These Keto Sloppy Joes are a hearty, flavorful twist on the classic comfort food, made with ground venison and a naturally sweetened sauce. It's a simple skillet dinner that comes together quickly, perfect for busy weeknights.
This is one of my favorite ways to use ground venison once hunting season starts - whether it's freshly processed or you''re working through what's left in the freezer from last year. It comes together in under 25 minutes, so it earns a spot in the rotation even on busy fall weeknights.
What You'll Find in this Post:
- How to turn ground venison into a keto sloppy joe that's ready in 25 minutes and only 209 calories.
- Tips for cooking ground venison so it stays tender, not dry or tough.
- A complete keto recipe that's easy to fit into a low-carb routine.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Sugar-free ketchup and monk fruit make the sauce low-carb without tasting like a diet version.
- Ground venison keeps it leaner than a classic beef sloppy joe.
- Ready in 25 minutes and mild enough that picky eaters won't complain.
Key Ingredients for Keto Sloppy Joes
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
- Ground venison is the lean protein here - it keeps the dish keto-friendly without the extra fat a classic beef version would add.
- Sugar-free ketchup and monk fruit build the tangy-sweet base of the sauce without the carbs regular ketchup and sugar would add.
- Dijon mustard & Worcestershire sauce round out the sauce with the deeper savory notes a classic sloppy joe gets from a longer ingredient list.
- Onion and garlic build the savory base, and green bell pepper adds a bit of crunch and freshness on top.
Ingredient Substitutions
- No ground venison? Ground turkey or lean beef both work well here.
- Out of monk fruit?? A 1:1 brown sugar substitute or allulose does the same job in the sauce.
- Swap the green bell pepper for red or yellow if you want a milder, sweeter flavor.
Variations on Keto Sloppy Joes
- Cheesy skillet style: stir in shredded cheddar at the end for a creamy, cheesy version.
- Stuffed peppers: fill halved bell peppers with the sloppy joe mixture and bake instead of serving it over a bun.
- Lettuce wraps: spoon into crisp lettuce leaves for a low-carb alternative to bread.
Top Tips
- Don't overcook the venison - simmer just until the sauce thickens, or it'll dry out.
- Taste before you serve, and adjust the sweetness or tang to your liking.
- If you're serving it on keto bagels, rolls, or bread, toast them first - it keeps them sturdy under the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes - just thaw it fully in the fridge before cooking. This recipe is an easy way to work through venison from last hunting season while you make room in the freezer for a fresh one.
Yes - the cooked mixture freezes for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge, then reheat according to the instructions below.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water to loosen the sauce if needed.
Serve With...
I like to serve these Keto Sloppy Joes over top of a toasted Keto Asiago Bagel or Keto Dinner Roll with a serving of Homemade Coleslaw.
More Easy Keto Meals You'll Love
If you enjoy these keto sloppy joes with ground venison, you'll also enjoy these recipes below:
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Keto Sloppy Joes
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground venison
- ¼ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 1½ cups water , divided
- ½ cup sugar-free ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Monk fruit
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the onion, and ground venison.
- Using a flat head wooden spoon, cook and stir the venison for 6 minutes, or until the meat has browned.
- Add the green pepper, garlic, and ½ cup water to meat mixture. Stir to combine, and cook with the lid on skillet for 1 minutes.
- Stir in the ketchup, mustard, golden monk fruit, Worcestershire sauce, salt and black pepper until combined. Add the remaining water.
- Bring the sloppy joe mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened. Serve over keto asiago bagels.
Becky Winternheimer says
Thank you for this delicious recipe! My husband and I loved it!!! This recipe is really simple to make the flavor if fantastic:)
Christine says
Awesome recipe. I don't have sugar free ketchup so I used small can of plain tomatoes sauce. I added butter and olive oil to my meat since we didn't add fat to our grind. Best sloppy Joe's I've had.
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Christine, so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Hope you enjoy many more! Shelby
Anaiah says
Mmmm.. I'm glad to find a way to enjoy one of my favorite childhood recipes while on a keto diet. These sloppy joes were full of flavor and so quick to make. The kids enjoyed it too!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Anaiah, thanks you, happy the kids enjoyed it as well! Shelby
Alex says
My kid has never had sloppy joes. Perhaps it's time to change that! Your recipe looks so easy and full of flavor.
Erin says
This is such a great idea! I'll have to try this as soon as I find venison around here. I haven't had sloppy joes since I was a kid!
Julia says
We've made this recipe 3 times in the past two weeks! It's so easy and honestly great not only on a burger, but sometimes we scoop it over rice or over some pasta! That's how great this is!
Cathleen says
Can you believe that I have never tried sloppy joes before?? This needs to change! Making this ASAP, thank you so much for the recipe 🙂
Kathryn says
These sloppy joes take me back to my childhood! SO good and love how it's keto-friendly! Perfect dinner 🙂 thanks!
Leslie says
This recipe is definitely a keeper! Great flavor, easy to make, and kid-friendly too!
Jacqueline Debono says
I really like venison and cook it whenever I can find it but mostly in a stew or in a pasta sauce and not ground meat. Love the idea of these sloppy joes. Definitely on my to-try list!
Bernice says
Well I'm not sure if I can get my hands on venison but I do have bison! I'll give these a go with that. It's been years since we've had sloppy joes.
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Bernice, ground beef works great too! Hope you enjoy the recipe! Shelby
Debi says
Tried the sloppy Joe's today - really good! This was the first recipe we used this year's venison. It's a keeper!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Debi! That's great, happy you enjoyed the recipe! Shelby
Debi says
Definitely 5 stars, this is so good! Only change was omitting green pepper because my guy can't eat them. Can't wait to make it again & I love them with the slaw.
My second post, because I didn't see the star rating at girst!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Debi, thank you for coming back to rate the recipe! Shelby
Allie says
Hi Shelly!
Can I make this in an instapot?
If so, do you have instructions?
Thanks!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Allie, You probably can make it in the instant pot however I personally have not done it. Let me do some research and I'll get back to you. Shelby
Ashley says
THIS RECIPE IS DELICIOUS!!! JUST TRY IT!!
I've made this so many times, it's a strong favorite in my home. I'm done it with ketchup and with bbq sauce, I like both but I think ketchup is a bit better, less sweet. I also have made a few tweaks since the first time I've made this. I only add about half the suggested water amount, I prefer my sloppy joes to be thicker and less runny. I also never add sugar, I don't have access to sugar-free ketchup where I live so I use what I have and eliminate that ingredient. Otherwise, I highly recommend this recipe! It's SO good!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Ashley, thank you so much for rating the recipe and I am so happy you enjoyed it! Shelby
Nancy says
The instructions for the Venison Sloppy Joes says to “Add green pepper”. Green peppers are not listed in the Ingredients. How much green pepper is used for this recipe?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Nancy, thanks for bringing that to my attention. I added the amount to the recipe card.