Did your parents ever make you sloppy joes growing up?
If so, welcome to the club.
If not, I’m sorry, you poor neglected soul. (Just kidding, but also kind of not kidding).
Sloppy joes are so delicious! And I haven’t had them since my mom made them for me back in high school. My sister and I would return home from sports practice absolutely famished and we’d eat two open-faced sloppy joes with a side of mac ‘n’ cheese.
Oh, how my diet has changed since then! But my craving for this sweet, savory, smoky sandwich has not. Let’s do this!
Origins of Sloppy Joes
You may think of Sloppy Joes as an American classic (and that may be true), but the origin story isn’t crystal clear! One theory is that the dish was created in the 1930s by a Sioux City, Iowa chef named Joe.
But another popular story is that it may have actually originated in Havana, Cuba. It’s thought that a bar owner named José García created it as a handheld modification of a Cuban dish called ropa vieja. The concept may have then been introduced by Ernest Hemmingway to a bar in Florida.
We’re not sure who deserves the credit for Sloppy Joes, but we do know we love them! The following is our plant-based take on the concept.
Vegan Sloppy Joes
This recipe comes together in roughly 30 minutes, including cooking your lentils! It’s so simple and quick that it’s sure to become a weeknight staple in your home.
The ingredients are also simple. In fact, the only thing not already in my pantry was Worcestershire sauce (I include a vegan-friendly brand recommendation below, as well as a recipe idea if you can’t find any at the store).
Easy recipes that you can make with everyday pantry items – that’s SO my thing.
I think you guys are going to LOVE these sandwiches. They’re:
Smoky
Savory
Slightly spicy
Super hearty
Naturally sweetened
Fiber- + protein-rich
Quick
& Delicious
These would make the perfect meal to throw together when you need something quick and hearty to feed a crowd. One batch should generously serve four. And if you’re a solo diner, this recipe is great to have around during the week to reheat for lunches or easy, healthy dinners.
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, be sure to rate it, and don’t forget to tag a picture @minimalistbaker on Instagram! Your photos always make our day. Cheers, friends!
Vegan Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
LENTILS
- 2 cups water (I used half water, half vegetable broth)
- 1 cup green or red lentils, well rinsed (red lentils for quicker/more tender result or green lentils for more bite/texture)
SLOPPY JOES
- 2 Tbsp olive, grape seed, or avocado oil
- 1/2 medium white or yellow onion, minced (plus more for serving)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 cloves yield ~1 Tbsp)
- 1/2 medium red or green bell pepper, diced
- Sea salt and black pepper (to taste)
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce*
- 1-2 Tbsp coconut sugar (plus more to taste // or sub brown sugar)
- 1-2 Tbsp vegan-friendly Worcestershire sauce* (like this brand // ensure gluten-free for GF eaters)
- 1-2 tsp chili powder (plus more to taste)
- 1 tsp ground cumin (plus more to taste)
- 1 pinch smoked or regular paprika (optional)
FOR SERVING optional
- Gluten-free or whole-wheat hamburger buns*
Instructions
- If using green lentils: To a small saucepan, add liquid (I used 1 cup water, 1 cup vegetable broth for added flavor // amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) and rinsed green lentils and heat over medium-high heat. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook covered for about 18-22 minutes, or until tender. The water should have a constant simmer (not boil). Drain off any excess liquid and set aside.
- If using red lentils: To a small saucepan, add liquid (water and/or vegetable broth) and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add rinsed red lentils and bring back to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 7-10 minutes, or until just tender. You want them to be cooked through but not mushy. Drain well and set aside.
- In the meantime, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add oil, onion, garlic, and bell pepper. Season with a pinch each salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Sautè for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the peppers and onions are tender and slightly browned.
- Next add tomato sauce, coconut sugar, vegan worcestershire sauce, chili powder, cumin, and paprika (optional). Stir to combine.
- Once the lentils are cooked, add them to the skillet as well, and stir to combine.
- Continue cooking the mixture over medium-low heat until completely warmed through and thick, stirring occasionally – about 5-10 minutes.
- Taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more chili powder and/or cumin for smokiness, salt for saltiness, coconut sugar for sweetness, or worcestershire for depth of flavor.
- Serve the mixture on toasted buns with sliced onion. Best when fresh, though leftover sloppy joe mixture will keep in the refrigerator up to 4-5 days, or in the freezer for 1 month. Reheat in the microwave, or on the stovetop, adding water or vegetable broth if the mixture has dried out.
Video
Notes
*If you can’t locate vegan Worcestershire sauce at the store, try this recipe from Forks Over Knives.
*My go-to whole-wheat vegan hamburger buns are from Trader Joe’s. For gluten-free, try our Homemade Vegan Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns or if you do/can eat eggs, Udi’s Gluten Free Hamburger Buns are another option.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without a bun.
Diane M. says
I made this for dinner and loved the rich flavor! It was super easy to make and didn’t take much time. I love that the “meat” is a vegetable source. I felt the recipe was perfect as it is, so I made no modifications. Will definitely be making this again.
We’re so glad to hear that, Diane!
Christine Passo says
I’ve been following you for a while and this is the 2nd dish I’ve made from your recipes. We loved it!! I love quick and easy dishes, especially for dinner and you always seem to nail it! Thank you!!
I loved how easily one can adjust the spice and flavors in the sloppy Joe’s…this was not only fun to prepare but so fun to eat!
Chris says
Delicious. Subbed black-eyed peas for lentils and it has made it into my list of everyday recipes. Wholly recommend with lentil or black-eyed peas, but for my taste the sauce pairs better with the latter.
Emma says
This recipe is probably the closest you can get to “real” sloppy joes without using fake soy meat. My boyfriend and I (neither of us vegan, but we try to eat plant-based as often as possible) loved it!
Rebekah says
Made these tonight and they were delicious! The lentils were still hard after 18min and there was no liquid left. I added more water/broth as the lentils cooked…at least 30min total. We topped them with pickles and onions. Definitely adding these to my “make again” folder. :)
Caterina says
I started out following the directions, but the sauce just tasted like straight tomato sauce and I didn’t like it one bit. I ended up adding a cup and a half of water, more sugar (I used brown sugar), and kick of this west indian hot sauce I use, and like 2-3 tbsp of honey barbecue sauce. I also ended up covering the beans because after 18 minutes + drying out twice on a low simmer, them bad boys were still as hard as a rock. Came out pretty bomb though with my additions :)
Nancy says
This was so easy and delicious. I used a whole red pepper and topped my sandwich with vegan coleslaw and picked red onions. When I ran out of buns, I just ate it as a bowl!
Kristina says
Can you use French style green lentils?
We haven’t tried, but I would think so!
Rakhee says
If I don’t have green lentils, what are the alternative?
Brown lentils would also work well. Other readers have reported success with black eyed peas and red lentils. Though the red lentils will be more mushy and cook faster. Hope that helps!
Valerie says
I made this for lunch. I’m a bit of a stickler when it comes to following recipes especially when I try one for the first time. I didn’t have tomato sauce so I subbed it for ketchup. Two of us ate the entire lot of it in one sitting, lol. Really enjoyed making, serving and eating this. It’s going to be in my meal rotation now. Thanks for the recipe.
Nada Saad says
Delicious, flavourful, quick and easy recipe! highly recommended!
Philo Vance says
Love this recipe. Only modification was to substitute black-eyed peas for lentils. Have recommended to both vegans and non and will make this again, for sure.
Meghan Macko says
Just made these and they were delish!!! Pretty easy to make and even my meat-eating (veg-friendly) husband and my picky 8 year old liked it! I subbed red onions, served open face in toasted ciabatta rolls slathered with butter.
Kalli says
I made this with a few additions! I also stuffed this mixture into bell peppers (3 total cut in half 6 – pieces) and it turned out great! I added some liquid smoke to the lentil cooking liquid and to the sauce before adding the lentils. I also added a sprinkle of dried oregano to the sauce and a dash of coconut aminos. I topped the stuffed peppers with panko breadcrumbs before baking.
Mike Madsen says
I love how quick and easy this recipe is to make. Even quicker when you cook the lentils in a pressure cooker. My family loves this served over whole wheat bread .
Becca says
What is the serving for this?
1 of 4 Sloppy Joes!
Lisa says
Dana, I’ve been reading your blog for several months now, and I have to say I’m fascinated by your talents. I’m not a vegan, not even a vegetarian – just someone who wants to eat more real food. Your recipes are amazing and your photography is just stunning. Thank you for the hard work and effort you put into your posts, especially the careful instructions and visuals.
This recipe is FABULOUS! These are everything I want in a sloppy joe — savory, saucy, spicy and a little sweet. I played around a bit with the spices and used a combo of date paste and maple syrup to sweeten. I found that to achieve the consistency and taste to my own preference, it was necessary to add water after all the ingredients were incorporated and simmer for about 30 minutes. I also added about 1/3 of a bag of shredded carrots, chopped. I ate it on a homemade burger bun topped with coleslaw – PERFECTION.
