These crockpot gluten-free sloppy joe sandwiches are the best sloppy joes I have ever had! The sloppy joe mixture is super flavorful, moist and not dry, loaded with nutrition, and super easy to make. These sloppy joe sandwiches aren’t too messy, but it still gives you the affect of eating a sloppy joe. I love all the vegetables that are hidden in these sloppy joes (trust me, you’ll never know they’re in there!) along with the flavorful homemade sauce that gives these sloppy joes their wonderful taste! Crockpot gluten-free sloppy joe is the perfect, healthy meal option to put on your homestead menu!

a gluten-free sloppy joe sandwich made with homemade sloppy joe

Modern Pioneer Recipe

These crockpot gluten-free sloppy joe sandwiches are a simple modern pioneer recipe that you can make using ingredients sourced right from the homestead kitchen! Use veggies from your homestead garden, home-harvested or homegrown ground meat, home-canned salsa, and homemade ketchup to make these sloppy joe sandwiches completely from scratch! Another factor that makes this recipe a modern pioneer meal is the fact that these crockpot gluten-free sloppy joes are loaded with lots of hidden nutrition.

I love meat, and could never be a vegetarian, however, I do think it’s great that there are lots of hidden veggies in these sloppy joes. I can eat my meat and still get my veggies in, all at the same time and both are bursting with flavor!

And in case I haven’t sold you on the veggies yet, the vegetables in these sloppy joes really do provide great flavor and enhance the sloppy texture of these joe’s! Another healthy aspect about these joe sandwiches is that they are allergy-friendly and super easy to make. Crockpot sloppy joes are:

gluten-free
grain-free
nut free
soy free
corn free
refined sugar free
dairy-free
anti-inflammatory

One last thing I want to mention about these healthy joe’s is that they contain a pseudo-cereal, not an actual grain. The quinoa in this sloppy joe recipe adds extra protein and enhances the thick texture of the sloppy joe mixture. I love incorporating quinoa into my diet, and these sloppy joes are perfect for mixing it in! You can also check out these venison and quinoa bowls or this crockpot venison stew for more delicious quinoa recipes!

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a gluten-free bun with crockpot sloppy joe

Quick & Easy Modern Pioneer Sandwiches

Probably the best part about these sloppy joes is how easy and simple they are to make! Everything gets put in the crockpot and I don’t have to worry about cooking dinner. Even the rolls to serve with the sloppy joe can be made ahead of time!

Meat & Veggies– You will need to cook the meat a little bit in a cast iron skillet, but that doesn’t take too long and it doesn’t have to be completely cooked. The crockpot will finish cooking the meat and allow the other flavors to penetrate into the meat. The veggies that get sauteed ahead of time can be done at the same time that the meat is cooking. Once everything is cooked, it’s just a matter of putting it all in the crockpot!

Rolls/Bread/Buns– Any homemade or gluten-free bun, roll, or bread will pair nicely with these sloppy joes. On my homestead, I have used several different options, either homemade or store-bought. One of my favorite options is Chebe rolls. Chebe rolls are super simple to make and they are gluten-free, grain-free, nut free, and can be made dairy-free and egg free! Sometimes I make the rolls up ahead of time and freeze them for when I need them to accompany a meal (like these sloppy joes).

If I get in a real pinch, I use Udi’s gluten-free hamburger buns. The Udi’s buns are gluten-free and dairy-free, however, they do contain some cornstarch and sugar. Other favorite gluten-free brands that I buy include Canyon Bakehouse burger buns and Little Northern Bakehouse hamburger buns.

I also like to make my homemade buns to go with the sloppy joe if I am not pressed for time. Both my grain-free cheese rolls and my grain-free hamburger buns work great for these sloppy joes!

