Instant Pot Sloppy Joes are one of my favorite easy winter meals. They are quick, healthy, and taste great. I love Sloppy Joes, but they usually have a lot of unhealthy ingredients. So I set out to find a way to make a delicious and healthy sloppy joe. This version is sugar free, dairy free, and gluten free. The addition of spinach adds nutrients without a lot of flavor.
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More Ground Beef Recipes
Equipment Needed
An electric pressure cooker! I've had my Instant pot for 5 years and it is still going strong! If you don't have one yet, I recommend the 8 Quart Duo Crisp because it is big enough to feed a family and it allows you to air fry, bake, and dehydrate all in one pot! Perfect for reducing your appliances, but still participating in all the fun food fads.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground Beef Mixture- To make this more tender you are going to add cream of tartar and baking soda with a little bit of water and let sit while you're preparing the remaining ingredients. Don't have them? Skip it. You can also substitute with turkey if you're wanting to reduce fat intake.
- Onion- I just love onion and it's pretty classic to have tiny bits in your sandwich so dice them small. If you want add diced green bell pepper and celery to round out your New Orleans style holy trinity and bump up the flavor.
- Spice Mixture- I use some pretty classic spices that you should have already in your spice cabinet. The smoked paprika is a more natural way to get the smoked flavor usually found with liquid smoke in similar recipes. If you're looking for something more like your mom made, sub out the spices in the quantity that she used! It'll taste even more like home. Other popular spices include: chili powder, cayenne pepper and Dijon mustard.
- Tomato Sauce & Tomato Paste- Usually this recipe is made with ketchup, but that is full of sugar and can have high fructose corn syrup. Sub out tomato sauce and paste for the same tomato feel and if you want them a bit more sweet add some golden monkfruit sugar or brown sugar to taste.
- Coconut Aminos & Apple Cider Vinegar- Typically this recipe has Worcestershire, which has sugar and molasses and very few versions are gluten free! If you are ok with that, go ahead and use a tablespoon. If you're going sugar free or gluten free, follow my recipe.
Want to make this spicy? Add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper!
Step by Step with Pictures
- In a small bowl, combine cream of tartar, baking soda, warm water and ground beef. Mix and set aside.
2. Set pressure cooker to "sauté". When hot, add olive oil and diced onion. Cook for 5 minutes or until translucent.
3. Add garlic, paprika, cumin, dried mustard, oregano and salt to pot. Stir until well combined and fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add ground beef mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. Add in tomato sauce, tomato paste, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce and baby spinach.
5. Turn off saute function. Add lid and turn knob to seal. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then manual release.
6. Serve hot on a bun or over a baked potato. Enjoy!
FAQ
You can make anything from scratch if you believe. If you have any issues with this recipe, please send me an email or a DM on Instagram or Facebook! I am here to help you.
Manwich is the processed version of a sloppy joe that you can find ready to go at the store. Skip the pre-made version and go homemade! It's always better to make foods according to your own tastes.
Something starchy! Think potatoes: fries, chips, even sweet potatoes! Or something creamy like a salad or coleslaw. Or combine them both and do a potato salad! I like to serve mine over a Crispy Baked Potato.
Let it simmer uncovered! The flavors will come together even more.
Totally your preference. My family loves potato buns!
Definitely! The sauce will cover up the flavor difference and the fat change.
If you want to cook this the night before it will taste even better the second day. Or even freeze it in an airtight ziploc bag for up to 6 months.
Check out the recipe card for instructions on how to make on the stovetop.
Thanks for coming by! Sloppy Joes are a family favorite at my house and I'm sure you will love them! Leave us a comment below to tell use how you made them your own.
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Recipe
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- ½ tsp cream of tartar
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsp warm water
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ large onion (diced)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic cloves
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp dried mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos (can sub Worcestershire for vinegar and coconut aminos)
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- 2 cups baby spinach (can also use frozen, but will give stronger flavor)
Instructions
Pressure Cooker Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine cream of tartar, baking soda, warm water and ground beef. Mix and set aside.
- Set pressure cooker to "sauté". When hot, add olive oil and diced onion. Cook for 5 minutes or until translucent.
- Add garlic, paprika, cumin, dried mustard, oregano and salt to pot. Stir until well combined and fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add ground beef mixture and stir to combine thoroughly. Add in tomato sauce, tomato paste, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, hot sauce and baby spinach.
- Turn off saute function. Add lid and turn knob to seal. Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes. Natural release for 5 minutes, then manual release.
- Serve hot on a bun or over a baked potato. Enjoy!
Stovetop Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine cream of tartar, baking soda, warm water and ground beef. Mix and set aside.
- Add 2 tbls butter and olive oil to pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until translucent.
- Add garlic, paprika, cumin, dried mustard, oregano and salt to pan. Stir until well combined and fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add ground beef mixture to pan. Mix thoroughly and sauté until beef is mostly brown.
- Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar and hot sauce. Stir to combine and let simmer for at least 5 minutes or until beef is fully cooked.
- Stir in fresh baby spinach. Cook until wilted.
- Serve hot on a bun or over a baked potato.
NOTES
Nutrition
If you make this recipe, be sure to tag @thatzestlife in your photo! I would love to see what you made!
Carrie Robinson
Yum! I just love that you used this to top baked potatoes. Such a genius idea! 🙂
Dannii
Can you believe I have never had a sloppy joe! I need to try this instant pot version.
Andrea Metlika
This sloppy joe recipe looks and sounds so flavorful. I love the idea of putting it in a baked potato.
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
I'm always on the lookout for a healthier version of my favorites. Thank you for this low carb sloppy joes recipe. Can't wait to try.
Tara
Oh yum! Quite the comforting wintertime weeknight meal! I love the styling of the sloppy joes over the baked potato. Such minimal prep too!
Megan
I'm all about minimal prep for the weeknights!
Traci
Simple, delicious, and another reason to love the Instant Pot 🙂 Love this easy recipe...thanks!
Catherine
A beautiful, hearty meal...these look SO good and I love the idea of serving it over a baked potato!
Jessica Formicola
I love my Instant Pot, and I'm always looking for new ways to use it! Thanks so much for sharing these sloppy joes!
Kate
So many gorgeous flavours in there, I'm definitely trying these at the weekend!
April K.
I love tasty meals that I can through in the Instant Pot. These were so good and easy to make.