Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Paleo, Low Carb, Whole30 Option
This healthier copycat of Manwich's Bold sloppy joe sauce has a deep, rich flavor that mimics the taste of a classic childhood recipe. The sauce is created with a savory blend of spices mixed with rich, toasted tomato paste, tangy vinegar, coconut aminos for a splash of umami, and a hint of sweetness from molasses. Ready in only 30 minutes, this easy recipe is a great addition to any weeknight rotation!
Why I Love This Recipe
Modeled after the beloved Manwich Bold sloppy joe sauce, this homemade gluten free, paleo friendly version has no high fructose corn syrup, fillers, or preservatives. It also has only 11g carbs 9g net carbs per serving.
You'll feel great serving these wholesome Gluten Free Sloppy Joes to your family and they won't be able to tell it didn't come from a Manwich can!
Plus, this made from scratch stove top classic is created from common pantry ingredients and is super simple to make! While I typically use ground beef, try using ground chicken or turkey for a lower calorie meal.
Tips for a deep, rich flavor
Sautéing the spices helps to release their oils to draw out the fullness of their flavors. It’s a simple step that has a big impact on the depth of flavor in this dish.
Toasting tomato paste is another simple way to deepen the flavor of this dish. Cooking tomato paste until it turns deeper red helps to caramelize the sugars and intensifies the flavor.
Whole30 version
If you want to make this Gluten Free Sloppy Joes Whole30, omit molasses.
Sulfured vs. unsulfured molasses
Unsulfured molasses is pure molasses with no additives. Like the name suggests, sulfured molasses has been treated with the chemical sulfur dioxide. This particular chemical has been shown to cause negative reactions in some people.
Grandma's Original Molasses is the brand of unsulfured molasses that is readily available in grocery stores near me. However, if I'm ordering from Amazon, I typically will choose Plantation brand which is a blackstrap molasses.
If you're looking for more information Taste of Home has a good article on the different types of molasses.
Serving suggestions
Whole30: on top of baked or roasted white or sweet potatoes, Seasoned Red Potato Wedges, or vegetable noodles. Also, try making a sloppy joe chili dog bowl! Slice up grilled hotdogs in a bowl and top with sloppy joes and dill pickles.
Paleo: any of the above options or grain free pasta.
Gluten Free: any of the above options or on gluten free hamburger buns, potato tots or sweet potato tots, french fries or sweet potato fries. You could also make a sloppy joe chili dog using a gluten free hotdog bun and topping with dairy free shredded cheese.
Low Carb: on low carb hamburger buns or low carb tortilla wraps (if you're not avoiding gluten). Or my personal favorite, make a chili dog bowl by slicing up grilled hotdogs in a bowl and topping with sloppy joes and cheese.
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📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Sloppy Joes {Paleo, 30-Minutes}
Equipment
- 1 12" skillet
- measuring cups and spoons
- 1 Wooden Spoon
- 1 Medium bowl
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon light olive oil or coconut oil
- 2 lbs ground beef I used 80/20
Vegetables
- 2 stalks celery very small diced
- 1 medium onion very small diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper small diced
Spice Blend
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black ground
- ¼ teaspoon mustard powder
- 2 dashes crushed red pepper
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Sauce Ingredients
- 1½ 6oz cans tomato paste
- 1¼ cups water
- 1½ tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1½ tablespoon coconut aminos may replace with Worcestershire sauce if you don't need to be paleo compliant
- 1 tablespoon unsulphured molasses* omit for Whole30 or replace with date paste
Instructions
Cook The Meat
- Add oil to skillet over MEDIUM heat until very warm. Add meat to pan breaking up with a wooden spoon. Continue to break apart meat until it's in very small pieces. Cook until mostly brown with a little remaining pink about 4-5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl and set aside for later.
Cook The Vegetables
- In the same skillet used to cook the meat, add the vegetables: celery, onion, and green bell pepper. Season with 2-3 big pinches of salt and cook until very tender about 8-10 minutes.
Sauté The Spices
- In the same skillet with the vegetables, add the spice blend: coconut sugar, cumin, paprika, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, black pepper, mustard powder, crushed red pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until fragrant about 30 seconds.
Get Saucy
- Add tomato paste to the spices and toast stirring frequently for 1-2 minutes until it turns deeper red.
- Return ground meat and accumulated juices back to the pan. Stir until meat, spices, and tomato paste are combined.
- Add water, white wine vinegar, coconut aminos, and molasses. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, lower heat to MEDIUM-LOW, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Enjoy!
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