Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes (Low Carb Keto Sloppy Joes) are full of flavor with a slow-cooked ground beef and pork mixture in a delectable tangy sauce. This easy recipe is a year-round go-to slow cooker recipe.
Definitely low carb and keto-friendly, this is a perfect weeknight family recipe that everyone can enjoy. Instant pot sloppy joe recipe included as well. So easy!
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Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Sloppy Joes Are So Good
Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes?
You can make this recipe two ways - in your pressure cooker or a slow cooker. It's delicious either way. Cooking in a slow cooker results in richer flavor, but I do either method depending upon my time. Both are tasty!
Easy Slow Cooker Recipe
This is an EASY slow cooker recipe that is perfect all year round. Crockpots are great because they are low energy and put off very little heat making it great on a hot summer day!
Make this recipe by browning the meat and onions, then simply add meat mixture and all remaining ingredients in the slow cooker and cook.
Family-Friendly Recipe
Kids love sloppy joes and this is an easy recipe that you can make in a hurry. My kids gobble this up - when they were young and even now as teens.
Warning - full carb photo ahead! Don't be tempted keto and low carb followers! 🙂
Low Carb and Keto Sloppy Joes
With 26.2 grams of fat, 22.3 grams of protein, and 5.6 net carbs, this is a keto-friendly sloppy joe!
Sugar-Free Recipe
This is a no sugar added recipe! Swerve brown sugar substitute is used instead of sugar in this recipe, as well as sugar-free ketchup. Of course, if you are not following a sugar-free or keto diet feel free to use regular brown sugar and regular ketchup!
Want another delicious family-friendly slow cooker recipe? Check out Quick Low Carb Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff, (HERE)
How to Serve
If you are following a low carb or keto diet it is really delicious over a grilled/broiled portobello mushroom or riced cauliflower. There are also a lot of recipes for low carb hamburger buns you can try (Like chaffles! See below), but I like to keep it simple and stick with vegetables.
The best way to serve sloppy joes if you are not following a low carb or keto diet is on a hamburger bun - a classic!
Another favorite way to serve sloppy joes is stuffed in peppers. You can stuff the peppers with the sloppy joe mixture and either bake them or put them in a crock pot for about 6 hours on low. Very delicious!
I love to top my sloppy joes with coleslaw. If you haven't tried this, go for it. You will love. Here is my favorite low carb and keto coleslaw recipe:
Pickle Slaw Recipe (It is also sugar-free, low carb, and keto)
Serve Your Sloppy Joes On A Chaffle!
Super delicious and easy low carb and keto option! Mix 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 1 egg in a small bowl. Pour mixture into a heated waffle iron and cook until golden in color. I like mine on the crispy side so I leave in a little longer. Sloppy joe's over chaffles is my new favorite way to eat these!!
Basic Chaffle Recipe (serves one):
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup cheese
Instructions
- Preheat waffle iron. Mix egg and cheddar cheese in a small bowl. Pour mixture into waffle iron and cook until golden in color, or until it reaches your desired crispiness. (Waffle will crisp as it cools too.)
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers
Okay so while making this recipe I decided to stuff my sloppy joe mixture into peppers and cook them in my slow cooker to see what would happen.
This ended up being so easy and delicious I was amazed that I hadn't come up with this before! 🙂 All you have to do is stuff peppers with your sloppy joe meat and place in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours or until peppers are tender.
(Tip: you could double the recipe or use the leftovers to make slow cooker stuffed peppers for a different day.)
Ingredients and Tools
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients that you will need:
- 2 lb ground beef 80% fat
- 1 lb pork sausage
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup ketchup (sugar-free)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (use Swerve if you're following a keto or sugar-free diet)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (thickening agent, optional)
Tools
- Slow cooker (this is my favorite slow cooker because it has adjustable sizes!)
- Instant pot (this is the one I have)
- Coleslaw (recipe, HERE)
Instructions Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Simple and delicious! Here's how you make sloppy joes:
Brown Ground Beef and Pork
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef, pork sausage, and onion. Cook until no longer pink and onions are tender.
Add Ingredients To Slow Cooker
Spray crockpot with a nonstick spray.
Add cooked meat and onion mixture to slow cooker.
Add garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, worcestershire, and salt to slow cooker. Combine all ingredients.
Turn on low for 4 to 6 hours.
If the mixture becomes too runny, you can whisk in 1/2 teaspoon of xantham gum and let sit for about 15 minutes to thicken. Add more as needed, but only 1/4 teaspoon at a time. A little goes a long way.
Serve
Delicious served over grilled or broiled portobello mushrooms as shown in the picture (the mushroom in the picture is a little tiny but it's all I could find!), over riced cauliflower, steamed veggies, or wrapped in lettuce.
Instructions Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
Quick to make in a pressure cooker! Here's how:
Brown Ground Beef and Pork
With pressure cooker set on Saute or medium heat, brown ground beef, sausage, and onions.
Add Remaining Ingredients To Pressure Cooker
Add garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, worcestershire, and salt to slow cooker. Combine all ingredients.
Cook
Lock lid and set pressure cooker to High for 5 minutes.
Allow pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then do a quick release.
If the mixture has become too runny, you can whisk in 1/2 teaspoon of xantham gum and let sit for about 15 minutes to thicken. Add more as needed, but only 1/4 teaspoon at a time. A little goes a long way.
