Keto Sloppy Joes Recipe: Easy, Low Carb Sloppy Joes!

Sloppy Joes are a favorite among kids and adults alike. It might not be apparent, but a big part of what makes Sloppy Joes so good is that sloppy sauce. And it should come as no surprise that the sauce is loaded with sugar. That’s why we swap out all the suspect ingredients in our low carb, keto Sloppy Joes recipe!

Where’s all that sugar from exactly?

The main sweet ingredients in a classic Sloppy Joes recipe are ketchup and brown sugar. The former is packed with sugar and the latter is, well, quite literally sugar.

Note that onions and bell peppers (which are great for you, by the way) naturally contain some sugar as well. However, these vegetables don’t really move the meter compared to the other ingredients. Overall, this will be the closest you can get to sugar free Sloppy Joes.

Ketchup

Did you know the average ketchup contains around 5g net carbs? And, that’s just for one tablespoon! In Sloppy Joes, we need around 12 tablespoons– so that really adds up. We definitely need to reduce the carb content of the ketchup we use in this recipe. You’re not likely ever going to find a ketchup at 0g net carb because tomato contains some sugar/carbs.

But you can get close. And here’s our number one choice: the comfortably familiar Heinz Ketchup – No Sugar Added version. It has only 1g net carb, which is amazing for our keto Sloppy Joes recipe.

Luckily, there are several low carb ketchup options for our keto Sloppy Joes. Another that we sometimes like to use is G Hughes Sugar Free Ketchup. It also contains only 1g net carb per tablespoon serving size.

Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is brown sugar is brown sugar, right? Every gram of sugar is a net carb. How are we going to substitute for that?

That’s what Swerve Sweetener’s Brown Sugar Alternative is for. It tastes, bakes, feels, looks and packs down like real brown sugar! But, since the sweetener used is erythritol, there are 0g net carbs with a  zero glycemic index! We use this stuff in all our baking recipes that call for brown sugar–and it works great in our low carb Sloppy Joes recipe without any issues.

The Bun

You might be wondering how to eat Sloppy Joes without bread. Well, you could go bunless, but Sloppy Joes but the flavor will probably be too intense. You will surely want something to complement the Sloppy Joes.

To that end, our favorite bun substitute is the Outer Aisle Gourmet Cauliflower Sandwich Thins. These don’t have much of a cauliflower taste since there is a good amount of parmesan cheese infused into the crust. These sandwich thins are the perfect size for your Sloppy Joes and are only 1g net carb per piece.

If you must have the classic hamburger bun, there are the 0g net carb Smart Buns Hamburger Buns. If you’re looking for a low carb bread option, this is going to be right up your alley.

Note: These buns are quite crumbly, so your low carb Sloppy Joes are going to get even sloppier.

Alright, now that we have our keto-friendly ingredients squared away, let’s get to one of our favorite low carb ground beef recipes!

Keto Sloppy Joes

Print Recipe

4.41 from 5 votes

Keto Sloppy Joes Recipe: Easy, Low Carb Sloppy Joes!

Our goto recipe for a deliciously easy meal!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: keto sloppy joes

Servings: 6

Calories: 259kcal

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground beef or ground turkey regular, not lean
• 1 medium yellow onion coarsely chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 cup Heinz No Sugar Added Ketchup
• 2 tsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp Swerve Brown Sweetener
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt to taste

Instructions

• Add the onions, bell peppers and meat to a skillet and cook over medium heat until the meat browns.  (about 10-12 minutes)
• Drain excess liquid from the skillet (don't skip, or it will turn out runny)
• Mix in the ketchup, mustard, Swerve, pepper and garlic powder.
• On low simmer, cook additional 5-8 minutes stirring frequently. Adding salt to taste.
• Toast buns on a pan and serve with the Sloppy Joes in between.
• BONUS! Add sharp cheddar cheese to take it up a notch!