On my first go-around with this recipe, my son ate most of the leftovers on me, so I made it again this week, increasing the volume and then froze half for later. Sloppy joes are one of my absolute favorite all-time comfort foods. I had absolutely no reason to omit the meat, personally – your beautiful photos and detailed description convinced me to try, and you’ve made a believer out of me. Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for the kind note, Lisa! We are so glad that you’re finding the site helpful :) Thanks for sharing your recipe changes on this one!
Alicia says
These are soooo delish!!! Easy to throw together and so full of flavour!!! Definitely making a double batch next time!!! I did not stray from the recipe and they came out perfect!!! The whole family loves them!!! Thanks for the recipe!!!
Heather says
This has become a regular dinner at our house. It’s super yummy. I don’t have any vegan Worcestershire, so I used nutritional yeast instead and it works great. I also use red lentils. Sometimes I’ll use this mix as a sauce over noodles. Thanks for a great recipe!
Great! Thanks for sharing your changes, Heather!
Deb Baker says
Kroger brand’s Worcestershire sauce is vegan. ?
Andrea Tamburri says
This recipe is delicious! I’ve made it twice now. I am not a vegetarian but my daughter wanted to try to be and so I was looking for healthy, nutritious, appealing to a teenager, recipes. This is my favorite sloppy joe recipe! I did add some partially mashed chick peas (about 1 can) to give it the appearance of a meat sloppy joe. I plan to try this recipe with ground turkey.
Whoop! We’re glad to hear that, Andrea!
Susan says
Fabulous, Dana. Another amazing dish. This one had me fooled for meat. All those spices masked the lentils just enough. I will make this one again!
Heather says
This recipe was great and had me feeling so nostalgic! I definitely recommend the addition of the smoked paprika. I added more of the spices than the recipe called for, but that’s a matter of personal taste. Next time I think I will add in some chopped spinach because you can never have too many greens! It also reheats well for leftovers. I will definitely be making this again!
Gail says
These sloppy joes are great!! I halved the sugar. And added 1 tsp of smoked paprika.
Meghan Potasse says
Just made this for dinner. didn’t have Worcestershire sauce though. Subbed out half the pepper so I could add mushrooms. Its delicious !! I think I added more spices too (dont have proper measuring tools) . So good, as are all your recipes. Thank you so much !
Whoop! Glad you enjoyed them, Meghan!
Alyssa says
I’ve made this recipe a handful of times now. And I’m making it again for dinner tonight, as per my husbands request!! These vegan sloppy joes have so much flavour. It’s definitely a staple, a go to when we want comfort food! The only thing I add is a creamy coleslaw on top!
Coleslaw is the perfect pair with these Sloppy Joes! Glad you and your husband enjoyed them, Alyssa!
Emily says
This is SO delicious! I make it all the time and everyone loves it. Even the carnivores. Today I ran out of bell pepper and used a mild pasilla pepper. Yummy!
Yay! Glad to hear it, Emily!
Tanya M says
I love, love, love this recipe! It has become a staple in our home. 90% of our meals in our home are plant based so it’s nice to find recipes like this one. My 12 yr old son request this often. It’s so easy and the homemade sauce is perfection!
Kenneth Oja says
Deeeeeeee-licious!!!!! Thank you for a healthy alternative to one of my favorite foods!
Glad you enjoyed it, Kenneth!
Erin D says
This was so easy, tasty, and comforting. I didn’t have tomato sauce, so I blended a can of diced tomatoes with all the spices and a squeeze of ketchup. I ate mine open faced over half a bun, and my husband had his on a bun, which wasn’t as messy as I had anticipated. I also served it to my 21 month old, who quickly abandoned her spoon and just ate it by the handful, so you know it was good!
Risa Gruberger says
These were unreal! Made them last night and they went over remarkably. I used organic canned lentils (2 cans) just to make it easier on me :)
SOOOOO great, and even better the next day!
THANK YOU!
Yay! We’re glad to hear that, Risa!
Sharon says
Can I use red lentils ?
You can, but it will turn out a little more mushy and the cook way faster FYI!
Yes!
Alissa says
I made it and enjoyed it. This is a good recipe for people who are vegan or just enjoy the odd vegan meal. If you are a meat and potatoes person, this is not for you. I modified it a bit. I used 2 cans of lentils. A larger can of Hunts spicy tomato sauce, a few extra cloves of garlic, and I omitted the cumin. It was good on a bun with chopped up onion. Thank you for the recipe. I will make it again.
Winder says
This was amazing!!! I only did 1/2 cup lentils and added 1tsp paprika and 1 Tbsp Worcestershire, we had it over toast. I will definitely make again, thank you for the recipe.
Yay! Glad to hear it!
