Sloppy Joes From Scratch, what a concept- right? Growing up we ate this often and it came from a can. These gluten free sloppy joes are made completely from scratch with ground beef, finely diced vegetables and an easy homemade sloppy joe sauce. They’re sweet, savory, saucy and exactly the kind of easy dinner my family has been eating for years.

Sloppy Joes were a staple for me growing up, except ours definitely came from a can. I ate them with tater tots and corn and thought it was the best dinner ever. When I moved out on my own, I kept buying the canned sauce, threw it over ground turkey and considered myself very domesticated.

We’ve come a long way.

I originally created this homemade version back in 2016 because I wanted the same nostalgic dinner using ingredients I already kept in my kitchen. The sauce comes together with tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar or coconut sugar, tamari and a few simple seasonings, so there’s no canned sloppy joe sauce needed.

It’s still an easy, inexpensive dinner, it just tastes a whole lot better made from scratch.

Why You’ll Love These Gluten Free Sloppy Joes

They’re naturally gluten and dairy free. The homemade sloppy joe sauce is made with gluten-free tamari, so there’s no need to hunt down a separate gluten-free canned sauce.

The sauce is completely homemade. Tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar and a few seasonings make a sweet and savory sauce with ingredients you probably already have.

There are veggies hiding in there. Finely diced onion, carrot and green bell pepper cook right into the meat and sauce. The carrot softens completely, so you’re not getting random crunchy pieces of carrot in your Sloppy Joe.

You can use your favorite ground meat. I prefer this recipe with all ground beef, but I’ve also made it with ground turkey. You can use beef, turkey, a combination of the two or even ground chicken.

It’s an easy family dinner. Serve the filling on your favorite gluten-free buns with fries, roasted potatoes or vegetables and dinner is done.

Ingredients for Gluten Free Sloppy Joes

You only need simple ingredients to make both the meat mixture and homemade gluten free sloppy joe sauce. You’ll find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.

For the Sloppy Joes

Ground beef: Ground beef is my preference for the best flavor, and I don’t drain the meat after browning it. You can also use ground turkey, a combination of beef and turkey or ground chicken.

Onion, carrot and green bell pepper: Dice the vegetables fairly small so they cook down into the Sloppy Joe mixture. The carrot will soften completely as everything cooks.

Garlic: I use chopped garlic along with garlic powder in the sauce because apparently there is no such thing as too much garlic around here.

Avocado oil: Used for sautéing the vegetables before adding the meat.

For the Homemade Gluten Free Sloppy Joe Sauce

Tomato sauce and ketchup: These make up the tomato base of the sauce. Any ketchup works here, so use whatever you normally keep in the refrigerator.

Brown sugar or coconut sugar: I’ve made this recipe with both and either works.

Gluten free tamari: This gives the sauce its salty, savory flavor. You can substitute coconut aminos, but tamari is saltier, so taste the finished sauce and add additional seasoning if needed when using coconut aminos.

Ground mustard, garlic powder and onion powder: These add extra flavor without making the recipe complicated.

Salt and pepper: Season to taste. If you’re using tamari, remember that it already adds saltiness to the sauce.

How to Make Gluten Free Sloppy Joes

1. Sauté the vegetables.

Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet. Add the diced onion, carrot, chopped garlic and green bell pepper and sauté for about 4 minutes.

2. Brown the meat.

Add the ground beef to the skillet with the vegetables and cook until the meat is browned and cooked through.

I don’t drain my ground beef. The juices and fat stay right in the skillet and add flavor to the Sloppy Joe mixture.

3. Make the gluten free sloppy joe sauce.

While the meat is cooking, combine the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar or coconut sugar, ground mustard, gluten free tamari, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.

4. Add the sauce.

Once the meat is completely cooked, pour the homemade sloppy joe sauce into the skillet and stir everything together.

5. Simmer.

Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet and simmer for 15–20 minutes. This gives the vegetables time to finish softening and lets all of that sauce cook into the meat.

6. Serve.

Spoon the Sloppy Joe mixture onto your favorite gluten-free bun and serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Homemade Sloppy Joes

Dice the vegetables small. This is especially important with the carrot. Finely diced vegetables cook down into the sauce instead of leaving you with large pieces.

Don’t drain the ground beef. I leave everything in the skillet after browning the beef. That’s how I’ve always made this recipe.

Let it simmer. Don’t skip the final 15–20 minutes. This is when the vegetables finish cooking and the sauce and meat really come together.

Taste before adding more salt. Gluten free tamari is saltier than coconut aminos. If you’re substituting coconut aminos, you may need to adjust the seasoning.

Use whatever ground meat works for you. Beef is my favorite, but turkey, chicken or a beef-and-turkey combination all work.

Are Sloppy Joes Gluten Free?

Not always. Ground meat itself is naturally gluten free, but prepared sloppy joe sauces and seasoning mixes can contain ingredients that vary by brand, and traditional hamburger buns contain gluten.

That’s one of the reasons I like making the sauce from scratch. This recipe uses gluten-free tamari and is served on a gluten-free bun, so you know exactly what’s going into it.

Always check the labels on packaged ingredients you’re using to make sure they meet your dietary needs.

What Gluten Free Buns Are Best for Sloppy Joes?

I usually reach for gluten-free buns from Trader Joe’s, Canyon Bakehouse or Franz. Availability varies depending on where you live, so use whichever gluten-free hamburger bun you already know and love.

And with Sloppy Joes, you’re covering the bun in saucy ground beef anyway. This isn’t really the dinner where I’m asking my gluten-free bun to perform miracles.

Substitutions

Ground meat: I prefer ground beef, but you can use ground turkey, ground chicken or a combination of ground beef and turkey.

Brown sugar: Brown sugar and coconut sugar have both worked well for me in this recipe.

Tamari: Coconut aminos can be used in place of gluten-free tamari. Tamari is saltier, so if you’re using coconut aminos, taste the finished sauce and add additional seasoning as needed.

Ketchup: Use your favorite ketchup. You don’t need a special variety for the recipe itself; just make sure the product you choose works for your dietary needs.

What to Serve With Gluten Free Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes are basically begging for some sort of potato situation on the side. We had ours with fries this time, but roasted potatoes and vegetables are just as good.

How to Store Leftover Sloppy Joes

Store leftover Sloppy Joe filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

I prefer reheating the filling in a skillet on the stovetop until it’s heated through. Store the filling separately from the gluten-free buns so they don’t get soggy.

Can You Freeze Sloppy Joes?

Yes. I’ve frozen the Sloppy Joe filling successfully, which makes this an easy dinner to make ahead.

Allow the filling to cool and transfer it to an airtight freezer-safe container or freezer bag. For best quality, use it within about 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

This was originally published in September 2016. It was updated and republished in October 2026.