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Home » The Best Keto Sloppy Joe Casserole – Quick and Easy

The Best Keto Sloppy Joe Casserole – Quick and Easy

Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen

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There is a black cast iron skillet with a meat mixture with melted cheese on top. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the skillet. There is a white plate in the background. Items are on a white marbled surface.

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Are you looking for a low-carb meal? This keto Sloppy Joe Casserole is everything you love about the classic, bold, beefy, and dripping with saucy goodness, baked into one cheese bubbly dish.

There is a black cast iron skillet with a meat mixture with melted cheese on top. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the skillet. There is a white plate in the background. Items are on a white marbled surface. this …
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Servings: 8
  • Prep Level: Beginner +

What You’ll Love

  • Quick weeknight dinner – Made with simple ingredients and ready in about 30 minutes.
  • Low-carb comfort food – All the bold, saucy, beef flavor of a sloppy Joe the whole family will love even picky eaters.
  • One-pan meal – Delicious flavor with minimal cleanup.
  • Make-Ahead – Great for making ahead and reheating throughout the week.

Growing up sloppy joe sandwiches were on the menu for dinner quite often. When I say sloppy joes, it was cooked ground beef mixed with manwich sauce and served on a hamburger bun. It was a childhood favorite! Homemade sloppy joes have come a long way since then and I still love them!

There is a white plate with a round hamburger bun with a ground beef mixture and shredded white cheese sandwiched in the middle. The plate is on a white marbled surfaced.

This keto sloppy joes recipe is a great option for healthier loose meat sandwiches or a delicious low-carb sloppy joes casserole.

There is a large white bowl with raw ground beef, there are two white bowls. One has red tomato sauce in it and the other has shredded white cheese in it. There are seven very small round dishes. Four have dry ground spices in them, three have dark liquids in them. There is a whole red bell pepper, a whole unpeeled yellow onion, and a whole head of garlic. There is a yellow tube with red writing on it. It is tomato paste. There is a dark gray cloth napkin. All items are on a white marbled surface.

Ingredient Notes

  • Ground beef –  I like to use lean ground beef for keto recipes. Ground turkey or ground chicken are great options to use in Keto Sloppy Joes.
  • Steak seasoning – This is the secret ingredient! Use your favorite to add a savory taste to the sloppy joe mixture.
  • Chili powder – Often a blend of chili peppers, smoked paprika, cumin, onion powder, and garlic powder that add pungency and flavor to savory recipes.
  • Ground mustard –  A very versatile spice that adds a little heat to the tangy sauce.
  • Black pepper – Fresh ground pepper is best.
  • Oil – Extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil to sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic.
  • Onion – White, red or yellow onions can be used.
  • Red bell pepper – I usually always have a red bell pepper in the house. Bell peppers are great in so many recipes. If you prefer a little stronger pepper flavor, use a green pepper to take it up a level.
  • Garlic – Fresh minced garlic adds to the overall savor to the casserole.
  • Apple cider vinegar – For a bright, acidic note.
  • Worcestershire sauce – Add salty flavor to any recipe.
  • Tomato paste – Just a little bit for a rich tomato taste.
  • Tomato sauce – The base of the sloppy joe casserole. A great alternative for tomato sauce and tomato paste is sugar-free ketchup or unsweetened ketchup.
  • Cheese – Shredded mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese to top off the sloppy joe filling.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, dry ground seasonings, and tomato sauce in it. There is melted shredded white cheese covering the mixture. There is a spoon above the skillet with meat and cheese mixture in it.

Step-by-Step Instructions

There is a large black cast iron skillet with raw ground beef in it. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef in it. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet.
  • Gather all the simple ingredients. Preheat oven.
  • Chop onion and red pepper. Mince garlic.
  • Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef while cooking. Brown ground beef over medium high heat. Drain off the excess liquid using a mesh strainer.  Set aside.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, and minced garlic cooking. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet. There is a white bowl with cooked ground beef in it next to the skillet. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, and dry ground seasonings cooking. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet. There are two white bowls in front of the skillet. One bowl has red tomato sauce in it and the other has red tomato paste in it. There are two very small clear bowls. One has light yellow liquid in it, the other has dark brown liquid in it. Items are on a white marbled surface.
  • Return skillet to stove top and reduce flame to medium heat. Pour the olive oil to the hot skillet. Sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic.
  • Add the ground mustard, chili powder, steak seasoning, and black pepper. Mix throughly.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, and dry ground seasonings cooking. There is a scoop of red tomato paste in the center of the mixture. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet. There is a dark gray cloth napkin resting behind the skillet. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, and dry ground seasonings cooking. There is red tomato sauce poured over part of the meat mixture. There is a wooden spoon resting in the skillet. There is a stack of empty bowls in front of the skillet. Items are on a white marbled surface.
  • Stir in the tomato paste, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the tomato sauce into the meat mixture and stir until completely incorporated. Remove skillet from heat.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, dry ground seasonings, and tomato sauce in it. There is a small white bowl with shredded white cheese and a dark gray cloth napkin laying next to the skillet. Items are on a white marbled surface.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, dry ground seasonings, and tomato sauce in it. There is shredded white cheese covering the mixture. The skillet is on a white marbled surface.
  • ​Use the back of a wooden spoon and evenly spread the sloppy joe mixture.
  •  If using a casserole dish, transfer the sloppy joe mixture to the dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle cheese over the entire top.
There is a large black cast iron skillet with cooked ground beef, chopped onion, chopped red bell pepper, minced garlic, dry ground seasonings, and tomato sauce in it. There is melted shredded white cheese covering the mixture. The skillet is on a white marbled surface.
  • Place casserole into the oven and bake until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
  • Use oven mitts and remove casserole from the oven. Serve with your favorite side dish or vegetable. Spoon on to low carb hamburger buns for more of a traditional sloppy joe sandwich!