Jennifer says
This was delicious! I think it’s more flavorful and even better than meat sloppy joes. I used half lentils & half veggie ground round and that was delicious as well. Thanks for showing the world how easy it is to not eat meat!
Ren says
Just made this for supper! Whips up in no time at all and was delicious. I didn’t have any worcestershire sauce so I used harissa instead which worked really well. This is definitely going to be a regular rotation meal.
Whoop! Thanks Ren!
Kate says
This is great and really versatile. I used Trader Joe’s steamed lentils and didn’t have quite enough, so I added some cooked quinoa and chia seeds. My husband made homemade onion burger buns and we’re having the SJs with tater tots. Thanks for the great recipe!
Also, for whomever suggested it, I love the idea of smothering sweet potatoes with this yumminess!
Woot woot!
KRISTEN says
This is so good. A childhood comfort food made refined a little. I didn’t use bell pepper but added shredded carrots. I also omitted the sugar and added 1 tbsp of red wine vinegar. Excellent!!
Kendall Swan says
About a week ago I was looking for something to make one evening and stumbled across this recipe. I more recently made this for a crowd of 8 men, and 2 women, so I doubled the recipe. Of our 10 guests, only four were vegetarian or vegan. The night started and we enjoyed the evening with drinks and games. When everyone had become a bit inebriated and on consensus craved a down home, “my parents made the best…” type meal. I offered to make this recipe since I knew Sloppy Joe’s would be a rather easy meal to make that most people view with nostalgia. It was a HUGE hit. Everyone enjoyed it. Even the meat esters in our group said it was a hearty meal and might even suggest it as an alternative to a greasier traditional sloppy Joe. 10/10 will recommend.
Yay! We are so glad to hear that this recipe was a hit, Kendall! Thanks for sharing :D
Dakota says
This recipe was delicious! I am not vegan or a very good cook, but this was easy and so filling! Thanks for the recipe!
Sarah says
These are so easy and delicious! A family favourite added to the menu. Thank you!
Terie says
Always a hit. Kids know it’s not beef but still like the texture and flavor. Thank you!!
Meg says
Thank you, this recipe came right when I needed it. I had made polenta burning a whole in my fridge with no where to go! I found this recipe and added some mixed veggies, put it in a baking dish and topped with polenta circles. The sauce was smoky and sweet just like I remember. In it’s final form I called it sloppy joe pie. Even my mother-in-law had seconds!
Glad you enjoyed it, Meg!
Claudia says
Tasted great! Will be replacing my previous sloppy joe recipe with this one. My previous one had way to many ingredients. This one is so quick and easy and doesn’t sacrifice taste.
Woot woot!
Carley says
Hi! How would you suggest cooking this recipe in an instant pot?
Breann says
I made the lentils in the instant pot with 1c veg broth and 3/4c water on high for 11 min and let it naturally vent for 10 min before venting it with the knob. Then I put them into a bowl and put that to the side while I did everything in the pot on sauté function – normal according to the recipe instruction. Once I added the lentils back in, I stirred it up and then turned sauté to low until it was done. Turned out great!
Channing says
Such a quick and delicious weeknight meal! I added a bit of cooked quinoa to mine
Audrey says
I’ve been wanting to make this for months, but kept forgetting to get a vegan worcestershire sauce. Finally I just used 1/2 bbq sauce and 1/2 soy sauce instead (and maple syrup instead of coconut sugar), and it was absolutely fantastic! I can’t wait to have the leftovers.
Thanks for sharing, Audrey! We’re glad you enjoyed it :D
Erin P. says
Fantastic recipe! This is a family favorite! We’ve made it multiple times…Tip: If you are going to make this, do not alter the recipe the first time you make it…you will find that it is perfect the way it is!
Danielle Lints says
I absolutely love this recipe! It was so easy to make and quick. I am slowly becoming more of a vegan/vegetarian and have a nice collection of recipes. This will top the list! I made regular Sloppy Joe’s for my family so we could eat the “same” dinner.
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness says
Oooh yum, these Sloppy Joes sound delicious! I became a vegetarian at age 10, but I can remember eating traditional Sloppy Joes as a young kiddo. I haven’t had any kind of Sloppy Joes since then & I love lentils, so I’ll have to make these soon!
P says
Made these today and they were absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Thank you for the recipe! :-)
Becca says
IS 1/4 of the recipe mean 1/4 cup?
Hi Becca! No, 1/4 of the recipe means if you divided the recipe into 4 servings. Hope this helps!
