Name: Vegan Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup uncooked green lentils ((rinsed and drained)); 1 cup uncooked red lentils ((rinsed and drained)); 3-4 tbsp low-sodium vegetable broth; 1 medium red onion (diced); 2 medium red bell peppers (diced); 4 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; 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1 cup water; 8 burger buns

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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!

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 texture.

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 meal.

How to Make Vegan Sloppy Joes

Begin by cooking the green lentils in a medium pot. The green 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 10-12 minutes to cook) and let the lentils finish cooking together in the same pot. When the lentils are done cooking, drain any excess water out.

While the lentils are cooking, saute the diced onions and bell peppers in a large pan until they are translucent (Photo 1). Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, and all of the dry seasonings. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant (Photos 2 & 3). You might need to add a splash of water to the pan if it gets too dry.

Add the vegan Worcestershire, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, and water to the pan. Stir a few times and let it cook for 2-3 minutes (Photo 4).

Add the cooked green and red lentils to the pan and stir them into the vegan sloppy joe sauce (Photo 5). Let the filling cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes (Photo 6). Taste it and add any additional seasonings to your taste.

What Goes With Vegan Sloppy Joes?

I usually serve chickpea puffs or fresh fruit with a big salad as a side dish to these sloppy joes but you could also serve:

How Long Does It Last In The Refrigerator?

Store the vegan lentil sloppy joe filling in an airtight container in the fridge and it should stay fresh for 3-5 days. Learn more about how to store cooked lentils, here.

Can I Freeze It?

Yes, you can freeze the leftover lentil sloppy joe filling. It freezes really perfectly. 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 bit of water or vegetable broth to help loosen up the sauce a bit if it seems dry.

Vegan Sloppy Joes Slow Cooker Instructions

To make the sloppy joes in the slow cooker, add all of the ingredients (except the burger buns) to a large slow cooker. You'll need to put an additional 6 cups of water or vegetable broth into the slow cooker for the dried lentils to absorb while they cook. Stir to combine the mixture together, cover it, and set it to cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Substitutions & FAQ

Lentil Variations: I use both green and red lentils to make these plant-based sloppy joes. The green lentils hold their shape but the red lentils tend to break down and make the filling extra thick and chunky. However, if you don't have red lentils you could omit them completely and use all green, french, or brown lentils instead.
Can I Use Canned Lentils? Yes, you can use canned lentils. One cup of dried lentils = 2 ½ cups cooked lentils. One 15 oz can contains about 2 cups of cooked lentils. So, you'll need 2 ½ cans of cooked lentils for this recipe.
Lentils Substitutions: You can use chickpeas, shredded canned jackfruit, crumbled tempeh, Beyond Meat crumbles, or roughly chopped cauliflower instead of lentils.
Maple Syrup Substitution: If you need a low-glycemic sweetener, date syrup can be used instead of maple syrup 1:1. If you're sugar-free, you can omit the sweetener completely. It's only added to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
Homemade Ketchup Recipe: If you don't have ketchup, you can make your own by combining 3-4 tbsp of tomato paste + ½ cup water + 1 tbsp white wine vinegar + 1 tbsp maple syrup in a small bowl to make ketchup.
Gluten-Free: You can make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free burger buns.
Where Can I Buy Vegan Worcestershire? I've tried multiple brands but this vegan Worcestershire is my favorite. It's smokey and tangy and it adds a lot of flavor to the vegan lentil sloppy joe filling.

Success Tips

Cook the green lentils according to package instructions (about 20-25 minutes) and then add the red lentils to the same pot halfway through so you can cook both lentils in one pot. This way you'll have one less pot to clean!
You can use fresh or frozen bell peppers, both are delicious in this recipe. I often use organic frozen bell peppers to save time and they're usually cheaper too.
Make sure to read the Worcestershire sauce label or check for the vegan symbol before you buy it, not all Worcestershire sauces are vegan.
Store leftover vegan lentil sloppy joes in an airtight container for 3-5 days or freeze it for a future meal.