crockpot sloppy joe sandwiches served with salt and pepper potato chips

About the Ingredients

The ingredients in this crockpot sloppy joe recipe is pretty simple: meat, vegetables, and sauce ingredients. Here is a brief overview of a few key ingredients in these sloppy joes:

ground elk– you can use any ground meat of your choice or you can combine several different types of meat (I like elk because it is moist and flavorful)
portabella mushrooms– you can hardly tell that there are mushrooms in this sloppy joe and they add some great health benefits to the sloppy joe mixture, however, if you have a mushroom allergy you can easily omit them
green bell pepper– you can use any color bell pepper in these sloppy joes and you can even experiment with other types of peppers if you want to enhance the flavor!
homemade salsa- any type of organic salsa will work in these sloppy joes, I like to use my home-canned salsa
raw honey– I use raw honey as the sweetener in the sauce and I like it because it is all natural and has a mild flavor
teriyaki sauce- I use Primal Kitchen teriyaki sauce which is gluten-free, soy free, and paleo, but you can use homemade ketchup, homemade BBQ sauce, or coconut aminos as substitutes
quinoa- the quinoa is optional in these sloppy joes, but I like the added texture that it contributes to the sloppy joe mixture

gluten-free sloppy joe sandwiches with chips and pickles

Sloppy Joe Recipe Tips

These crockpot gluten-free sloppy joes are pretty straight forward and simple. There’s not much you can mess up with this recipe, it will taste great no matter how you make it! However, here are a few tips I thought I’d share with you:

Cooking the Meat– The ground meat does not have to be completely cooked before you put it in the crockpot if you need to save time.
Veggie Options– You can either finely shred your vegetables or just chop them up, depending on if you have picky vegetable eaters in your family.
Salsa Options– If your salsa is chunky and you have texture sensitive people in your family, you may want to puree it before adding it to the sloppy joes.
Serving Options– You can serve this sloppy joe recipe warm or cold. It tastes great fresh out of the crockpot or cooled in the fridge! It makes great leftovers and can even be eaten as a healthy, protein packed snack.
Bun Alternatives– You don’t have to have your sloppy joe in a bun! A bed of lettuce, roasted sweet potato, or fried eggs make a great accompaniment to this sloppy joe recipe. I also like to use plantain chips or Boulder potato chips to scoop up the sloppy joe mixture!

a gluten-free sloppy joe sandwich with chips

I love the simplicity of this recipe, yet it is still rich in flavor and packed with nutrition! The texture is amazing… the perfect sloppy joe consistency. You will never know there are hidden veggies in this recipe and the homemade sloppy joe sauce adds the perfect flavor and moisture! Serve with your favorite gluten-free or grain-free bun and enjoy!

Crockpot Gluten-free Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

Recipe by The Pioneer Chicks

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 4

Total Time 4 20

Servings 8 people

Author Alexa Lehr

Ingredients

1 lb. ground elk
1 large carrot, peeled & chopped
1 medium onion, peeled & chopped
3 portabella mushrooms, washed & chopped
1 bulb garlic, crushed
1/2 green bell pepper, washed & chopped
2 cups homemade salsa
2 T. raw honey
1 tsp. organic mustard
2 T. Primal Kitchen teriyaki sauce or organic ketchup
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. organic paprika
1/4 tsp. organic chili powder
1/4 cup gluten-free quinoa optional

Instructions

Heat a 12" cast iron skillet over medium heat with 1 teaspoon of bacon fat in it. Wait until the bacon fat has melted, then add the ground meat. Cook the ground meat. Put the meat in a crockpot and set the crockpot on high.
Chop or shred the carrot, onion, mushrooms, and pepper. In the same cast iron skillet, saute the veggies and add the crushed garlic. I sauteed mine for about 3 minutes. Add them to the meat in the crockpot.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients except for the quinoa. Add the sauce to the meat and vegetables and stir to combine. Stir in the quinoa.
Set the crockpot on high for 4 hours. Stir occasionally. Serve with your favorite gluten-free or grain-free bread or buns!

Where to Find the Ingredients

gluten-free sandwiches filled with homemade sloppy joe and served with chips

Crockpot gluten-free sloppy joe sandwiches are the perfect addition to your homestead menu! The recipe is healthy, allergy-friendly, and compatible with many low-inflammation and gut healing diets! They make a great gluten-free meal option for summer parties, quick weeknight dinners, or nutritious lunch leftovers. The simplicity of this recipe is amazing and it is super quick to whip up. Crockpot meals are the best! I love making these sloppy joes and serving them with grain-free Chebe rolls or my homemade cheese rolls. These gluten-free sloppy joe sandwiches are sure to be hit with all the modern pioneers on your homestead!

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