The BEST gluten-free sloppy joe recipe that’s not only delicious, but also quick and easy to make! Made with real ingredients instead of canned sauce. Make this recipe for a crowd-pleasing dinner any night!

gluten-free sloppy joe on bun with gray plate and marble background


 

Are you a fan of sloppy joes? These gluten-free sloppy joes are one of my kids all-time favorite meals. With a BBQ-sauce-based sauce that is full of flavorful ingredients, this recipe will win over any sloppy-joe skeptic.

This is a great recipe to have in your back pocket whenever you need a quick and easy meal that’s also a crowd-pleaser. Serve them up with some gluten-free buns and dairy-free coleslaw and you’ve got a great meal for any occasion.

For more gluten-free dinner use this gluten-free enchilada sauce to make delicious chicken enchiladas.

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Sloppy Joes

overhead shot of ingredients for sauce mixture for gluten-free sloppy joes

To ensure these sloppy joes are gluten-free, you’ll have to keep a few things in mind.

  • BBQ Sauce: Pick a BBQ sauce that is labeled certified gluten-free. The most common brands you can find are Stubbs or Sweet Baby Rays. I prefer Stubbs original for these sloppy joes. You could also use this homemade gluten-free bbq sauce! You also might like these bbq nachos.
  • Tamari: AKA gluten-free soy sauce. Tamari is made with 100% soy beans rather than a mixture of wheat and soy beans.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Lea & Perrins brand is labeled gluten-free and is a good option.
  • Ketchup: I’ve never seen a brand of ketchup that isn’t gluten-free so most any kind will work. I use the kind from Trader Joe’s to avoid HFCS.

How to Make Gluten-Free Sloppy Joes

One of my favorite things about this recipe is that it comes together so quickly. It’s also a one-pot meal.

onions cooking in oil until softened
  • Start by heating the oil and onions in a large pot. Cook until softened.
adding meat to pot to break up and brown
  • Add the meat (ground beef or turkey both work great) and brown, breaking up with a wooden spoon until cooked through.
meat and onions cooked after draining grease
  • Once the meat is cooked, drain off any excess grease and return the meat/onion mixture to the pan.
adding remaining sauce ingredients to the pot
  • Add all the ingredients for the sauce to the pot. Stir to combine.
sloppy joe mixtures simmering in purple pot
  • Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 10-15 minutes until combined and heated through. Serve on toasted gluten-free buns!
close up shot of sloppy joe to show texture of meat on gray plate

Gluten-Free Buns

There are several brands of gluten-free buns I’d recommend. My very favorite are the gluten-free hamburger buns from Trader Joe’s (pictured above). However, those are only available during the summer months (stock your freezer!). I also love Canyon Bakehouse gluten-free buns.

Check out this article on is Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free!

Storage/Freezing Instructions

Whenever I make these gluten-free sloppy joes I double the recipe and freeze a meal for later.

  • To Freeze: Cool in the refrigerator before transferring to a ziploc freezer bag to freeze.
  • To Reheat: Thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat, or defrost in the microwave until heated through.

More Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes

sloppy joe served on gluten free bun on gray plate
5 from 24 votes

The Best Sloppy Joes (Gluten-Free)

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 8 servings
The BEST gluten-free sloppy joe recipe that's not only delicious, but also quick and easy to make! Made with real ingredients instead of canned sauce. Make this recipe for a crowd-pleasing dinner any night!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 2 1/2 pounds ground beef or turkey
  • 2/3 cup bbq sauce be sure it is gluten-free, I like Stubbs
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
  • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce be sure it is gluten-free
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 8 gluten-free buns

Instructions 

  • In a large dutch oven over medium heat, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Saute until softened, about 5-7 minutes.
  • Add the meat and cook, stirring and breaking it up until it is finely ground. Cook until browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the grease off the meat and vegetables.
  • Stir in the bbq sauce, ketchup, tamari, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, soy sauce and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper. Simmer for about 10-15 minutes, until thickened.
  • Serve over toasted buns. Enjoy!

Notes

Ingredient Notes
  • BBQ Sauce: Pick a BBQ sauce that is labeled certified gluten-free. The most common brands you can find are Stubbs or Sweet Baby Rays. I prefer Stubbs original for these sloppy joes.
  • Tamari: AKA gluten-free soy sauce. Tamari is made with 100% soy beans rather than a mixture of wheat and soy beans.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Lea & Perrins brand is labeled gluten-free and is a good option.
  • Ketchup: I’ve never seen a brand of ketchup that isn’t gluten-free so most any kind will work. I use the kind from Trader Joe’s to avoid HFCS.
Storing/Freezing
Whenever I make these sloppy joes I double the recipe and freeze a meal for later.
  • To Freeze: Cool in the refrigerator before transferring to a ziploc freezer bag to freeze.
  • To Reheat: Thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat, or defrost in the microwave until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 388kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1156mg | Potassium: 668mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 257IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg

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Hi, I’m Erin!

BS Food Science,

MS Nutrition

I believe you can make amazing, gluten-free food with everyday ingredients that everyone will enjoy. I’m here to share my tried-and-true recipes with you!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Incredibly simple and delicious. I did have to cut the recipe because I only had one pound of meat. Worked great. I also added a tbsp of stone ground mustard.

  2. 5 stars
    OMG! I can’t believe how delicious this is! 1st meal I made that was gluten free/sugar free. Literally blew me away! I usually use those packets of sloppy joe mix when I make sloppy joes. Not anymore! I found my new recipe for a healthier meal!

  3. 5 stars
    Holy cow! This was delicious. Since I’m trying to stay away from GF buns too, I took a few crunchy chips and crumbled in it. My kids loved it too (they hate the store bought brand and LOVED this).

  4. 5 stars
    Holy cow!! Or holy buffalo! These are amazing. I encourage my patients to be gluten and dairy free. These are unbelievable I was craving old-school manwhich’s today. I just googled and this is the first recipe that popped up. I’m sharing it with my tribe online and in my newsletter, this was amazing. I used ground buffalo because that’s what I had. And I use coconut amino‘s instead of tamari. Absolutely perfection.

  5. 5 stars
    Made this tonight because I was craving it on a whim. This had 5 star reviews so I checked it out. Amaaaazing. Glad I made extra because I want some for lunch tomorrow haha Recommend fully.

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed the sloppy joes! One of our family’s very favorites too. Thanks for the comment!

  6. 5 stars
    Just went gluten free and this recipe was so easy and turned out delicious! Definitely making this weekly from now on!!

  7. 5 stars
    I made this yesterday for our RV Park didn’t tell them it was gluten free. They LOVED IT!! We have a resident that needs gluten free. I try to make meals that she can eat AA mych as I can.

  8. 5 stars
    Wonderful recipe, totally comfort food. I have never cooked gluten free before, but found everything I needed at Whole Foods. Took the meal to the family of an ill co-worker. His kids were so excited, in fact one chased me out to the car to let me know it was “to die for.” Awe, made me so happy! Thank you!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  9. 5 stars
    This is now a regular meal that my partner and I love. I became gluten free March of 2016 and thought it would be hard but recipes like this one has
    Made it a much easier transitions. I make this at least once every two week

  10. 5 stars
    Hi,
    I’m anxious to try this recipe for a get together I’m having next wwwk and at least two of us are gluten intolerant or Barley allergic. Can you recommend a BBQ sauce that is both barley free and GF??
    Thansk so much.
    Amber

    1. Hi Amber! Stubbs BBQ sauce or Sweet Baby Ray’s are both gluten-free! Let me know if you have any more questions.

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