Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce is a hearty classic that was ever present on the tables of American families throughout the 70’s through 90’s. This canned sloppy joe sauce has a tomato base, made to be cooked and absorbed into ground beef or other meats and placed between two buns or on a pasta. While the original idea behind ManWich was to be paired with gluten such as bread or noodles, is ManWich alone free of gluten?
ManWich is gluten-free as it contains no wheat, barley, or rye in the ingredients. ManWich consists mainly of tomato puree, high fructose corn syrup, chili pepper, guar gum, and citric acid. However, ManWich is not certified gluten-free. The best gluten-free alternatives to ManWich include Simply Organic Sloppy Joe, Stonewall Kitchen Sloppy Joe Sauce, and Pumfu Sloppy Joe.
Come along as we dive deeper into ManWich’s nutritional content and ingredients, and assess alternative sloppy joe sauces that are safe for people with celiac disease.
Contents
Is ManWich Healthy?
ManWich is the ultimate comfort food and a convenient sauce for when you’re wanting to cut corners on cook time. It was designed to make sloppy joes a quick and easy dinner recipe that the whole family could enjoy. The ManWich motto “A sandwich is a sandwich, but a ManWich is a meal” is indicative that you will feel good and stuffed after shoveling down a ManWich filled meal.
When compared to similar sauces to marinate meat, Original ManWich is actually relatively low in sugar, moderate in carbohydrates, but somewhat high in sodium. However, flavor varieties like the Bold and Bourbon BBQ contain a lot of sugar, sodium, additives, natural flavors, and a little bit of alcohol that put them on the no no list.
ManWich has a high level of fat, which is something to look out for in a sauce especially if you are adding it to other foods that contain fat. It also depends what you pair it with–plopping ManWich between two buns is a lot of carbs. Putting it on a taco salad is a healthier option, and gluten-friendly. That being said, there are tons of gluten-free sloppy joe brands out there that are both flavorful and a little bit better for your gut and overall health.
Nutritional Facts for ManWich Sloppy Joe Sauce
Original ManWich
The bold citrus flavors of ManWich will leave you with a happy heart and a full belly. Whip up some ground beef, pour in your citrusy sauce, and serve on a nice bed of lettuce with all the fixings your heart desires. Be careful of your portions, as there is a lot of sodium in one serving, and with a taste as great as ManWich you’ll likely want to go back for seconds.
Ingredients:
- Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste)
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Distilled Vinegar
- Corn Syrup
- Less that 2% of:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Carrot Fiber
- Dried Green and Red Bell Peppers
- Chili Pepper
- Guar Gum
- Spices
- Xanthan Gum
Dried Garlic - Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
Nutritional Facts (Per 1/4th cup or 64g):
- Calories 35
- Total Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Saturated Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg, 0% DV
- Sodium: 310mg, 13% DV
- Total Carb.: 8g 3%
- Dietary Fiber: 1g 4%
- Sugars: 6g
- Includes 6g added sugars, 12%
- Protein: <1g
Bold
Bold ManWich is most certainly extra flavorful, but at a cost. It is much higher in sodium, added sugars, carbs and calories. No matter how potent and yummy in the tummy, if you’re trying to go the healthy route, stay away from this flavor of ManWich.
Ingredients:
- Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste)
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Distilled Vinegar
- Corn Syrup
- Mustard Seed
- Less that 2% of:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Guar Gum
- Spices
- Xanthan Gum
- Dried Garlic
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Caramel Color
- Worcestershire Sauce Powder (Molasses, Distilled Vinegar, Corny Syrup, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Maltodextrin)
- Natural Mesquite Smoke Flavor
- Mustard Brand
- White Wine
Nutritional Facts (Per 1/4th cup or 64g):
- Calories 70
- Total Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Saturated Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg, 0% DV
- Sodium: 490mg, 21% DV
- Total Carb: 17g 6%
- Dietary Fiber: 1g 4%
- Sugars: 13g
- Includes 13g added sugars, 26%
- Protein: <1g
Bourbon BBQ
This ManWich flavor lies somewhere in the middle of the original and bold flavors. With less carbohydrates and added sugar than the bold flavor but with that same rich and zesty taste, Bourbon BBQ is a great meat topper. With that in mind, all ManWich products are not the best for those with gluten intolerance, so try at your own risk but be cautious as the distilled vinegar–in addition to other ingredients–can cause sensitivity.
