When I need a dinner that works for everyone and still keeps things low-carb, these keto sloppy joes are what I reach for. They’re tangy, a little sweet, and unapologetically messy. The good kind of messy. Pile them onto toasted keto buns or skip the bread and go with a keto sloppy joe bowl. Either way, it’s comfort food that doesn’t feel like you’re giving something up. On a busy weeknight, that feels like a small victory.

A close-up of a sloppy joe sandwich topped with colorful coleslaw and pickles on a bun, with another sandwich and bowls of coleslaw and pickles in the background. Chopped herbs are sprinkled on the surface.

Turn to these sloppy joes when you need easy, comforting food.

When I tested these keto sloppy joes, I was chasing that classic sloppy joe flavor that I could serve to the whole family. This keto sloppy joe recipe gets there fast, with ingredients I always keep on hand and a sauce that actually tastes like sloppy joe sauce, not “close enough.” It’s one of those keto recipes that your kids won’t even know is low carb.

Serve this with a side of keto cauliflower mac and cheese, a simple salad, or roasted veggies, and you’ve got an easy weeknight dinner.

Serve them classic-style on buns, go bunless in a sloppy joe bowl, or load them up with pickles, cheese, and coleslaw.

Ingredients for a recipe on a white surface: two packs of ground beef, a yellow onion, ketchup, mustard, spices, a clove of garlic, seasonings, broth, and package of keto buns.

Ingredient Talk

For the ground beef, I recommend 80/20. When I tested leaner beef, the keto sloppy joe sauce was thin. A little fat here helps everything cling together the way sloppy joes should.

That said, if you want to use ground turkey, go for it. I’d recommend a touch of Worcestershire sauce for flavor if you go this route.

Sugar-free ketchup is important to keeping things low-carb, because regular ketchup can have a lot of sugar,.

Chili powder adds warmth, not heat. I don’t like this recipe spicy. If you don’t have chili powder, mix together onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and cumin.

Step-by-Step

See the recipe card below for full instructions.

Chopped onion sautéing in oil in a black frying pan. — Heat avocado oil in a skillet and cook the onion until tender.

Chopped garlic and onion is being sautéed in a black cast iron pan with a teal spatula, some pieces already turning golden brown. — Stir in the garlic.

Ground beef being browned in a skillet with chopped onions. Some of the meat is still pink and uncooked, while other parts are starting to brown. — Add the ground beef and break up with the back of a spoon.

Ground beef and chopped onions are being cooked in a black skillet, with steam rising and salt being sprinkled from above. — Sprinkle with salt.

Ground beef cooking in a skillet topped with ketchup, mustard, spices, and a blue spoon resting on the side of the pan. — Stir in keto ketchup, beef broth, keto brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, and chili powder.

Ground beef cooked in a skillet with a rich, red sauce, and a blue spoon resting on the side. — Simmer until the sauce thickens.

Tips & Tricks

Extra-lean ground beef can lead to a thin sauce. When I tested this recipe with 80/20, it was perfect. Enough fat. Enough body. Let it simmer uncovered and don’t rush it.
When I tested this recipe, I tried adding diced red pepper and green bell pepper. Both were good. But they didn’t move the needle in terms of flavor as much as I expected, so I left it out to keep the carbs lower. If you want to add vegetables, go for it.
These keto sloppy joes are even better after they sit. I make them ahead of time. Reheat on the stove or in the slow cooker and add broth if the sauce gets too thick.

Two sloppy joe sandwiches topped with colorful coleslaw are placed on a white surface. Some filling has spilled onto the surface, and sliced pickles and parsley are nearby. A bowl with more coleslaw is in the background.

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Two sloppy joe sandwiches on buns, topped with colorful coleslaw and pickle slices, sit on a white surface with scattered herbs and a few pieces of filling fallen out. A bowl of pickles is blurred in the background.

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Keto Sloppy Joes

Prep Time10

Cook Time25

Total Time35

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings:

Calories: 327.81kcal

Author: Wendy Polisi

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualified sales.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon avocado oil or other oil
½ yellow onion diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 pounds ground beef
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup keto ketchup
¼ cup beef broth
1 tablespoon keto brown sugar or keto maple syrup
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 teaspoon chili powder
For serving: keto hamburger buns dill pickles, coleslaw, cheese

Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet to medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute.
Add the ground beef to the skillet, and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up into crumbles as you go. Sprinkle the meat evenly with the salt.
Add the ketchup, broth, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, chili powder, and salt. Increase the heat to medium-high, and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
For serving, divide the beef mixture between toasted buns and top with desired fixings.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Nutrition