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I have to admit, sloppy joes always take me back to school lunch days — but this version is way better than anything from a cafeteria tray. My keto sloppy joes are sweet, saucy, smoky, and totally satisfying… all without any sugar. I tested the recipe on my kids and a few picky eaters (you know the type), and they all cleaned their plates. It’s one of those dinners that feels nostalgic, but actually tastes amazing. Make them with me!
Why You Need My Keto Sloppy Joes Recipe
- Tastes like the real deal – Thanks to Besti Brown, it has that deep, sweet brown sugar flavor that gives regular sloppy joes their signature taste — and honestly, it reminds me a lot of my keto pork chops (in the best way!).
- Thick and saucy – I tweaked the ingredients until the meat was perfectly saucy without being watery — thick enough to pile high on a bun and not fall apart.
- Simple Ingredients – Nothing fancy here — just everyday staples you probably already have. No obscure sauces or specialty items required.
- Fast and easy – These low carb sloppy joes come together in one pan and about 20 minutes. On busy nights, this is one of my favorite go-to keto dinners.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my healthy sloppy joes recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Ground beef – I usually make these with ground beef, but ground pork or ground turkey work great too if that’s what you have. Just use whatever you like best — I’ve tried them all and they still turn out delicious.
- Sugar-Free Ketchup – I like to make my own to keep the ingredients super clean, but store-bought works too! Just double-check the label — you’ll want one that’s sugar-free and has 2g net carbs or less per serving.
- Besti Brown Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I really recommend using Besti Brown here — it has that rich brown sugar flavor and blends so smoothly into the sauce. I’ve tested other brown or golden sweeteners, and honestly, they just don’t melt in the same way or taste as deep. If you have to use something else, go for a powdered sweetener to keep the texture right, but just know it won’t have quite the same flavor. You can always check my keto sweetener guide if you need help picking one.
- Yellow Mustard – I add a splash of yellow mustard for a little tang to balance the sweetness — it gives the sauce that classic sloppy joe flavor. If you don’t have any, Dijon or spicy brown mustard will work too, just know they’ll add a bit more bite.
- Spices – I used garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder to give the keto sloppy joes a smoky, savory kick. You can swap chili powder for paprika or add cayenne for heat.
- Sea Salt
- Water
VARIATION: Want it chunkier?
If you like your sloppy joes with more texture, try adding some diced tomatoes and bell peppers when you cook the beef. It gives the sauce a heartier feel and adds a little extra flavor and color to every bite.
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How To Make Keto Sloppy Joes
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Brown the beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the ground beef. Season it with a little salt and cook, breaking it apart as you go, until it’s nicely browned.
- Make the sauce. Stir in the ketchup, a splash of water, sweetener, mustard, and all the spices.
- Simmer & thicken. Let it bubble for a bit, then turn the heat down and let it simmer until the sauce thickens up. Enjoy your keto sloppy joes on bun or in a lettuce wrap!
My Recipe Tips
- Make the buns first (if you’re using them). If you’re making my keto buns, start with those since they take the longest. I’ve made the mistake of timing it wrong and ended up with cold meat and warm buns — not ideal. 😅
- Nonstick skillet = less mess. I love using this nonstick fry pan for this recipe. It makes cleanup easy and the beef browns evenly without sticking.
- I recommend using a meat chopper. This one breaks up the beef perfectly so you don’t end up with a mix of big chunks and tiny bits — just the even, crumbled texture you want in a sloppy joe.
- Don’t rush the simmering step! Letting the sauce reduce a bit helps it cling to the meat better and keeps it from being too runny.
- I always give the sloppy joe mixture a taste at the end. If it’s not sweet enough, I just add a little more Besti Brown and stir until it melts in. If it’s too sweet, a splash of mustard helps balance it out. It’s all about finding the flavor that works for you!
- Double the batch for meal prep. These reheat so well. I often double it and use the leftovers in lettuce wraps, over roasted veggies, or even stuffed into keto cabbage rolls.
Serving Ideas
Wondering what to serve with this keto sloppy joe recipe? Here are some of my favorite sides to round out the meal:
- Buns – I used my keto hot dog buns shaped like burgers for this, but my keto hamburger buns work just as well if you want that classic look.
- Salads – I usually serve these with my keto coleslaw — it’s great on the side or piled right on top. Cauliflower potato salad also makes a super easy, refreshing match.
- Starches – Cauliflower mac and cheese adds a creamy contrast to the smoky meat, but sometimes I go full burger mode with rutabaga fries or mashed cauliflower instead.
- Veggies – Air fryer brussels sprouts add the perfect crispy contrast, and if I have extra sauce, I love soaking it up with a side of sauteed cabbage.
Keto Sloppy Joes
By
My keto sloppy joes are saucy, sweet, and super easy to make — all the flavor you love, without the sugar or carbs.
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Optional step: If you want the buns pictured, make this keto hot dog bun recipe in burger shapes. (Do this first as it takes the longest.)
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Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. Season with salt. Cook, breaking apart with a spatula, for 8-10 minutes, until browned.