Ingredients:
- Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste)
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Distilled Vinegar
- Corn Syrup
- Mustard Seed
- Less that 2% of:
- Salt
- Guar Gum
- Xanthan Gum
- Paprika
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid
- Honey
- Bourbon
- Molasses
- Natural Mesquite Smoke Flavor
- Mustard Bran
Nutritional Facts (Per 1/4th cup or 64g):
- Calories 70
- Total Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Saturated Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg, 0% DV
- Sodium: 340mg, 15% DV
- Total Carb: 16g 7%
- Dietary Fiber: 2g 7%
- Sugars: 11g
- Includes 9g added sugars, 14%
- Protein: <1g
Healthy Gluten-Free Alternatives to ManWich Sauce
Since ManWich sloppy joe sauce reportedly uses distilled vinegar derived from corn and wheat, if you have sensitivity to grained glutens it won’t be a good choice for you. That’s why we put together a short list of gluten-free sloppy joe sauce substitutes that are equally delicious.
Simply Organic Sloppy Joe
This certified organic and gluten free seasoning mix offers an unbeatable blend of spices that make for a killer combination for your meat dishes or meat alternatives. Their onion, chili pepper and garlic give it a tangy taste that you won’t be able to resist once you try it.
This savory mix is great for on the go or camping. The only caveat with this seasoning packet is that you still have to add tomato paste and a few other ingredients. As such, there is some prep work involved.
Ingredients:
- Organic Garlic
- Organic Onion
- Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Sea Salt
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Chili Pepper
Nutritional Facts (Per 1 tsp):
- Calories 15
- Total Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Saturated Fat: 0g, 0% DV
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg, 0% DV
- Sodium: 300mg, 13% DV
- Total Carb: 16g 7%
- Dietary Fiber: 0g 0%
- Sugars: 1g
- Protein: 0g
Stonewall Kitchen Sloppy Joe Sauce
Stonewall is a solid choice when it comes to gluten-free sloppy joe sauces that make you feel comforted with every bite. With branding that emulates the handwriting of your grandmother who just wrote down the most-loved family recipe, you know it’ll be a tasty recipe. This variation is great for gluten-free pastas as the tomato flavors are emphasized with this one.
Ingredients:
- Organic Garlic
- Organic Onion
- Paprika
- Chili Powder
- Sea Salt
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Chili Pepper
Nutritional Facts (Per 1/4th cup or 68g):
- Calories 60
- Total Fat: 1g, 2% DV
- Saturated Fat: 0.3g, 2% DV
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg, 0% DV
- Sodium: 265mg, 12% DV
- Total Carb: 11.5g 4%
- Dietary Fiber: 1g 4%
- Sugars: 8g
- Protein: 1.5g
Pumfu Sloppy Joe
If you’re vegan and gluten free, you must give Pumfu’s Vegan Sloppy Joe a try. The texture is very versatile and can be added to any of your favorite cuisines. The hearty, meat-like texture alongside the bell pepper and tomato flavors embody the best parts of sloppy joes. Pomfu is protein packed, but also high in saturated fat so be careful what you prepare it with.
Ingredients:
- Pumfu (Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Filtered Water)
- Onions
- Bell Peppers
- Tomato paste (tomatoes, citric acid)
- Molasses
- Sunflower Oil
- Mustard (Distilled vinegar, #1 mustard seed, salt, turmeric, spices)
- Spices
- Sea Salt
- Apple Cider Vinegar
Nutritional Facts (Per ½ pack or 4 oz):
- Calories 230
- Total Fat: 17g, 22% DV
- Saturated Fat: 3g, 15% DV
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg, 0% DV
- Sodium: 280mg, 12% DV
- Total Carb: 14g 5%
- Dietary Fiber: 4g 15% DV
- Sugars: 6g
- Includes 4g Added Sugars 7% DV
- Protein: 9g
Sloppy Joe Sauce Pairings
Have an itch to try sloppy joe sauce but unsure what to put it on? You could try putting it between gluten-free lasagna, or in a stuffed roasted bell pepper. Top with fresh herbs like parsley for an added earthy contrast.
If you’re in the mood for something slightly sweeter, you could always try topping your meat with A1 Sauce for a flavorful sweet yet savory kick.
Related Questions
Does ManWich Have Meat?
No, ManWich does not contain meat. The label might be misleading as there is a “burger” filled with meat and ManWich sauce, but ManWich sauce is actually meant to be a marinade for meat.
Does ManWich Have any Dairy?
Nope! ManWich is naturally dairy-free.
Is ManWich Vegan?
Yes, on its own ManWich is vegetarian and vegan. You could try putting ManWich lentils, tofu, or other meat alternatives to see how they absorb the flavors.