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    Home » Recipes

    Keto Sloppy Joes (Skillet Style)

    Jun 13, 2019 · 36 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Keto Sloppy Joes in the form of a Skillet Dinner is a great low-carb meal that's gluten-free and perfect for busy weeknights! Add this to your weekly meal plan, you won't regret it!

    Keto Sloppy Joe mixture in a cast iron skillet with a serving spoon

    Ready for a delicious keto and low carb recipe? Try our Keto Sloppy Joes in skillet form!

    Where does the term "Sloppy Joe" come from?

    Marilyn Brown, the Director of the Consumer Test Kitchen at H.J. Heinz says their research at the Carnegie Library suggests that the origin of the sloppy joe lies with the "loose meat" sandwiches sold in Sioux City, Iowa, in the 1930s and were the creation of a cook named Joe.  [The American Century Cookbook: The Most Popular Recipes of the 20th Century, Jean Anderson]

    Food companies began producing packaged sloppy joe sauce, such as the now-famous Manwich, by the 1960s.

    Your typical Manwich sauce contains tomato puree, tomato paste, high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, corn syrup, salt, sugar, carrot fiber (WTF it carrot fiber?), dried green and red bell peppers, chili pepper, guar gum, spices, xanthan gum, dried garlic, natural flavors, and citric acid. No thank you. While not the WORST ingredient list I've ever seen I'd rather avoid toxic corn syrup and all of that sugar.

    Making your own is easy, let us show you how.

    What are the ingredients in this low-carb sloppy Joe recipe?

    Since all sloppy joe mixes have loads of sugar we're making our own. Don't worry, it's super simple and quick! You'll need:

    • butter - or a vegan alternative, we like Miyokos
    • ground beef - or a vegan alternative such as Beyond Meat
    • bell pepper
    • onion
    • garlic
    • onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, sea salt
    • crushed tomatoes - you can also use unsweetened tomato sauce
    • brown "sugar" - we use the sugar substitute Swerve
    • Worcestershire sauce or even soy sauce or tamari
    • yellow mustard

    What's the correct way to brown ground beef?

    Yes, there is a correct way to brown ground beef whether it's actual beef or a plant-based substitute such as Beyond Meat. Here's what you'll do:

    1. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. You want the meat to fry not steam so make sure the pan is hot before moving on.
    2. Add the ground beef to the skillet and use a spatula or the back of a wooden spoon to break into large pieces then DO NOT TOUCH IT for at least 3-5 minutes. Then ensures that it will brown.
    3. After 3-5 minutes use your spatula or spoon to crumble it into smaller pieces. Keep cooking only stirring occasionally until fully browned and cooked through, this will take another 3-4 minutes.

    That's it! There's nothing worse than steamed ground beef so if you follow this quick how-to you'll have nice and browned ground beef every single time.

    What is the nutritional information for this recipe?

    As always, you can find the full nutritional breakdown including the carb count (total carbs and net carbs) for keto at the bottom of the recipe card as well as the servings at the top of the recipe card. You should always double-check your specific ingredients as different brand's ingredients may have different values.

    How do I serve this Keto Sloppy Joe Skillet?

    • on top of mashed cauliflower
    • tucked into a low-carb hamburger bun (see below for our recommendations)
    • scooped up with celery sticks as an appetizer/dip
    • tuck into low-carb tortillas
    • spoon into lettuce cups
    • by itself with a large green side salad on the side
    • fill hollowed-out bell peppers, top with cheese and bake until bubbly

    Low-carb bread/hamburger bun options to make sloppy joe sandwiches:

    We love this recipe for low-carb buns and this packaged bun mix! A quick tip for egg whites, buy Organic Valley's egg whites to save time in the kitchen, and save wasting those precious yolks. The only ingredients in Organic Valley's egg whites are you guessed it, egg whites. No weird stuff here, just real food.

    sloppy joe mixture in cast iron skillet
    Keto Sloppy Joe mixture in a cast iron skillet with a serving spoon

    Keto Sloppy Joes (Skillet Style)

    These Keto Sloppy Joes are made in the form of a tasty skillet dinner! Check out the recipe to learn various ways on how to serve the Sloppy Joe mixture! #keto #lchf
    4.69 from 60 votes
    Print Rate Pin Recipe
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: 30-minute, easy, keto
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 510kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter see post for vegan options
    • 1 lb ground beef see post for vegan options
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ green bell pepper minced
    • ½ large yellow onion minced
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ⅔ cup crushed tomatoes
    • 3 tablespoons brown Swerve
    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
    • ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese dairy-free, if vegan

