Sloppy meets elegant in these keto sloppy joes that are so jam-packed with flavor they’ll make you want to sing! Serve them with my legit and fluffy keto hamburger buns for a new family favorite meal.
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Looking for more keto dinners? Try these keto burgers, keto pulled pork, and keto turkey burgers.
Keto Sloppy Joes Video Tutorial
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Beauty Within Chaos
Homemade sloppy joes may not seem elegant. They definitely aren’t pretty to eat. And they probably aren’t the first meal that comes to mind when you want to WOW a hungry group of friends. But, they should be. Because everyone. Loves. Sloppy. Joes.
They’re that extra saucy, extra meaty, extra comforting dish. The dish your inner child and adult self can agree on. One of the few meals where a sauce-covered face is a socially accepted stamp of approval.
Each ingredient in the sauce comes together for an entrancingly delicious, complex, sloppy chaos of flavors that is nothing shy of pure elegance. So next time you’re looking for a reliable and easy meal to warm you from the inside out, look no further than these low carb sloppy joes!
Hope you enjoy these in all their sloppy glory! ❤️🍔 – Linds x
Ingredient Notes
Luckily, most ingredients for these keto sloppy joes are pantry staples. Guarantee you already have most of these waiting:
- Ground beef or turkey – this is a great recipe to sneak turkey into– the sauce has so much flavor, you won’t miss the beef.
- Mild tasting oil – I’m a big fan of avocado oil.
- Onion
- Green bell pepper – but really, any color will do.
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Worcestershire sauce – This is a kitchen MUST! There’s a lot going on in this simple-looking bottle, which adds such depth of flavor. Don’t skip.
- Yellow mustard
- Golden Swerve/Lakanto – These keto sweeteners are my favorite brown sugar subs for sugar free sloppy joes. If you’re using a different brand of erythritol or allulose, know that they’re 70% as sweet, so you’ll want to add more to achieve the same flavor.
- Tomato paste
- Apple cider vinegar
Your Keto Bun Options
There are a handful of recipes and veggies that make delicious keto buns– finding the perfect taste and texture match for these low carb sloppy joes is important. Let our sloppy joe recipe do the work, and serve them over subtle buns that won’t steal the show. Here are my top picks:
- Roasted portobello mushrooms – simply remove the stems and brush with oil. Bake stem side down at 400 F for around 15 minutes, or until softened to your liking.
- Low carb hamburger buns – This recipe is AMAZING. I like to make a big batch and keep them in the freezer anytime buns are needed.
Other bunless sloppy joe options include tomato slices, eggplant slices, lettuce wraps, or halved bell peppers.
PRO TIP: Feeding a family of non-low-carb-ers? Serve their keto sloppy joes on traditional buns, and yours on whichever you choose.
🤔 Can You Freeze This?
YES! Make a big ole batch of keto sloppy joes and divide the servings into resealable baggies. Release as much air as possible before labeling and tossing it into the freezer. Make your buns fresh before serving.
Recipe Variations
- Use a different kind of meat – this dish works with any ground protein you have like pork or chicken.
- Swap the buns for your favorite (ideas above).
- Make a low carb sloppy joes bowl, or salad by scooping the meat and sauce over sauteed veggies or a bed of lettuce.
More Keto Beef Recipes
Keto Sloppy Joes
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon avocado or vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup onion chopped
- 1/4 cup green bell pepper chopped - any color will do!
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 3 tablespoons golden Swerve/Lakanto (note 1)
- 4 ounces tomato paste
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/4 cup water
Serving Recommendations:
- Portobello mushrooms roasted (note 2)
- Keto Hamburger Buns
Instructions
- Saute. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add oil (1 tablespoon). Once shimmering, add the beef or turkey (1 pound), and cook until no longer pink, breaking up with the back of your spoon as it cooks. Remove meat to a paper towel lined plate. If no oil is left in the pan, add an additional tablespoon, along with the onions (1/4 cup) and bell peppers (1/4 cup). Saute until soft -- about 7 minutes. Add meat back to the skillet.
- Simmer. Add salt (1 teaspoon), pepper (1 1/2 teaspoon), garlic powder (1 1/2 teaspoon), onion powder (1 teaspoon), worcestershire sauce (1 teaspoon), mustard (1 teaspoon), golden Lakanto/Swerve (3 tablespoons), tomato paste (4 ounces), apple cider vinegar (1/4 cup) and water (1 1/4 cup). Stir until well combined and bring sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat of the pan so the sauce simmers, and continue to cook this way for 30 minutes, or until it has thickened to your liking.
- Enjoy! Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve over hamburger buns or veggies, and enjoy!
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Lindsey's Tips
- Lakanto, Swerve, vs. Erythritol. This recipe was tested using Swerve/Lakanto. If using a different brand of erythritol or allulose, know that they’re 70% as sweet, so you’ll want to add more to achieve the same flavor.
- If using portobello mushrooms, you'll want to remove the stems and brush each side with oil. Then bake (stem side down) at 400 F for around 15 minutes, or until softened to your liking.
- Nutritional information is for 1/6th of the filling only:
Oozing with flavors! I am very excited to try this!
I am excited for you too, Chelle! Let me know how it goes. Enjoy! 😋
I am a big fan! I tried this last night with my family and we all loved it! Thank you for this! Will definitely try again!
SO glad your family loved it, Phoebe! Enjoy! 😋
Loved these! We made them into lettuce wraps. Thanks for the sweetener suggestions as well.
Wow! Sounds really good, Krystle. SO glad you loved it! 😄
This is right up my alley!!!! This is amazing!!!!
Yay! Let me know if you give this a try, Allyson. Enjoy! 😋
Oh my gosh this would be perfect for throughout the week!
Right, Amanda? Let me know if you give this a try. Enjoy! 😋
Oooo! I just love sloppy Joes! They’re comforting, filling & easy to make. Your recipe looks amazing!
Thank you, Patricia! Let me know if you give this a try! 😄
This made the perfect family dinner. So good!
Right, Sandi? Enjoy! 😄
I Love these Sloppy Joes! Can’t wait to try them!
I am excited for you, Erin! Let me know how it goes. 😋
How inviting this Sloppy Joes looks. I love the idea that it’s low carb!
Right, Catalina? Let me know if you give this a try! 😋
It was a huge hit at my house! Everyone loved it!
Wow! That’s very flattering to hear. SO glad you guys loved it. Enjoy! 🥰
Love your description to this yummy meal. Looks juicy and flavorful. Cant wait to get going.
Yahoo! Let me know how it goes!😄
These sloppy joes look fantastic. I like the idea of using portobello. I may use it as a bun or just topped.
Let me know how it goes Julie. Enjoy!😃
Yummy! This was such a great recipe and oh so delicious! We absolutely loved how this turned out. Such a tasty and delicious dinner!
Thanks for giving it a try Beth!😁
Such a unique and unexpected recipe! Loved this take on a classic sloppy Joe! Easily, a new favorite! Delish!
Sounds great Sara! So happy you liked it!🥳
Sloppy joes are the ultimate comfort food and this keto version looks amazing.
Thanks Dannii! Let me know if you give it a try!😁
The flavor is just incredible. We love real sloppy joes and this recipe is perfect!
Yay! SO glad you loved it, Linda!