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Keto sloppy joes in a bun on a grey plate.
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5 from 2 votes

Keto Sloppy Joes

Loaded with ground beef, green pepper, zucchini, tomatoes, and spices, this Keto Sloppy Joes recipe is such an easy recipe! Made without ketchup, this easy dinner is ready in 30 minutes and perfect for a quick and simple weeknight meal the whole family can enjoy. Serve it with a keto bun, low carb tortillas, or biscuits!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Keto
Cuisine: American
Keyword: keto, low carb, no ketchup, sloppy joes, stove top, without ketchup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 378kcal

Ingredients

  • 750 g 1.65 lbs ground beef (or pork, chicken, turkey)
  • 1/2 green bell pepper finely diced
  • 1/2 onion finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 zucchini finely diced (optional, see note 1)
  • 1.5 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp salt + more to taste
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 400 ml 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 45 g 1/4 cup brown erythritol + more to taste (omit for whole30, for other options see note 3)
  • 60 ml 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • A dash or two of hot sauce optional

Instructions

  • Begin by browning the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the ground beef is cooked, drain it in a colander over a large bowl and discard the excess moisture in the bin when it's cool (see note 2).
    A keto sloppy joe frying pan with meat and rice in it.
  • While the brown ground beef is draining, in the same pan add the diced onion and green bell pepper, and sauté them for a couple of minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon occasionally, until they begin to soften.
    A wok filled with onions, green peppers, and keto sloppy joes
  • Now add in the spices: allspice, cumin, sweet paprika, salt and ground black pepper and sauté them for a minute until fragrant.
    Keto sloppy joes simmered with spices and onions in a pan, stirred with a wooden spoon.
  • Add in the garlic and allow it to soften for 2 minutes.
    A keto sloppy joes frying pan with onions and a wooden spoon.
  • Mix in the zucchini and tomato puree, followed by the drained brown ground beef. Mix it together well.
    A keto sloppy joe wok with meat and vegetables in it.
  • Now add the can of diced tomatoes or tomato sauce to the ground beef mixture, followed by the brown sugar substitute and mix well. You can add more brown sugar to taste at the end if you like it sweeter.
    A keto-friendly pan with meat and vegetables in it, perfect for making sloppy joes.
  • Finally, add the vinegar, cover the pan with a lid, and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes, until the zucchini is soft and the juices are abundant (i.e. it’s sloppy!).
    A person pouring a keto sauce into a dish for sloppy joes.
  • Adjust the seasoning and sweetness, and add a dash or two of keto-friendly hot sauce if desired. Serve in a keto bun, lettuce wraps, over keto biscuits, or as it is with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.

Notes

    1. The traditional Sloppy Joes recipe doesn't call for zucchini, however, I like to add extra veggies where I can! Zucchini can be added without taking away or adding to the flavour, and the final dish is still keto-friendly! You can skip it if you'd like.
    2. I drain the liquid into a bowl so that it catches the fatty liquid and doesn’t go down my drain and clog it up. Just allow the liquid to cool and harden in the bowl, and either scrape it into the bin or save it in the fridge for frying vegetables later.
    3. Instead of brown erythritol you can add regular brown sugar, or coconut sugar to keep it paleo.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 378kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 993mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g