Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (1) Jessica Randhawa

4.87 from 22 votes


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Sloppy and delicious, these Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes are made using pantry essentials including meaty lentils and a tangy tomato sauce. Easy to make, freezer-friendly, and ready in just 30 minutes, serve this lentil sloppy joe recipe sandwiched between a toasted bun with pickled red onions and a side of baked sweet potato fries.

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (2)

Why You’ll Love Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Sloppy joes always transport me right back to my childhood. They’re so delicious and comforting. After sharing my favorite meat-filled sloppy joe recipe with you guys last week, I realized that I should probably share this vegetarian version, too.

So what makes these vegetarian sloppy joes so fabulous?

  • They’re made with pantry essentials, like lentils.
  • Perfect for those families looking to eat less meat.
  • They’re protein-packed and fiber-filled.
  • A great base recipe. Make your joes spicy, season with taco seasoning, mix with cheese, add some bacon.
  • Freeze leftovers for later!
  • Simple substitutions to make vegan and gluten-free.

Hearty and easy, lentil sloppy joes are a perfect meal to throw together for family and friends.

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (3)

Ingredients in Lentil Sloppy Joes

  • Lentils – brown or green
  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • Bell pepper – any color (I used red)
  • Garlic
  • Italian seasoning
  • Tomato sauce – not jarred pasta sauce. You wantplain canned tomato sauce.
  • Worcestershire sauce – to make this recipe vegan and gluten-free, substitute regular Worcestershire sauce with Vegan Worcestershire sauce.
  • Soy sauce– to make this recipe vegan and gluten-free, substitute with tamari or liquid aminos.
  • Dijon mustard
  • Ketchup
  • Hamburger buns

For a sweeter sauce, add a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar or honey. Additional sugar is popular in classic beef sloppy joes, but I chose to leave it out of this recipe on purpose as

For the full list and amounts of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (4)

How to Make Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Lentil sloppy joes are super simple to make. Thay should take approximately 30 minutes to make and will feed between 6-8 people.

Love Lentils? Read all about them in this post (including tons of delicious recipes).

1. Start your lentils. Yep, before you start making your sauce, get your lentils going. Keep an eye on them though- you only want them cooked to al dente.

2. As your lentils cook, start the sauce. Saute the onions and bell pepper, then add the garlic and seasoning. Finally, stir in the canned tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and ketchup.

3. Add the lentils, heat, and serve. Dump your cooked and drained lentils into the sauce and season with additional salt, pepper, ketchup or mustard, to taste. Allow your lentil mixture to cook for a few minutes before plopping a huge spoonful onto a large bun.

Can you freeze leftovers?

Yes, leftover lentil sloppy joe filling freezes really well. As always, allow the mixture to cool completely before transferring to freezer-friendly bags or containers. Freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving (you may need to add a few tablespoons of water or broth to help loosen it up).

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (5)

Serve these lentil sloppy joes topped with crispy white onions or quick-pickled red onions, pickles, or pickled jalapeñ0s. Serve sandwiched between your favorite hamburger bun, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla, or skip the carbs altogether and add top with poached eggs instead. Or, just add some delicious sides like,

  • The BEST Guacamole
  • Chips and Salsa
  • Crispy, fresh green salad
  • Seasonal fruit salad

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (6)

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (7)

More Vegetarian Recipes,

Vegetarian Cauliflower Tikka Masala Recipe (Instant Pot)

Tomato Baked Vegetarian Beans with Tangy Feta

Vegetarian Beet Burgers with Avocado

Chinese Broccoli Recipe with Garlic (Stir-Fried Gai Lan)

If you try making this Lentil Sloppy Joes Recipe, please leave me a comment and let me know!I always love to hear your thoughts.

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (8)

RECIPE CARD

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe

4.87 from 22 votes

AuthorAuthor: Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (10)Jessica Randhawa

Sloppy and delicious, these Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes are made using pantry essentials including meaty lentils and a tangy tomato sauce. Easy to make, freezer-friendly, and ready in just 30 minutes, serve these vegetarian sloppy joes sandwiched between a toasted bun with pickled red onions and a side of baked sweet potato fries.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe Save

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Sandwich

Cuisine American

Servings 8 Sloppy Joes

Calories 215 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry brown or green lentils
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 medium yellow onions - minced
  • 1 red bell pepper - stemmed, seeded and minced
  • 5 cloves garlic - minced
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard - (more or less to taste)
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • salt and pepper - to season
  • Hamburger buns - for serving

Instructions

For the Lentils

  • Add lentils to a fine-mesh strainer and rinse thoroughly with cold water to remove any dust and dirt. Transfer to a medium-sized pot. Fill with 6 cups of water (or vegetable broth).

  • Bring water to a boil over high heat. As soon as it starts to boil, immediately reduce heat to low and cover with a lid. Cook for approximately 20 minutes, or al dente.

  • Drain the lentils in a fine-mesh strainer and set aside.

For the Lentil Sloppy Joes

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, until soft - approximately 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic and season with Italian seasoning. Continue to cook for 30 seconds, stirring continuously.