See recipe card below for complete measurements and details.

There is a white plate with a round hamburger bun with a ground beef mixture and shredded white cheese sandwiched in the middle. The sandwich is cut in half. There is a gray cloth napkin and a black cast iron skillet in the background. Items are on a white marbled surfaced.

Laura Belle’s Tips

  1. For a quicker prep time – A great way to make this easy dinner recipe have a faster meal prep time is to use pre chopped onion, bell pepper, and jarred minced garlic which you can usually find at you local grocery store.
  2. Use lean ground beef – 90/10 helps reduce excess grease while keeping the dish flavorful.
  3. Shred the cheese – Pre-shredded cheese can have added starches. For fewer carbs and a better melt, shred it fresh.
  4. Let it rest before serving – After baking, give it 5-10 minutes to set.
Sloppy Joe Casserole in a cast iron skillet.

Sloppy Joe Casserole Serving Ideas

Pair this saucy goodness with:

There is a white soft flat bread wrap with a cooked ground beef mixture in it resting on a white plate. There is a black cast iron skillet with a ground beef mixture with melted cheese on top of it in the back ground. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the skillet. Items are on a white marbled surface.

Storing

Store any leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

Fun Fact

Many believe the original sloppy joe was created many years ago in a cafe in Sioux City, Iowa where a cook named joe started adding tomato sauce to loose meat sandwiches and the rest is history!

More Delicious Casseroles

Yield: 8 servings

The Best Keto Sloppy Joe Casserole – Quick and Easy

There is a black cast iron skillet with a meat mixture with melted cheese on top. There is a stainless steel spoon resting in the skillet. There is a white plate in the background. Items are on a white marbled surface.

This sloppy joe casserole recipe is the perfect low-carb recipe filled with seasoned ground beef, onions, red bell pepper, and savory seasonings. 

The best part about this easy meal is can be ready in about 30 minutes which is perfect for busy weeknights!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds ground beef
  • 2 teaspoons steak seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion – chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper – chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves – minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup shedded cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Chop onion and red pepper. Mince garlic.
  3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
  4. Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef while cooking. Once the ground beef is done (you see no pink), drain off the excess liquid using a mesh strainer. Set aside.
  5. Return skillet to stove top and reduce flame to medium heat, Pour the olive oil to the hot skillet.
  6. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and the minced garlic. Sauté for 5 minutes or until soft. 
  7. Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet. Add the ground mustard, chili powder, steak seasoning, and black pepper. Mix throughly.
  8. Stir in the tomato paste, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour the tomato sauce into the meat mixture and stir until completely incorporated. Remove skillet from heat.
  9. Level out the sloppy joe meat mixture with the back of a wooden spoon. If using a casserole dish, transfer the sloppy joe mixture to the dish and spread evenly.
  10. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the entire top.
  11. Place casserole into the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden brown. Use oven mitts and remove casserole from the oven.
  12. Serve with your favorite side dish or vegetable. Spoon on to low carb hamburger buns for more of a traditional sloppy joe sandwich!

Notes

Helpful Equipment and Tools

  • Large skillet (cast iron or oven proof)
  • Casserole dish (if not using an oven proof skillet)
  • Wooden spoon
  • Mesh strainer
  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoon
  • Cutting board
  • Large cutting knife
  • Garlic press
  • Oven mitts

Recipe Tips

A great way to make this easy dinner recipe have a faster meal prep time is to use pre chopped onion, bell pepper, and jarred minced garlic which you can usually find at you local grocery store.

The tomato sauce and tomato paste contribute the most carbs in this recipe, so look for sugar-free ingredients for lowest amount of carbs.

Storing

Store any leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 333Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 477mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 27g

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© Laura @ Join me in the Kitchen
Cuisine: American / Category: Casseroles
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