🌱 Vegan Sloppy Joes 🍔
These Vegan Sloppy Joes are messy in the best way. A saucy lentil filling simmers with onion, peppers, and a sweet-tangy tomato sauce, then gets piled onto soft buns until it drips over the sides. No meat. No fuss. Just the classic sloppy joe you remember — made plant-based.
I love how filling this is for such simple ingredients. Keep napkins close. That’s part of the deal. 💚
Jump to Recipe ↓ 🌱
Why You’ll Love These Sloppy Joes
- 🌱 Completely vegan
- 🫘 Hearty lentil filling
- 🍅 Sweet-tangy sauce
- 🍔 Messy, classic comfort
- ⏱️ Ready in about 30 minutes
- 🧊 Great for leftovers
The Secret to a Saucy Lentil Filling
Use cooked brown or green lentils so they hold their shape. Tomato paste plus ketchup gives you that diner-style sloppy joe flavor. Let the filling simmer until it’s thick enough to sit on a bun without being watery — then pile it high anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions ❓
Can I use canned lentils? 🫘
Yes. Drain them well so the sauce doesn’t get thin.
What buns work best? 🍔
Soft burger buns or slider rolls. Toast them lightly so they don’t fall apart.
Can I make this ahead? 🧊
Yes. The filling keeps for 4 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. Reheat and spoon onto fresh buns.
🌱 Vegan Sloppy Joes
Ingredients 🛒
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups cooked brown or green lentils
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup water or vegetable broth
- 6 burger buns
Instructions 👩🍳
- Heat the oil in a skillet. Cook the onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes, until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in the lentils, tomato paste, ketchup, soy sauce, maple syrup, paprika, chili powder, salt, and water.
- Simmer for 10–12 minutes, stirring, until thick and glossy.
- Toast the buns if you like. Spoon the filling generously onto each bun and serve immediately.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per sandwich (1/6) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 310 |
| Protein | 13g |
| Net carbohydrates | 46g |
| Total carbohydrates | 52g |
| Fiber | 6g |
| Total fat | 6g |
| Sodium | 620mg |
Estimates based on lentil filling and a standard burger bun. Exact numbers may vary by bun and ketchup brand.
Notes & Tips 💡
- If the filling is too thick, add a splash of water. If it’s thin, simmer a few minutes more.
- A pickle on the side cuts the sweetness perfectly.
- This is also great over baked potatoes or nachos.
- Don’t skip toasting the buns if you want them to survive the sauce.
These Vegan Sloppy Joes are saucy, hearty, and messy good. Lentil filling, soft bun, extra napkins. 🍔🌱
If you make them, I’d love to hear how they turned out — leave a comment or tag me!