    Instructions

    • Heat the butter in a 10” or larger cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add in the ground beef and cook without touching for 4 minutes. Add in the spices. Using the back of a spatula crumble the beef and continue to cook 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove beef to a plate but do not drain the oil from the skillet.
    • Add the pepper and onion to the skillet and cook 3-4 minutes before adding in the garlic, cook another minute until fragrant.
    • Add the remaining ingredients to the skillet and stir to combine. Add the beef back to the skillet, reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes before serving. If using the cheddar sprinkle it over the top, cover and allow the cheese to melt, this will take an additional 3-4 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Sloppy Joes (Skillet Style)
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 510 Calories from Fat 360
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 40g62%
    Saturated Fat 19g119%
    Cholesterol 133mg44%
    Sodium 699mg30%
    Potassium 512mg15%
    Carbohydrates 6g2%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Sugar 3g3%
    Protein 31g62%
    Vitamin A 1057IU21%
    Vitamin C 18mg22%
    Calcium 333mg33%
    Iron 3mg17%
    *

    Nutritional values are estimates only and do not include carbs from sugar alcohols.

    # Hashtag with us!Don't forget to mention @castiron_keto or tag #castironketo on Instagram with your creations! We love seeing what you're making.
    « Keto Browned Butter Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gina says

      June 13, 2019 at 4:04 pm

      thank you, thank you, thank you...Sloppy Joe's are one of my favorite comfort foods and I've missed it so much on keto...can't wait to make!

      Reply
    2. Elaine says

      June 13, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      Looks good! But what's crushed tomato ketchup?

      Reply
      • Alex Lester says

        June 13, 2019 at 4:37 pm

        Ha, that would be a typo. Thanks for pointing that out! It's supposed to be just crushed tomatoes.

        Reply
    3. Andrea says

      June 14, 2019 at 12:37 pm

      Hi! Is it 344 k per serving? And what is the serving size? Thank you

      Reply
      • Alex Lester says

        June 19, 2019 at 12:23 pm

        The nutritional info is per serving, the serving amount can be found at the top of each recipe card. Hope this helps!

        Reply
        • Tina says

          May 15, 2022 at 8:23 pm

          I see the nutritional info, but what is the actual serving size? 1/2c? 2/3c?

          Reply
    4. Judie says

      January 16, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      Love your recipes,,but, I am suddenly getting your videos covering most of the recipe I’m trying to read! No way to get it off! Help!

      Reply
    5. Amanda Edler says

      May 04, 2020 at 10:30 pm

      Hands down my favorite for my whole family.

      Reply
    6. Melanie Lauck. says

      May 13, 2020 at 7:16 pm

      5 stars
      excellant

      Reply
    7. Mary Jackson says

      May 17, 2020 at 7:13 pm

      5 stars
      This was outstanding.

      Reply
    8. Tanya says

      June 10, 2020 at 4:05 pm

      5 stars
      This is yummy! Can’t wait to serve it later on some wonder bread chaffles!

      Reply
    9. Teresa says

      June 24, 2020 at 12:46 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! My family loved them and my husband said they were better than Manwich by far. Thank you!

      Reply
    10. cheryl m walker says

      June 30, 2020 at 7:03 pm

      5 stars
      Dude, this is so good. We ate them on keto buns and it was transformational for a weeknight meal. Also, the men loved it so much I’m gonna call them men-wiches or something like that. Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
    11. Stephanie Hohmann says

      July 11, 2020 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious!!! Added a bit of cayenne and used petite diced tomatoes instead of crushed because that is what I had on hand.

      Reply
    12. Annamarie says

      August 14, 2020 at 10:43 pm

      How is this low carb? Since there was no serving size listed I figured the whole recipe myself. I used everything as listed. Assuming a half cup portion, it is at least 65 carbs! Please explain 6 carbs!!

      Reply
      • Cast Iron Keto says

        August 18, 2020 at 11:48 am

        Hi Annamarie, as stated at the top of the nutritional card, the nutritional information listed is per serving. The recipe card lists the servings at 4. Even if you ate the entire pan, there would only be 24 total carbs and 20 net carbs.

        Reply
    13. Carolyn Sellers says

      August 17, 2020 at 12:57 am

      Recipes sound delicious, but I'm not suppose to eat any citric acid, which is in tomatoes.

      Do you know a way of making similar RECIPE without the tomatoes or paste or sauce with tomatoes?

      Reply
      • Cast Iron Keto says

        August 18, 2020 at 11:45 am

        Hi Carolyn, I've seen a few people use beets in place of tomatoes - could be an option?

