Keto Sloppy Joes

My kids love this sweet and tangy meaty dinner. They seem to love the messiness that also comes along with this meal. Perhaps they feel like it gives them permission to be messy—almost like you need to act messy—to eat this meal properly. Perhaps it’s a bit liberating in a way.

In any meat sauce and especially sloppy joes, I used to  LOVE hiding veggies. Nowadays my kids know all my tricks and have grown accustomed to eating a wide variety of veggies so the need to hide veggies is no longer a requirement. But I remember the earlier years of training these maturing pallets. I am of the philosophy that a child’s immune system and metabolic strength develops early and negotiating veggies over carbs is NOT an option in our household. We talk about what things on their plates are most important, “non-negotiables” that they must eat. I know it sounds drill sergeant-ish, but I believe they will be better from it in the future.

​If you are at the stage of hiding veggies, then hide away mama! Below is how I still make it. My kids know what’s in it now, but back then I’d just tell them it was ground beef. They ate it and I was happy.

Pairing: 
Keto Dinner Rolls

Serves: 
4-6

​Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef

• 1 green bell pepper, minced

• 1/2 package cauliflower rice, frozen

• 1/2 large yellow onion, minced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 3/4 cup ketchup, sugar free

• Water
 (for thinning, if needed)
• 1-2 tablespoon brown Swerve 

• 3/4 teaspoon chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

• salt and pepper to taste

 
Directions:

1. Heat avocado oil and saute onions and garlic until fragrant and onions are translucent.
2. Add ground beef and brown. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
3. Add bell pepper and riced cauliflower.
4. Stir and cook until cauliflower is softened and half of the water/liquid is cooked away. (TIP: too much liquid will make your sauce extra runny)
5. Add tomato paste, ketchup and stir to mix. If you need to thin out the sauce use water 1 tablespoon at a time. You don’t want your sauce to be too runny.
6. Add brown swerve (1 tablespoon at a time, and add more to taste), chili powder and Worcestershire sauce.
7. Cover and simmer together on low for 5-10 minutes until the flavors combine and the sauce begins to thicken a bit.

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