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    Home > Recipe Index > Gluten free > Healthy Sloppy Joes: even better than you remember!

    Healthy Sloppy Joes: even better than you remember!

    Published: Jan 9, 2019 · Modified: Jan 27, 2022 by Nicki Sizemore · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Healthy sloppy Joes in buns
    Healthy sloppy Joes in buns

    These messy, crave-worthy, healthy sloppy joes are packed with vegetables but taste even better than the ones you had as a kid. They're naturally sweetened, and a few secret ingredients give them an unparalleled flavor. It's a make-ahead meal that's perfect for busy weeknights, game days and parties.

    A healthy sloppy joes sandwich on a plate with a bite taken out.

    Healthy sloppy joes

    While most sloppy joes recipes include anywhere from a few tablespoons to a quarter cup (!) of sugar, this version calls for only 2 teaspoons of maple syrup. Finely chopped veggies provide plenty of natural sweetness as well as amp up the nutrition.

    Sloppy joes in a skillet with a serving spoon.

    Other key ingredients

    A few other secret ingredients give these healthy sloppy joes an incredible flavor. Worcestershire sauce, sriracha, tomato paste and balsamic vinegar lend umami depth, while chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, tomato puree and ketchup (just 2 tablespoons) create a mouthwatering sauce. You can use lean ground beef, ground bison or ground turkey.

    Process shot showing the vegetables for the healthy sloppy joes recipe in a food processor.

    How to make healthy sloppy joes

    The vegetables for these sloppy joes are finely chopped in a food processor, making the prep quick and easy. The finely chopped veggies cook quickly and seamlessly incorporate into the meat mixture (my kids don't even know they're there!).

    • In a food processor, combine onion, bell pepper, carrot and garlic. Pulse until finely chopped.
    • Cook the ground meat in a large skillet until browned and cooked through. Transfer it to a plate (discard any fat).
    • In the same skillet, cook the vegetables until softened. Add the spices and tomato paste.
    • Return the meat to the skillet and add tomato puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, sriracha and water. Simmer the sloppy joes until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
    Process shot showing the chopped vegetables in a food processor for the sloppy joes.

    What to serve with sloppy joes

    The sloppy joes are delicious all on their own in buns or piled over rice. We love to serve them with Coleslaw (which I pile right on top of my sandwich!) and Pickled Red Onions. Pair the sandwiches with these Crispy Baked Oven Fries or Skillet Cornbread for a killer meal.

    A sloppy joe sandwich on a plate with a bite taken out.

    FAQs

    Can you make sloppy joes ahead?

    Yes! While the sloppy joes are awesome straight out of the skillet, they taste even better with time, after the flavors have had a chance to meld. You can make it hours or even days in advance.

    What's the difference between Manwich and sloppy joes?

    Manwhich is a store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce. Canned sauces tend to be high in sugar, sodium and preservatives, so I prefer to make my own sloppy joes sauce. You just can't beat the flavor of homemade.

    How many sloppy joes do you get from a pound of meat?

    A pound of meat will usually make about 6 sloppy joes sandwiches. In my family, that generously feeds four people (allowing for some second helpings).

    What goes with sloppy joes for a party?

    Sloppy joes is the perfect make-ahead dish for a party - it's fun, nostalgic, and everybody loves it. Serve it with pickled red onions, coleslaw, oven fries and/or cornbread.

    Close up of the sloppy joes in a skillet.

    Tips for this recipe:

    • A food processor not only cuts back on the prep time, but it also helps the vegetables to seamlessly incorporate into the meat mixture (my kids don't even know they're there!).
    • I usually make these sloppy joes with naturally lean grass-fed ground beef, but you could also use ground bison or ground turkey (I even had a reader tell me that she used meat-free crumbles with success).
    • The ingredient list looks long, but it's mostly stuff you probably already have in your pantry (think spices, vinegars and sriracha). You'll need both tomato paste (I prefer the stuff in the tube, which lasts forever), as well as tomato puree. The paste provides a sweet richness while the  puree gives the sauce body.
    • You can use any heavy-bottomed pan to cook the sloppy joes. I use my Le Creuset braiser, which is pretty enough to place right in the middle of the table.

    *This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you or supporting From Scratch Fast!

    What to serve with sloppy joes:

    • Easy Homemade Red Cabbage Coleslaw
    • Cheesy Baked Oven Fries
    • Instant Pot Pinto Beans
    • Mexican Street Corn Salad

    Stay connected

    I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @fromscratchfast so that I can share your creations!

    Get the recipe!