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Stir in sugar-free ketchup, water, Besti Brown Sweetener, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
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Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until thickened. Adjust sweetener to taste if desired.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/4 lb beef, or 1/4 entire recipe
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid soggy buns, get that perfect saucy texture, and make dinner even easier (and tastier) the next day.
- Store: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge — they’ll stay good for 2–3 days.
- Meal prep: This is one of those recipes that gets even better the next day. I like to make a full batch (or double it!) and keep extras in the fridge or freezer for easy meals later.
- Reheat: Warm in the microwave or a hot skillet until heated through.
- Freeze: Let it cool, then stash it in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. I thaw it in the fridge overnight when I’m ready to use it.
- Note on nutrition info: I use my homemade sugar-free ketchup in these keto sloppy joes, which has just 2g net carbs per serving. If you’re using a different brand, the carb count might vary a bit.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Freezer Meal System!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Keto Sloppy Joes
86 Comments
Katy Waugh
0There is so much FLAVOR in these Sloppy Joe’s!!! I am SO glad I found you and your recipes! I made this exactly as you have written it and would not change a thing. Thank you so much for what you do!! Katy
Andrea
0Tons of flavor. Very good.
Mimi
0Absolutely yummy! I had some ground beef left over and hub asked for Sloppy Joes. It has his stamp of approval and that is saying something. Nice combo of spices and easy to make.
Chris
0Can stevia or splenda be used rather than Besti Brown Monk Fruit Allulose Blend???
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Chris, I don’t think those sweeteners will give the rich flavor of brown sugar that Besti Brown will give. You can find info on all Besti sweeteners here.
Elyce
0Oh My Goodness!!!!
This was absolutely delicious. Here in Australia, we don’t really have Sloppy Joe’s but I have always wanted to try them. Now that I am on a low carb diet, as I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, this was the perfect recipe. I did substitute some of the ketchup (tomato sauce as we call it here in Aus) with Tomato Paste and it was perfect. I also made my own buns using the Keto Fathead Dough. *Chef’s Kiss* .Thank you for this recipe. I will 100% be making these again.
Gabriele
0Hello Maya! Can I make that recipe (Keto Sloppyjoe) with out the sweetener? This be my next recipe I will try. I cooked the other day out of your Cookbooks, the Cauliflower “Potato ” Salad. It was so delicious and good. Thanks for you all great recipes. Sincerely, Gabriele
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Gabriele, Yes, you could omit the sweetener.
Lynn
0Hard to believe this is low carb keto while being so hearty and flavorful. I decided to add a bit of green and red pepper for a dash of color and crunch. Yum. Going to try your keto bun with it next time to actually enjoy a sandwich. Thank you for all your hard work and sharing it. Time to make another of your recipes.
Bob
0It is good but I would shorten up on the sweetener. It gets a little bit overbearing and begins to give that cheap taste that too sweet food does. Great though for quick dinner and like anything you can try it and adjust to what you like.
Betsy
0My whole family really likes this recipe. I have made it a number of times this year.
Michael
0This is the bomb! Great taste and low carb!!! Made twice now
Niki
0This was absolutely delicious!! Used some toasted “cauliflower thins”…. so pretty sloppy..but it sure tasted good!
Julia
0Loved it, made a 3 lb batch, and did add a small can of diced green chiles and a couple of teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce!
MOD
0This recipe was so delicious! My husband has been keto for over 15yrs and hasn’t had a sloppy joe in that time. It tasted just like Mamwhich! He was like a kid in a candy shop! Even my 11yr old son LOVED it!!
Jamie G
0Very good! We scaled up for 25 people (8lbs of meat) and it was amazing. I used store-bought no sugar added ketchup and needed only about 1/2 to 2/3 of the recommended sugar. No one could tell it was keto!
(By the way, the Best Brown Sugar is the best brown sugar ‘substitute’ I’ve tasted!)
Karen
0Loved this recipe! Easy to follow- had all ingredients at home. Keto (me) and non-keto (husband) loved it! A new favorite!
Arden Vaughn
0I just saw this recipe and would like to try it but I have a question about the nutritional breakdown. One serving would mean consuming 4 tbsp of ketchup. The French’s no sugar added ketchup I use has only 1 gram of carbs per tbsp. Where would the other 5 grams of carbs per serving come from? Certainly mustard and seasonings wouldn’t account for that much!! I’d appreciate hearing back from you.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Arden, This recipe calls for the Wholesome Yum ketchup recipe that has 2g net carbs per tablespoon.
Teresa
0Just tried this recipe. Thumbs Up! We love it. Found Keto Burger buns at the store to serve them on. YUM!
Linda
0So delicious! Wish I had found your recipe sooner! Hubby loved it also!
Donna
0I have made this a number of times and absolutely love it!! The only change I make is to lessen the chili powder and use just a pinch of chipotle powder. But it’s excellent as written. Thank you so much for this awesome recipe!!
Jeanette
0I made this for the second time today. It is delicious. Everyone in the house, even the non-keto eaters love this sloppy Joe recipe. Thanks for all the help in the kitchen. You make my life so much easier.
Jan
0I didn’t have any of the Besti Brown sweeteners so I used a Monk Fruit blend and it came out great. Hubby loved it too so another yummy recipe to add to my list!