ground beef cooked with vegetables in a tangy, flavorful sauce served on toasted gluten-free buns. Ready in under 30 minutes, it's a comforting and crowd-pleasing meal perfect for busy evenings or casual gatherings.
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)
Instructions
- Toast the Buns: If you have time, toast gluten-free buns in the oven or in a pan until golden. Optionally, brush with butter or olive oil spray for a crispier texture.
- 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 beef from the pan and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same skillet, add onion and green bell pepper. Cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are softened and onions become translucent.
- Mix in the Sauce: Return the cooked beef and any juices to the skillet. Stir in garlic, chili powder, salt, pepper, and brown sugar if using. Add tomato paste, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and water. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Cook to Thicken: Reduce heat to low and simmer the sauce, stirring regularly for 5-8 minutes until it reaches your desired thickness. Add a splash of water if too thick or cook longer to reduce if too saucy.
- Serve: Serve the sloppy joe mixture on toasted gluten-free buns, over baked potatoes, or in bowls with sides like sweet potatoes and coleslaw. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze up to 2 months.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use butter instead of olive oil to brown the beef and toast the buns.
- If you prefer a slightly sweeter sauce, add up to 1 teaspoon of brown sugar.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Make sure to toast the gluten-free buns to prevent them from getting soggy from the sauce.
- Adjust the water quantity to get the perfect sloppy joe sauce consistency.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings and freezes well.
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