    A healthy sloppy joes sandwich on a plate with a bite taken out.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe

    The Ultimate Healthy Sloppy Joes

    This recipe creates the most crave-worthy, delicious AND nutritious sloppy joes! These healthy sloppy joes are sweetened with just 2 teaspoons of maple syrup and are packed with vegetables. The food processor makes quick work of finely chopping the vegetables, cutting back on prep time and shortening the cooking time. Feel free to use lean ground beef (I prefer grass-fed), ground bison or ground turkey. The result is far tastier and more nutritious than the Manwich cans of your childhood. The recipe list might look long, but you probably already have most of the stuff in your pantry. I like to serve the joes with coleslaw (which I pile right on top of my sandwich). The sloppy joe mixture gets even better with time, meaning this is a fantastic make-ahead meal. 
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: easy dinner recipes, healthy sloppy joes, sloppy joes recipe
    Servings: 4
    Author: Nicki Sizemore

    Ingredients

    Veggies and meat

    • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
    • 1 red bell pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
    • 1 medium carrot, trimmed and coarsely chopped
    • 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
    • 1 pound lean ground beef (preferably grass-fed), or ground bison or turkey
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Seasonings

    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 1 cup canned tomato puree
    • 2 tablespoons ketchup
    • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
    • 2 teaspoons maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon sriracha, or more to taste
    • ½ cup water
    • Buns for serving, regular or gluten-free

    Instructions

    • Put the onion, red pepper, carrot and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, scraping the sides occasionally, about 12-14 pulses.
    • Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned and cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the meat to a plate. Discard any fat in the pan.
    • Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Scrape in the vegetables from the food processor. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the chili powder, ground cumin, garlic powder and tomato paste. Cook, stirring, 1-2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the cooked beef, tomato puree, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, sriracha (if you like it spicy, feel free to add a few more teaspoons!), and water. Season with salt and pepper.
    • Place the pan back over medium heat, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook 10 minutes. If needed, add a few more splashes of water to thin. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper, and/or sriracha as desired (don’t be shy with the seasonings). Serve warm on soft buns.  

    Notes

    Do Ahead: The sloppy joes can be refrigerated for up to 4 days; thin with a few splashes of water, if needed.
    Tips:
    • A food processor not only cuts back on the prep time, but it also helps the vegetables to seamlessly incorporate into the meat mixture (my kids don't even know they're there!).
    • I usually make these sloppy joes with naturally lean grass-fed ground beef, but you could also use ground bison or ground turkey (I even had a reader tell me that she used meat-free crumbles with success).
    • The ingredient list looks long, but it's mostly stuff you probably already have in your pantry (think spices, vinegars and sriracha). You'll need both tomato paste (I prefer the stuff in the tube, which lasts forever), as well as tomato puree. The paste provides a sweet richness while the  puree gives the sauce body.
    • You can use any heavy-bottomed pan to cook the sloppy joes. I use my Le Creuset braiser, which is pretty enough to place right in the middle of the table.

    More Gluten free

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    • Gluten Free Pie Recipes (+ New Class!)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jill Berger says

      January 27, 2022 at 5:12 pm

      Can you recommend a specific brand for gluten-free buns? I just haven't found any that I like!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        January 28, 2022 at 9:30 am

        Hi Jill, I hear you! Pictured in this post are Udi's GF buns, but they're quite dense and bready (I usually pick out some of the insides before using). We're lucky to have a local baker who makes awesome GF buns, but the next best option (in my opinion) are Schar Ciabatta rolls. They have a light texture and nice flavor. The only issue is that they're rather small, so you might need two!

        Reply
    2. DeeDee says

      November 07, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      This sloppy joe recipe tastes amazing! I’ve made it for dinner now 3 times and my husband loves it. It’s very hard to cook for him because he’s picky and doesn’t like the traditional thick, sweet, ketchup-y versions. I decided to try yours because it only had 1 tablespoon of ketchup 🙂
      Thank you for sharing this!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        November 07, 2021 at 3:50 pm

        Hi DeeDee, I'm so happy to hear this, and I really appreciate your comment!

        Reply
    3. Ginger LaBella says

      October 26, 2016 at 12:23 pm

      Mmm, this brings back yummy childhood memories! Thanks for the healthier version. I'm going to try a veggie version with one of the "crumbles" products. Right now I'm liking the Quorn and Beyond Beef brands, which are made from mycoprotein and pea protein respectively. (Trying to mostly cut out soy.) Will try this weekend!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        October 26, 2016 at 2:15 pm

        Yay! Please let me know how the veggie version turns out!!

        Reply
        • Ginger LaBella says

          November 16, 2016 at 3:11 pm

          5 stars
          Hi Nicki. I did make these a couple of weeks ago, with one of the veggie crumble brands. They were delicious, and with the complexity of flavors in your recipe, I would challenge anyone to be certain that it was not meat in there. Your list of ingredients was so interesting -- I figured you must have really labored to get just the right flavor, so I followed to the letter. Yum yum! Tasted just like I remember sloppy joes from childhood (though, as you said, these are better and healthier!) Will for sure make these again.

        • Nicki Sizemore says

          November 16, 2016 at 3:36 pm

          Thank you so much for letting me know! This is great news!!

        • Ginger LaBella says

          February 18, 2021 at 1:16 pm

          5 stars
          I had a full Nicki week! In addition to the other recipes I commented on, I pulled out this older favorite. I just had to come back to say how delicious it is. And also fast and easy! I got a late start on dinner last night, but whipped this up in just a few minutes.

        • Nicki Sizemore says

          February 18, 2021 at 4:54 pm

          Ginger, you are a ROCK STAR!! I deeply appreciate your comments, which are so helpful. Here's to another week of happy cooking!

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    Meet Nicki

    Headshot of Nicki Sizemore.

    Welcome! I’m Nicki Sizemore, a trained chef, recipe developer and cookbook author. My mission is to help you make wholesome & delicious food from scratch without spending hours in the kitchen. All of my recipes are naturally gluten-free.

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