Today I am sharing a slightly healthier version of my family's sloppy joe recipe with you. These are the best homemade gluten free sloppy joes recipe because they have so much flavor. The flavor of the meat doesn't get lost in the gluten free bun.
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Do you know what I love about this recipe? It helps to break away from the old stereotypical school cafeteria food. Did you grow up with that goopy meat on a hamburger bun at your school? Ick! This sloppy joe recipe is a FAR cry above that old cafeteria yuck!
If you love sloppy Joes, why not try this delicious kid-friendly Gluten Free Baked Ziti Casserole recipe too.
What kind of meat is best for sloppy joes?
The beauty of this sloppy joe recipe is you can use many kinds of meats, or even vegetarian or vegan meat substitutes for this recipe! The secret is in the sauce!
- Ground turkey - this gluten free turkey meatloaf is a popular dinner.
- Ground beef - have an Instant Pot? My Grandma's Cabbage Rolls recipe is unstuffed and super easy to make.
- Ground chicken - these gluten free ground chicken burgers are perfect for a cookout.
- Ground pork - check out these delicious gluten free ground pork recipes.
- Meatless crumbles...many are so good they taste just like ground meat! check it out in this easy vegan Mexican Casserole recipe.
Which is your favorite? Use that one!
For this recipe, I used ground turkey. My husband and I are trying so hard to eat more lean meats at mealtime...you can't tell this is turkey meat. This sloppy joe meat is moist and delicious!
You get the awesomeness of grandma's sloppy joe sauce recipe...and it tastes amazing!
You can see in this picture all of the good stuff inside this sloppy joe recipe. If you like vegetables, feel free to add more in! These are the best homemade gluten free Sloppy Joes!
Vegetable ideas:
- Carrots
- Peas
- Broccoli (yeah, I am weird but it tastes good!)
- Winter squash like butternut or acorn squash
Recipe instructions:
To make this recipe, just add the olive oil to a pan. Brown your meat with the diced onion and peppers. When the meat is browned, add your sauce ingredients and mix well. Simmer for 10 minutes so the flavors seep into the meat.
Recipe FAQ:
In this gluten free recipe, I used rolls made by Shar. There are a lot of fabulous gluten free hamburger bun brands out there now. Even Trader Joe's has them! My family also like Franz Bakery, Udi's, and Canyon Bakehouse buns, but we find we need to microwave them a little to soften them.
Sloppy Joe's taste like meat with a slightly sweet tomato sauce. There are chunks of onion and pepper to add even more flavor.
Sloppy Joe's are healthy, but you can make them even more healthy by using a low fat ground meat like chicken or turkey.
This sloppy Joe meat mixture will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store it in an air-tight container.
You can definitely freeze this sloppy Joe's meat mixture. Freeze in a Ziplock or freezer-safe container. To thaw, put in the refrigerator, or thaw in the microwave if you need it quicker.
More Gluten Free Dinner Recipes to Try:
- Cheesy Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
- Easy Chicken Legs with Vegetables
- Crazy Good Mexican Meatloaf Burgers
Tools:
- A good skillet. I like to use either a cast iron skillet or this T-Fal Thermospot pan.
- A food processor to chop up your vegetables with.
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📖 Recipe
The Best Gluten Free Sloppy Joes Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground meat * see note
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ½ cup yellow pepper
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce * see note
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a pan, add oil, onion, and pepper. Cook over medium heat. Stir frequently.
- When the onion becomes soft, add either ground turkey or ground beef to the pan.
- Cook until the meat is browned.
- Add sauce, lower heat to low and simmer with the sauce for 5 minutes.
- Serve on a gluten free bun.
Video
Notes
- You can use ground beef, pork, chicken, or turkey in this recipe. The ground chicken and turkey will make this dinner recipe lower fat and calories.
- This recipe is easy to make, double-check the label to ensure the Worcestershire sauce is gluten free.
- You can use coconut sugar or brown sugar, both work well to slightly sweeten the meat sauce.
- This meat dish will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
Nutrition
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Veena Azmanov
I love sloppy jose and this ground meat in this sounds so yum. Can't believe this is gluten free... ! Saving for later. yum!
Sandig45
Thank you so much Veena 🙂
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours
This is one of those recipes that sounds at first like it shouldn't work, but everything about it ends in a tasty and moreish easy to make dish. Just perfect for a comfort food sofa meal on a cold winter night.
Sandig45
Exactly Helen...even my picky kid loves it 🙂
Brian Jones
Every time I see a Sloppy Joe recipe on line I think 'I must try those' and never get round to it... They are something we didn't grow up with in the UK and I am intrigued.
Sandig45
It is a fun way to change up hamburgers 🙂
Darlene @ Dip Recipe Creations
I love your idea of adding veggies into this or in my case, it would be "sneaking" them in. This looks tasty and so much better than cafeteria food!
Sandig45
LOL, I can hide some veggies, the broccoli was a bit tough though 🙂
Jillian
How can something so sloppy be so yummy?!
Sandig45
LOL, that is a great quote! Thank you so much Jillian 🙂