Sloppy joes were a weeknight staple in my house long before keto. Keto sloppy joes get us that same fast, messy dinner, built from a sauce I make myself instead of a can with sugar as one of the first few ingredients.
I make this when I want dinner on the table in half an hour without pulling out a can. My 9-year-old has made this recipe solo, so it’s not a complicated sauce, it’s just a few extra minutes of chopping instead of a can opener. Double the sauce and freeze half, and a busy weeknight later takes almost no effort at all.
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Chef Jenn’s Take on Keto Sloppy Joes
Most people default to a canned sloppy joe mix because it feels like the fast option. A quarter cup serving of a popular canned version runs around 8 grams of carbs, and the second ingredient on the label is usually a form of sugar. That’s a lot of carb budget for a sauce that’s mostly water and tomato.
Making it from scratch takes maybe five extra minutes of chopping onion, green pepper, and garlic before the sauce comes together in one pan. I use plain, unseasoned tomato sauce rather than a pre-seasoned one, since pre-seasoned versions often carry added sodium or sugar I don’t want in the final dish.
The other move that matters is doubling the batch. Sloppy joe sauce freezes well, so a double batch now means a ten-minute dinner later, just thaw the sauce and brown fresh beef.
What You’ll Love About Keto Sloppy Joes
- Doubles easily, so I usually freeze half the sauce for a night when cooking isn’t happening.
- Comes together in about the same time as opening a can, minus the sugar that comes with it.
- Simple enough that my 9-year-old has made this one without much help from me.
Ingredients
- Ground beef – Lean works well here. If you use a fattier blend, drain it well before adding the sauce.
- Green pepper and onion – Chopped fine so they cook down into the sauce instead of standing out as chunks.
- Garlic – Fresh, minced. Skip the jarred kind for this one.
- Tomato sauce – Plain and unseasoned. Check the label for added sodium or sugar and skip those.
- Tomato paste – Plain, no sugar added. This thickens the sauce along with the tomato sauce.
- Keto brown sugar substitute – Use your preferred one. Measurements can vary a bit by brand, so check the conversion on the package.
- Mustard powder – Adds tang without the carbs of a prepared mustard with added sugar.
- Worcestershire sauce – Regular is fine here in this small amount.
- Chili powder – Adds warmth and color. Regular chili powder blend works.
- Salt and black pepper – To taste.
How to Make Keto Sloppy Joes
Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements and printable instructions.
Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain off any excess fat once it’s fully browned. While the beef cooks, chop the onion, green pepper, and garlic fine. Small, even pieces cook down into the sauce instead of staying chunky.
Add the olive oil, onion, pepper, and garlic to the beef. Cook over medium heat until the onion turns translucent, about 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, brown sugar substitute, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a low simmer.
Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the flavors come together and the sauce thickens slightly. Serve warm over your favorite keto bread, or spoon it over a bed of greens for a lower-effort option.
Make It A Meal
I usually round this out with a scoop of Coleslaw on the side, since the crunch and vinegar cut through the richness of the sauce. A batch of Zucchini Fries works well too if you want something to dip alongside the sandwich.
For a classic diner-style plate, add a few Keto Pickles on the side. It’s a small addition, but it’s the detail that makes the plate feel finished.
Storage
Store the sauce and beef mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat or in the microwave until warmed through. This freezes well for up to 3 months, which is exactly why doubling the batch is worth doing. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Frequently ASked Questions
This recipe runs about 5 net carbs per serving, made with a keto brown sugar substitute and plain, unseasoned tomato products. The number in the recipe card below will recalculate once this post is republished, so use it as an estimate until then.
Any keto bread works, a low-carb bun, a toasted keto roll, or a fathead-style bread if you have one on hand. It also works spooned over a bed of greens if you’d rather skip the bread altogether.
Yes, ground pork, chicken, or turkey all work in place of beef. Drain any excess fat the same way you would with beef before adding the sauce.
Yes, this sauce freezes well, so doubling or tripling the batch and freezing the extra is worth doing. Thaw it in the fridge and brown fresh ground meat when you’re ready to serve.
Add Preferred SourceKeto Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef browned and drained
- 1/2 cup green pepper chopped fine
- 1/2 cup onion chopped fine
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce plain, unseasoned, no sugar or salt added
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar substitute
- 2 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Brown the beef in a large skillet, then drain off any fat. While it is cooking, finely chop the onions, green (or red) bell pepper, and garlic.
- Add the olive oil, onions, peppers, and garlic. Sautee over medium heat until the onions are translucent, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, brown sugar, mustard powder, Worcestershire Sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper to the pan. Bring to a low simmer and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, to blend all the flavors together.
- Serve on your favorite keto bread, and enjoy!
Notes
Recipe Card Tips
- Check the tomato sauce label carefully. Plain, unseasoned versions vary by brand in added sodium and sugar, so read before you buy.
- Drain the beef well if you’re using a fattier blend. Excess grease left in the pan makes the sauce greasy instead of thick.
- Double the sauce batch and freeze half. It reheats well, which turns a from-scratch dinner into a fast one on a future night.
Nutrition
A Note on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed. Erythritol carbs (sugar substitutes) are not included in the carbohydrate counts as they have been shown not to impact blood sugar, and they have zero calories and zero carbs. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
I love a good sloppy joes recipe! This one looks delicious and what a great keto option 🙂
What a great option for our BBQ party! Yes, we organize such the parties during the winter months as well. Your sloppy joes are on my list! Thanks for sharing!
This is my kind of recipe! Brought back fond childhood memories. Hands down delicious!
I made these for dinner last night and they were incredible! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!