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A bun holds lentil sloppy joes on a plate next to potato chips. There's another plate with the same sandwich in the background.
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Vegan Sloppy Joes

Try these delicious Lentil Sloppy Joes on the next Meatless Monday or any day of the week for a satisfying, healthy meal.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Diet Vegan
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 16 sandwiches
Calories 81kcal
Author Marly McMillen
Cost $7

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • ½ cup chopped carrots
  • 1 cup chopped bell pepper (green, yellow, or red)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (optional)
Cups - Metric

Instructions

  • Add olive oil to a saucepan over medium heat and cook until it's shimmering. Add the chopped onions, bell peppers, and carrots. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds to a minute.
    Looking into a saucepan with chopped veggies, such as onions and red bell peppers, being cooked until tender.
  • Stir in the lentils and then add the broth. Turn the heat up and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover with a tilted lid, and cook for 25 minutes.
    Looking down on a saucepan full of lentils and veggies in a tomato sauce. A green spatula is in the pot for stirring.
  • Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for another 10 minutes, until the sauce is thick.
  • To serve, add lentil sloppy joe mixture to toasted buns with cooked confit onions, BBQ sauce, or your favorite toppings.
  • Keep any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge. This will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

You can substitute canned lentils by leaving out the broth. This means you can skip the boiling, as well. Simply cook all the ingredients together until the sauce has thickened.

Vegan Sloppy Joes:

Combine the sauce with any of these plant-based meat options:
  • Veggie Crumbles. Use store-bought veggie crumbles or Vegan Meat Crumbles.
  • Tofu. Use this Tofu Scramble Recipe to make tofu sloppy joes.
  • TVP. Textured Vegetable Protein is available in health food stores. Use it to make TVP sloppy joes.
  • Tempeh. Cook tempeh, use a spatula to break it down into small bits, then add this sauce to make tempeh sloppy joes.

Nutrition

Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 292mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1474IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg