These vegan lentil sloppy joes have the most delicious tangy sauce and meaty lentil filling! This easy to make and freezer-friendly meal is perfect for Meatless Monday and it’s ready in 30 minutes! Vegan and gluten-free.
*This post was originally published on 4/23/17 but I updated it with new pictures and better recipe instructions on 3/3/19.
You’re going to love these vegan sloppy joes! The filling is so easy to make and it has the most delicious tangy tomato-based sauce. The lentil filling tastes very meat-like because it contains two types of lentils. The french lentils hold their shape while the red lentils break down and it creates a thick and chunky filling.
This 30-minute family-friendly and kid-approved vegan sloppy joe recipe is great for a quick Meatless Monday dinner or you can freeze it for a future dinner.
How to Make Vegan Sloppy Joes
Begin by cooking the french lentils in a large sauce pan. The french lentils take about 20-25 minutes to cook, so at the halfway point, add the red lentils to the same pot (the red lentils take 10-15 minutes to cook) and let the lentils finish cooking together.
You could cook the lentils in different pans by why dirty another dish when you don’t need to? Once the lentils are done cooking, drain any excess water out.
Step #1 – While the lentils are cooking, saute the diced onions and bell peppers in olive oil or vegetable broth in a large saute pan or skillet until they are translucent. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, all the dry seasonings, and salt. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant. You might need to add a splash of water to the filling if it gets too dry.
Step #2 – Add the vegan Worcestershire, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, and water to the pan. Stir it well and let it cook for 2-3 minutes.
Step #3 – Add the cooked french and red lentils to the pan and stir them into the sauce. Let the filling cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Taste it and add any additional seasonings to your taste.
Is There a Vegan Worcestershire Sauce?
Yes, there is a vegan Worcestershire sauce! I’ve tried multiple brands but this one and this one are my favorites. They taste amazing and give a lot of flavor to the vegan lentil sloppy joe filling.
Is This Recipe Allergy-Friendly?
Yes, these vegan and vegetarian sloppy joes are also gluten-free (if you use gluten-free burger buns), soy-free, and nut-free.
What Should You Serve Vegan Sloppy Joes With?
I usually serve chickpea puffs (these puffs are our favorite!), fresh fruit, and a big salad as a side dish to these sloppy joes but I also enjoy Asian coleslaw, avocado arugula tomato salad, or creamy broccoli salad.
Can You Freeze Leftovers?
Yes, you can freeze the leftover lentil sloppy joe filling. It freezes really well! This is one of those recipes that I like to make and then freeze half for dinner another night. When you reheat it, add a little water or vegetable broth to help loosen up the sauce a bit.
Tips To Make the Best Vegan Sloppy Joes
- Cook the french lentils according to package instructions and then add the red lentils to the same pot halfway through so you can cook both lentils in one pot. What’s the point of getting two pots dirty?
- I recommend using both french and red lentils to make these plant based sloppy joes. However, if you don’t have red lentils you could omit them and use all french, green, or brown lentils instead. I’ve done this before in a pinch and it’s delicious too, it’s just not as thick because the red lentils break down into the sauce.
- You could also substitute canned lentils for french lentils.
- If you don’t want to use lentils to make a sloppy joe sandwich, you could use chickpeas, crumbled tofu, crumbled tempeh, tvp, or jackfruit instead.
- You can use fresh or frozen bell peppers. I often use organic frozen bell peppers to save time and it turns out just as good as if I had used fresh peppers.
- These homemade vegan sloppy joes are kid-friendly! The sauce is not spicy at all.
- Make sure to read the Worcestershire sauce label or check for the vegan symbol, not all Worcestershire sauces are vegan.
- Store leftover vegan lentil sloppy joes in an airtight container for 4-5 days or freeze it for a future meal.
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Vegan Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- Large Pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked french lentils (or green or brown lentils)
- 1 cup uncooked red lentils
- 1 tbsp olive oil (or 2-3 tbsp vegetable broth)
- 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 2 medium red or green bell peppers, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vegan worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Cook the french lentils (rinsed and drained) according to package instructions. Halfway through, add the red lentils, stir to combine, and let both lentils finish cooking.
- (Do this step while the lentils are cooking.) In a large pan, saute the diced onion and bell peppers in olive oil over medium heat until the onions are translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, tomato paste, and salt. Stir to combine and let the mixture cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant. You might need to add a splash of water if the mixture gets to dry and it sticking to the pan.
- Add the maple syrup, Worcestershire, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, and water. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes so the flavors begin to meld.
- Add the cooked lentils, stir everything together, and reduce the heat to medium-low and let it cook for 15 minutes. Spoon the filling into vegan burger buns and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute green or brown lentils for the french lentils. You could also use canned lentils.
- If you don't have red lentils, you can use 2 cups of dry green, brown, or french lentils.
- You can use fresh or frozen bell peppers. I often use organic frozen bell peppers to save time and it turns out just as good as if I had used fresh peppers.
- The lentil sloppy joes filling is vegan and gluten-free as is but make sure you buy vegan and gluten-free burger buns.
- Cook the french lentils according to package instructions and then add the red lentils to the same pot halfway through so you can cook both lentils in one pot. Less dishes to wash!
- You can use fresh or frozen bell peppers. I often use organic frozen bell peppers to save time and it turns out just as good as if I had used fresh peppers.
- Make sure to read the Worcestershire sauce label or check for the vegan symbol, not all Worcestershire sauces are vegan.
