These Paleo Sloppy Joes are a healthy and flavorful twist on the classic comfort food! They’re made with lean ground beef, a medley of fresh vegetables, and a rich, tangy, and slightly sweet sauce, all without any gluten or refined sugars. I love how this recipe is both easy to make and incredibly satisfying. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner, a family meal, or any time you’re craving a wholesome and delicious take on sloppy joes.
Why You’ll Love These Paleo Sloppy Joes
- Paleo and Gluten-Free: This recipe is naturally paleo and gluten-free, using wholesome ingredients and no processed sugars or grains.
- Rich and Flavorful: The combination of ground beef, vegetables, and a tangy-sweet sauce creates a delicious and satisfying meal.
- Easy to Make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the ingredients to your liking and dietary needs.
- Healthy Comfort Food: A healthier take on a classic comfort food dish.
Ingredients for Paleo Sloppy Joes
Here’s what you’ll need to make these delicious sloppy joes. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Lean ground beef (Meat)
- Olive oil (Oil)
- Onion, diced (Vegetable)
- Red bell pepper, diced (Vegetable)
- Tomatoes, diced (Vegetable)
- Tomato paste (Concentrate)
- Bragg Gluten-Free soy sauce * (Condiment) Specific brand mentioned
- Water (Liquid)
- Vinegar (Acid)
- Maple syrup (Sweetener)
- Garlic cloves, crushed (Aromatic)
- Steak seasoning or BBQ spices (Spice Blend)
Optional
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (Dairy) ** Not Paleo, but included in original recipe
- Hamburger Buns
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love these Paleo Sloppy Joes as is, but here are a few ideas for variations:
- Different Meat: Use ground turkey, chicken, or bison instead of ground beef.
- Add More Vegetables: Toss in some diced mushrooms, zucchini, or carrots.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the mixture.
- Different Seasoning: Use a different seasoning blend, such as chili powder, cumin, or smoked paprika.
- Sweet Potato Buns: Serve the sloppy joe mixture on sweet potato “buns” (thick slices of roasted sweet potato) for a paleo-friendly option.
- Lettuce Wraps: Serve the mixture in lettuce cups for a low-carb option.
How to Make Paleo Sloppy Joes
Let me show you how easy it is to make these Paleo Sloppy Joes:
Sauté Vegetables
- I heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- I cook the diced onion and red bell pepper for about 2 minutes, constantly stirring.
Cook Ground Beef
- I add the ground beef and steak spices.
- I cook for about 5 minutes, constantly stirring, breaking the ground beef into small pieces.
Add Remaining Ingredients and Simmer
- I add the rest of the ingredients (diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Bragg Gluten-Free soy sauce, water, vinegar, maple syrup, and crushed garlic cloves) and continue cooking, stirring often, for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the beef is thoroughly cooked. There shouldn’t be any extra sauce in the bottom of the pan and the pieces of meat should still be clinging together.
Optional: Add Cheese
- Optional: I turn off the heat and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Serve
- Serve
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Sloppy Joes
Here are my secrets for making these sloppy joes truly exceptional:
- Use Lean Ground Beef: Using lean ground beef reduces the amount of grease in the finished dish.
- Don’t Overcook the Beef: Cook the beef just until it’s browned and cooked through. Overcooked beef can be dry.
- Adjust Sweetness: Taste the mixture and adjust the amount of maple syrup to your liking.
- Simmer for Flavor: Simmering the mixture allows the flavors to meld together.
How to Serve
These Paleo Sloppy Joes are delicious served:
- On Paleo-Friendly Buns: Serve them on paleo-friendly buns or rolls.
- Lettuce Wraps: Serve the mixture in lettuce cups for a low-carb option.
- Sweet Potato Buns: Use thick slices of roasted sweet potato as “buns.”
- Over Cauliflower Rice: Serve the mixture over cauliflower rice for a low-carb and grain-free option.
- On Their Own: Enjoy the sloppy joe mixture on its own, as a hearty and flavorful meal.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can make the sloppy joe mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
FAQs about Paleo Sloppy Joes
- Can I use a different type of meat?
- Yes, you can use ground turkey, chicken, or bison instead of ground beef.
- Can I make this without the maple syrup?
- The maple syrup adds sweetness and balances the acidity of the tomatoes and vinegar. You can omit it or substitute it with another natural sweetener, like honey or coconut sugar.
- Can I freeze this sloppy joe mixture?
- Yes, you can
Enjoy these flavorful, healthy, and easy-to-make Paleo Sloppy Joes! They’re a perfect meal for any night of the week.
Paleo Sloppy Joes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Paleo Sloppy Joes offer a healthy and delicious twist on the classic comfort food. Made with lean ground beef, fresh vegetables, and a naturally sweetened sauce, they’re gluten-free, clean-eating friendly, and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 medium tomatoes, diced
- 12 ounces (two 6-ounce cans) tomato paste
- 3 teaspoons Bragg Liquid Aminos (or gluten-free soy sauce alternative, see notes)
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
- 1 tablespoon steak seasoning or BBQ spice blend (ensure it’s gluten-free and paleo-friendly)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (optional, not paleo)
- Gluten-free hamburger buns, for serving (or lettuce wraps, sweet potato buns, etc. for paleo)
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (cast iron recommended) over medium heat. Add the diced onion and diced red bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes, or until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Brown Beef: Add the ground beef and steak seasoning (or BBQ spice blend) to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the beef up into small pieces with a spoon or spatula, for about 5 minutes, or until the beef is browned and cooked through.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Bragg Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce alternative), water, vinegar, maple syrup, and crushed garlic to the skillet. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer. Continue to cook, stirring often, for 7-10 minutes, or until the beef is thoroughly cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly. The mixture should be thick enough that there’s no excess liquid pooling at the bottom of the pan, and the meat should cling together.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If using mozzarella cheese, turn off the heat and sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the sloppy joe mixture. Let it sit for a minute to melt slightly. Note: Cheese is not paleo.
- Toast Buns (Optional): If using hamburger buns, toast them lightly. You can do this in a toaster, toaster oven, or under the broiler. If using the broiler, watch carefully, as the buns can toast very quickly.
- Serve
Notes
- Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef to minimize the amount of grease. You can drain off any excess grease after browning the beef, if necessary.
- Bragg Liquid Aminos: Bragg Liquid Aminos is a gluten-free, soy-free alternative to soy sauce. You can substitute it with coconut aminos or a gluten-free tamari. If you’re not following a strict paleo or gluten-free diet, you can use regular low-sodium soy sauce.
- Steak Seasoning/BBQ Spice Blend: Use your favorite gluten-free and paleo-friendly steak seasoning or BBQ spice blend. Make sure it doesn’t contain any added sugar or artificial ingredients if you’re following a strict paleo diet.
- Sweetness: Adjust the amount of maple syrup to your preference.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve these Paleo Sloppy Joes on gluten-free hamburger buns, in lettuce wraps, over baked sweet potatoes, or with a side of your favorite vegetables.
- Storage: store leftovers.