        Reply
    14. Carolyn Kraintz says

      August 24, 2020 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      Loved it!

      Reply
    15. Michelle LeBlanc says

      September 01, 2020 at 10:59 pm

      5 stars
      Oh this was SO good!!! I only deviated from the cast iron pan (I don't have one) but these Sloppy Joe's turned out just fine. I put together buns from a low carb hamburger bun mix, and yes used pre-separated egg whites, the Sloppy Joe mix came together in no time and dinner was served! Sliced pickles on the side, easy peasy. Thanks for the tip for cooking the ground beef; I'll do this from now on.

      Reply
    16. LaDonna says

      September 26, 2020 at 10:32 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent! I was out of swerve so I subbed 2 tbsp of coconut sugar and for the crushed tomatoes I used 8oz can of plain tomato sauce. Also I made keto hamburger buns to go with it. This recipe is a keeper!

      Reply
    17. Denise says

      November 07, 2020 at 11:39 pm

      Made this for my family and they absolutely loved it. This is one for my recipe book.
      Thank you

      Reply
    18. Jim McManus says

      November 12, 2020 at 11:59 pm

      I have no idea what you mean by "back of the spatula". The bottom? The handle? They don't really have a front or back.

      Reply
    19. Susan says

      January 26, 2021 at 4:13 pm

      I have made this a few times now. OMG, it is sooooo good. I cut the swerve by 1/2 tbl spoon. I have had it over mashed cauliflower, keto bread, spaghetti squash and LOVE it all. My hubby won't even ]eat the traditional recipe anymore, he loves this and the grandkids think it's awesome.

      Reply
    20. NICOLE says

      February 02, 2021 at 4:20 pm

      5 stars
      AMAZING!!

      Reply
    21. Christine says

      March 02, 2021 at 9:09 pm

      This is really good but if you don’t like spicy. Back off of the red pepper flakes

      Reply
    22. jess says

      April 21, 2021 at 10:31 pm

      Recipe claims gluten-free but worcestershire sauce is usually NOT gluten free. Just a heads up for people making this for a celiac / gluten intolerant person.

      Reply
      • Cast Iron Keto says

        April 22, 2021 at 9:34 am

        Actually, Worcestershire sauce is usually gluten-free with the most common household brand being Lea & Perrins. We expect that if someone is gluten-free, they know to choose gluten-free ingredients. You can also sub in tamari for the Worcestershire sauce as well. Thanks for your note!

        Reply
    23. Shannon says

      April 22, 2021 at 9:10 pm

      Used red bell pepper and a jalapeno. Did not use the brown sugar (brown swerve), replaced with Splenda and still came out good. Serving over mashed cauliflower. Thanks!

      Reply
    24. Jodi says

      August 08, 2021 at 10:13 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe turned out yummy

      Reply
    25. Bec says

      October 16, 2021 at 9:06 pm

      Hi Alex,
      This recipe looks fantastic and I plan to make it tonight. I just thought you should know that the accessibility menu you have on your site doesn't work.... it never loads. I'm visually challenged and was hoping to use the tool to help because the font in your recipe card is so small.

      At any rate, I'm new to the keto diet, so I'll be back to rate your recipe after I try it!

      Reply
      • Cast Iron Keto says

        October 18, 2021 at 2:12 pm

        Hi Bec, we appreciate you bringing this to our attention! The accessibility menu is working for us on Chrome, would you mind sharing if you're on desktop, mobile, or tablet and the browser you're using so we can troubleshoot? We're sorry you're having issues but we'll do our best to get it fixed asap. Thanks!

        Reply
    26. Mary says

      July 19, 2022 at 12:37 am

      5 stars
      Thank you! This recipe is delicious and I plan on using it as a staple in my recipes.

      Reply
    27. BrittanyL. says

      November 05, 2022 at 11:28 pm

      5 stars
      Kids and I love this recipe!! It’s my go to any time we make sloppy joes! My boys use buns but my daughter and I eat it with a salad or by itself with cheese.

      Reply
    28. Karen says

      December 25, 2022 at 12:47 am

      5 stars
      Wow…this was really great, followed the recipe almost to a Tee…I ended up putting a 14oz can of crushed tomatoes verses 2/3 cup….didn’t want to waste them…this was delicious!!..the whole family loved it…I’ll be making this more often and have put it in my Keto recipes !

      Reply
    29. Frances says

      January 19, 2023 at 12:28 am

      The link to this said it was, Blueberry hot fudge cake. Would like the recipe for that. I will try the sloppy Joe's.

      Reply

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