Gluten-free sloppy joes
Sweet-smoky sloppy joes piled high on toasted gluten-free buns with melted cheddar.
- Celiac
- Hashimoto's
- Pregnancy
- Toddlers
- High blood pressure
- Gluten-free
- Crohn’s and colitis
- Kid-friendly
- Sheet pan
- One pan
- Quick
Ingredients
- 4 buns gluten-free hamburger buns, split and toasted
- 1.5 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 tsp salt
Method
- Brown the beef hard in the oil, breaking it up.8 min timer
- Add the onion and garlic, cook until softened.5 min timer
- Stir in the tomato paste, ketchup, vinegar, maple syrup, paprika and salt; simmer until thick and glossy.8 min timer
- Set aside the kids' share: plain saucy beef on toasted buns with cheddar.Kids’ plate comes out here
- Toast the buns, pile in the beef and melt the cheddar over.4 min timer
Kids’ plate: Sloppy Joe sliders
On the plate: A small toasted gluten-free bun with plain saucy beef and melted cheddar.
Make it a game: Open the lid and see how big the beef mountain is, then build a sandwich and squash it flat to eat.
Set it aside at step 4, before the grown-ups’ sauce or spice goes on.
Why it works
- Celiac disease: The sauce is built from tomato paste, ketchup and vinegar, and the buns are gluten-free.
- Kid (4–12): A mild, saucy beef sandwich on a soft bun with melty cheese on top.
Celiac check: watch for hidden gluten in soy sauce, stock, malt vinegar and seasoning blends, and oats that aren’t certified. Gluten gives food ideas, not medical advice: always check labels for allergens and cross-contact.
Cooking for more than one diet?
Add everyone you cook for, with their allergies, diets and ages. Gluten checks this recipe for each of them and tells you what to change for anyone who can’t eat it as written. It’s free.
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This recipe also fits: Hashimoto's recipes, Pregnancy recipes, Toddlers recipes, High blood pressure recipes, Gluten-free recipes, Crohn’s and colitis recipes, Kid-friendly recipes, Sheet pan recipes, One pan recipes, Quick recipes.