  • Add the tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, and ketchup to the onions. Mix well and add the lentils to the sauce. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes.

  • Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste, and serve on your favorite toasted hamburger bun.

Jessica's Notes

Nutritional information does not include the hamburger bun.

  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • This vegetarian lentil sloppy joe mixture can be frozen! Allow mixture to cool completely before transferring to freezer-friendly bags or containers. Freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories: 215kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 319mg | Potassium: 583mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 568IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 4mg

(Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and specific brands of ingredients used.)

Keyword Lentil Sloppy Joes, Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Did You Make This Recipe? Tag it Today!Mention @theforkedspoon or tag #theforkedspoon and please leave your star rating in the comment section below.

Lentil Sloppy Joes - Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to Sloppy Joe to make it taste better? ›

Try serving your sloppy joes with their own toppings such as slaw, melty cheese, grilled pineapple, or Hatch green chile. Even just adding a pickle gives extra flavor and crunch, transforming it from a bland sandwich into something great, like the recipe below!

What are the main ingredients in Sloppy Joe? ›

A Sloppy Joe is a sandwich consisting of ground beef and onions in a tomato-based sauce served on a hamburger bun. The sandwich likely originated in Sioux City, Iowa in the 1930s. According to legend, the "loose meat sandwich" was the creation of a cook named Joe.

How can I thicken up my sloppy joes? ›

Use Baking Soda To Velvet The Meat For Your Sloppy Joes

You can also carry out a similar process with cornstarch, which has the added benefit of creating a slightly thicker sauce.

What's the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joe mix? ›

What is the difference between Manwich and Sloppy Joes? Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

How to jazz up sloppy joes? ›

Give your Sloppy Joe a unique spin by replacing hamburger buns with taco shells and adding a little cumin, crisp lettuce, shredded cheese, and juicy tomatoes.

What is a substitute for tomato paste in sloppy joes? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

How to make canned sloppy joe sauce better? ›

Enhancing canned Sloppy Joe sauce is as simple as stirring in a couple of tablespoons of your favorite salsa. Salsa seamlessly complements Sloppy Joe sauce for a couple of reasons. First, both are tomato-based sauces, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors.

What is the best side dish for sloppy joes? ›

Roasted vegetables are the best thing to serve with sloppy joes. Choose from options such as a light and refreshing lemon parmesan zucchini to a colourful Grilled Succotash for the perfect sloppy joe pairing.

What goes good on sloppy joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

How many people will 1 lb of sloppy joes feed? ›

In general, we call for 1 pound of ground beef to make 6 sandwiches in our sloppy joes recipes. That works out to 3 ounces of ground beef per sandwich. Depending on the size of your bun and how meaty you like your sandwich, you can increase or decrease that amount an ounce or two either way.

How many people does 2 lbs of sloppy joes feed? ›

My mom always made sloppy joes with sauce from a can. Remember that stuff? If you use that, you have to try this easy homemade version that is so much tastier! This recipe uses 2 lbs of ground beef and serves about 8 people.

How many pounds of sloppy joes do I need for 10 people? ›

Because this easy sloppy joe recipe is loaded with ground beef plus an equal amount of veggies, one pound of ground beef is enough to make 8-10 sloppy joe sandwiches.

What is the fancy name for sloppy joes? ›

Manwich, slush burger, yum yums, dynamite, spoonburgers, tavern sandwich; a Sloppy Joe can be called by many other names. The most well-known however is Manwich.

What is the New Jersey version of Sloppy Joe? ›

There are minor variations depending on the deli, but it is always a double-decker thin sliced rye bread sandwich made with one or more types of sliced deli meat, such as turkey, ham, pastrami, corned beef, roast beef, or sliced beef tongue, along with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing.

What was the original Sloppy Joe made with? ›

Many believe the Sloppy Joe is the namesake of a Sioux City, Iowa cook, who in 1930, combined the regionally popular loose meat sandwich with tomato sauce. It's less messy predecessor, the loose meat sandwich is a Midwestern favorite of steamed or sauteed ground beef, onions, mustard and pickles.

What goes good on Sloppy Joes? ›

Toppings, Sauces & Salsas
  • Caramelized Mushrooms. Caramelized mushrooms are so sweet and tender, and they add the perfect burst of flavor to a Sloppy Joe by complementing meaty flavors and adding in extra protein! ...
  • Roasted Corn Salsa. ...
  • Edamame Guacamole (High Protein) ...
  • Garlic Sauce.
Oct 27, 2023

What is the best way to eat Sloppy Joes? ›

serve them on hamburger buns, brioche buns, homemade french bread rolls, or over cornbread with cheese. the prepared sloppy joe meat can be refrigerated for several days and reheated AND it also freezes great.

What is Sloppy Joe supposed to taste like? ›

Once you've gathered the ingredients, it's basically like making Bolognese. And the flavour is somewhat reminiscent of it too, except Sloppy Joes taste a bit more like BBQ Sauce. The one big difference is that the sauce is cooked right down so it's really thick and not saucy at all.

Is mayo good on a Sloppy Joe? ›

Happy thoughts: You CAN apply mayonnaise in copious amounts to your sloppy Joe!

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