Serve
Delicious served over grilled or broiled portobello mushrooms as shown in the picture (the mushroom in the picture is a little tiny but it's all I could find!), over riced cauliflower, steamed veggies, or wrapped in lettuce.
📋 Recipe
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes (Keto Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes)
These sloppy joes are full of flavor with a slow-cooked ground beef and pork mixture in a delectable tangy sauce. This easy recipe is a year-round go-to slow cooker recipe. Definitely low carb and keto-friendly, this is a perfect weeknight family recipe that everyone can enjoy. Instant pot sloppy joe recipe included as well. So easy!
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground beef 80%
- 1 lb pork sausage
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3/4 cup ketchup (use sugar free if on keto)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (use Swerve if on keto)
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon xantham gum (thickening agent, optional)
Instructions
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
- In a large skillet over medium high heat, add ground beef, pork sausage, and onion. Cook until no longer pink and onions are tender.
- Spray crock pot with a nonstick spray. Add cooked meat and onion mixture to slow cooker.
- Add garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, chili poweder, worcestershire, and salt to slow cooker. Combine all ingredients. Turn on low for 4 to 6 hours.
- If mixture has become too runny, you can whisk in 1/2 teaspoon of xantham gum and let sit for about 15 minutes to thicken. Add more as needed, but only 1/4 teaspoon at a time. A little goes a long way.
- Serve (low carb serving suggestions below)
Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
- With pressure cooker set on Saute, medium heat, brown ground beef, sausage, and onions.
- Add garlic, tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, chili poweder, worcestershire, and salt to slow cooker. Combine all ingredients. Lock lid and set pressure cooker on High for 5 minutes.
- Once cooking is complete, allow pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then do a quick release.
- If mixture has become too runny, you can whisk in 1/2 teaspoon of xantham gum and let sit for about 15 minutes to thicken. Add more as needed, but only 1/4 teaspoon at a time. A little goes a long way.
- Serve and enjoy! Delicious serving ideas below.
Notes
If you use sugar free ketchup then you may need to add an additional 1/2 tablespoon Swerve brown sugar. Make it according to the recipe first and do a taste test. Add additional if needed.
Typically served over hamburger buns but if you are following a low carb or keto diet it's equally delicious over a grilled portobella mushroom, riced cauliflower, or wrapped in lettuce. It is also makes amazing keto stuffed peppers! (Recipe, HERE)
Top with coleslaw for extra delicious flavor. Recipe for Pickle Slaw, HERE
Nutrition facts are calculated using sugar free brown sugar, and sugar free ketchup.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 358Total Fat: 26.2gCholesterol: 85.4mgSodium: 2582.5mgCarbohydrates: 7.8gNet Carbohydrates: 5.6gFiber: 2.2gSugar: 3.9gProtein: 22.3g
Related Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipes with Beef
- No Bean Chili Slow Cooker Recipe (Low Carb Keto)
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak (Keto Salisbury Steak)
- Best Corned Beef Recipe (Slow Cooker and Instant Pot)
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Slow cooker sloppy joes are a delicious low carb and keto recipe that everyone will love whether following a diet or not. An easy recipe to make so it's the perfect weeknight dinner idea. Low carb sloppy joes can be made in an instant pot pressure cooker, or the meat mixture can become delicious keto stuffed peppers. A kid-friendly recipe! #sloppyjoes #groundbeefrecipe #pork #easydinneridea #keto #lowcarb #peppers #beef #dinner #easyrecipe #slowcooker #crockpot #pressurecooker #instantpot
Julianne says
I made Keto version with sugar free ketchup and omitted the brown sugar and it was just right. Used the portabello mushroom and topped with sugar free slaw. This is a keeper.
seekinggoodeats says
Sounds perfect! I recently added a chaffle recipe to the post. It is amazing with the keto version! 🙂
Wen says
We tried this for lunch today. It was so good. I thickened it up with a small amount of coconut flour (xanthum gum and I are not friends) and it turned out so good! We had them with "wonder bread" chaffles. It was a great lunch. Thank you for sharing!
seekinggoodeats says
Thank you for telling us about coconut flour, Wen! That is a great tip. I have not tried that yet and it's great to have options. If you need more chaffle recipe ideas I have a post on the blog you might like! Here's the link: 20+ Best Chaffles To Make (Keto Waffle Recipes)
Gregersenartpoint says
Transfer to slow cooker and add and stir well rest of ingredients. Cook on low 4-rs. Serve on lettuce leaves top with favorite toppings (cheese sour cream etc.) Roll up and enjoy!!
Audra says
Very good! I almost forgot to add the brown sugar alternative as it wasn't listed in the directions. I think I'll try the coconut flour like Wen mentioned. I don't care for the texture xanthum gum causes. We had these with chaffles and wonderbread waffles.
Alanna Riley says
I cant get to the stuffed pepper recipe. I would love to use the leftovers to make the stuffed peppers. Can you make that available?
seekinggoodeats says
I Alanna, I haven't actually published a recipe for this...but it's super easy. All you have to do is stuff raw peppers with your leftover sloppy joe meat and place in your slow cooker. No need to add liquid. Cook on low for 6 hours or until peppers are tender. I like to top them with coleslaw or a little cheese. Let me know if you have any questions! 🙂
seekinggoodeats says
One more thing...I would check after 4 hours, some crockpots cook fast!