Vegan Sloppy Joes

This vegan Sloppy Joes recipe has a tangy lentil filling that’s full of flavor and nutrients! It’s a plant based dinner everyone will love.

Looking for plant based recipes to please everyone at the table? These days, Alex and I getting lots of requests for veggie-centric recipes to feed a crowd. In fact, per the New York Times, 40% of Americans are now looking to eat more plant based recipes. And what better to please a crowd than Sloppy Joes? These vegan Sloppy Joes have a zingy lentil filling that tastes just as good as the meaty version. Put it on a toasted bun with some bread and butter pickles, and WOW! You’re going to love this one (promise). Ready to get cooking?

What’s in these vegan Sloppy Joes?

These vegan Sloppy Joes are full of whole food plant based (WFPB) ingredients. Lentils form the base, and they’re covered in a gooey sauce with savory spices! Here’s what they’ve got:

Onion, garlic, and green pepper bring big flavor
Brown or green lentils are the base: they provide texture and lots of plant based protein
Olive oil & vegetable broth for sauteing and simmering
Organic ketchup: look for organic and read the label to find a ketchup with as few ingredients as possible!
Vegan Worcestershire sauce: It can be found at your local grocery store or online! If you don’t eat 100% vegan, you can use regular (it has a small amount of anchovies).
Spices: mustard powder, onion powder and chili powder round it out!

The basic method: how to make vegan Sloppy Joes

These vegan Sloppy Joes are very easy to make! They do take about 50 minutes total, but most of that is hands off. So, you’ll have to plan ahead on this one. Leftovers save well, so if you don’t have time on a weeknight, meal prep a batch and have it in the fridge. It tastes just as good days later! Here are the basic steps for this recipe:

Prep the veggies: Dice the onion, garlic and green pepper. Because what good Sloppy Joes recipe doesn’t have green pepper?
Saute: Saute the veggies for 5 minutes.
Simmer: Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 30 to 35 minutes until a thick sauce forms and the lentils are tender.
Stir in ketchup and serve. You’ll stir in one last hit of ketchup to intensify the flavor.

Why lentils? A note on plant based meats

Many vegan Sloppy Joes recipes use plant based meat versions of ground beef. Here’s the thing: Alex and I aren’t so into plant based meat substitutes (like veggie crumbles or Impossible Burger). They’re all the rage these days, but guess what? They’re also processed food.

According to Dr. David Katz in Heated, plant based meats are a step up from eating processed meats, but a step down from whole foods. So if you’re looking to eat lots of plants for your health: start with actual veggies! That’s why we’ve used lentils as the filling in these Sloppy Joes.

Make it in advance, or use our quicker version!

If you want to make it on a weeknight but don’t have 50 minutes, we get it! We usually don’t either. Here’s what we would do:

Meal prep in advance. Make it the night before or on the weekend. Leftovers save well! Just refrigerate them until serving, and reheat in a saucepan. Add an extra squeeze of ketchup if it seems dry.
Use our quicker version. Try our Two-Bean Sloppy Joes: they take just 20 minutes! We like the flavor and texture of these a little better, but the bean version is nice for a quick fix.

Everyone loves them…including kids!

These vegan Sloppy Joes are a nice plant-based meal for people who are on the fence about veggies. They’re crowd pleasing and have a cozy, comforting vibe. They’re also a great vegan recipe for kids! Our son Larson loved them. Of course, they do get a little sloppy: so beware!

More healthy plant based dinner recipes

Looking for more healthy plant based dinner recipes? That’s our forte around here. Here are some you might enjoy:

Minestrone Soup Minestrone soup is a colorful Italian soup full of hearty vegetables and pasta! This recipe is an easy plant based dinner or lunch recipe.
Easy Sheet Pan Dinner This easy sheet pan dinner is filled with healthy vegetables and fresh flavor! Throw it all in the oven while you cook rice or quinoa. Dinnertime win!
Easy Chickpea Curry The ultimate healthy and easy weeknight dinner! It’s done in 20 minutes, totally plant based, and full of flavor.

This vegan Sloppy Joes recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free. For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns.