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.