Laura James says
Worcestershire is not vegan. It contains the juice of cooked down anchovie paste. This is an important note for those looking to cook vegan and not vegetarian. I replaced the Worcestershire with Annies. It’s a product line that is vegan. Or you can make your own vegan Worcestershire sauce from vegan recipes for your pantry. Thank you so much for this recipe. It’s highly nutritious and tasty. I give it five stars.
Thanks for sharing, Laura. I shared in the ingredients that it needs to be vegan-friendly and suggest Annie’s brand.
Ashley says
I made it and felt it was too many lentils and not enough sauce. I also felt like the sauce wasn’t quite the right flavor. I followed the recipe exactly as written. It wasn’t bad but I was expecting something more.
Dawn says
Can you freeze these or will they just turn to mush after they unfreeze? Want to make them for a ski trip but would have to make them before we go.
If they don’t freeze well, how long will they last in fridge?
Thanks!
I am not sure how they would do in the freezer, but they will keep in the refrigerator up to 3 days!
Shannon says
If using canned lentils, just use one cup or use the entire can?
Ashley says
Put the lentils from the van into a measuring cup. I felt like this recipe called for too many lentils though.
Donna says
Followed recipe, surprised at how “sloppy joe like” the sauce came out!! Yum :)
Glad to hear you had success, Donna! Enjoy!
alyse says
Delicious!
Kim Dempsey says
Made this and all of my kids and I agree that it smelled and tasted delicious. We had a friend visiting who is a definite meat eater and even he thought it smelled and tasted good. Thanks for all of your wonderful recipes. I appreciate that they have been tested and give me success each time I try one, makes all the effort worthwhile.
Christina says
These sloppy joes are sooo good. And fast and easy! One of my favourite recipes to make!
Kandis says
Are you using canned lentils?
Hi! We didn’t, no!
Ali says
This has been on my to-make list forever – my only regret is not making it sooner! Came together so quickly and easy clean up. I served in bowls with homemade corn bread. Thank you for sharing!
Monica says
do you have to soak the lentils first?
Hi Monica! No need to soak, just rinse well!
Anna says
I made this and it was perfect! I’m trying to ease my boyfriend into healthier options and it was a complete hit. I went a little heavier on the spices suggested, opted for smoked paprika, and added a bit more cumin and chili powder at the end and voila! Perfection. The texture is to die for.
Anna says
Oh – I also used brown sugar instead of coconut.
Chris says
What is coconut sugar? Can I use regular sugar or brown sugar instead?
Hi Chris! Coconut sugar is a natural sugar that is better for diabetics and the gut than your normal, everyday sugar, and it holds trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. You can use brown sugar or maple syrup instead!
Mike says
I’m not vegetarian but my 16 yo daughter is. This was a hit with both of us. Delicious!
Kris says
Hi, coconut allergy. Could I use Stevia?
Wonderful idea though. Excited to try :)
Hi Kris! You could try maple syrup!
jennifer says
This was so amazing and easy! My picky kids loved it! I served it in a pocket bread for them to make it a little less sloppy though! ;) Thank you so much for all of your amazing recipes!
Chessie says
We had these for lunch today, gluten-free buns and all. I stuck to your recipe aside from using a scant amount of chili powder, skipping the sugar, and adding a squirt of ketchup (I’m tacky like that). Will make again — thanks!
Jen A says
I’ve made a version of these before with use of a crockpot, i’ve put in my lentils with vegetable broth overnight or during the day and some magically turned more mushy than round/formed and that added a lot of good flavor and held them together a little bit more. But I’ve had it where the lentils were just cooked also and it is delicious-just wanted to throw another alternative out there!
joe says
I wonder how are you going to bite into that one! All the Joes will be sloppy on the floor.
Just kidding. I have no coconut sugar. What ca I use instead?
Tks
God bless.
Hi Joe! You could try using maple syrup!
Ali says
This are simply amazing!!! I’ve made them twice already and will definitely make them again and again and again… My husband loves them as well!
Olivia says
I made this and it was absolutely delicious! I may have added a little too much sugar but even with the extra sweetness, it made a few days worth of yummy lunches.
Would recommend!
Bart says
I am not vegan and saw this recipe and wanted to try it because i thought it would be terrible compared to regular sloppy joes because there’s no way a meat dish can compare turned vegan. As it turned out i was very wrong. These were delicious and really reminded me of sloppy joes. Well done! i will admit i used normal worcestershire and brown sugar but besides that i followed the recipe to the t, which i usually do not but i wanted to taste the recipe as is.
I stand corrected in the future i will have a more open mind
Ann says
I use sauteed chopped eggplant instead of lentils and started with a homemade marinara. Some good vegan cheese is delish on top! Yum, yum. Thanks!!!
Katie says
This is absolutely delicious!! Even my must-have-meat-loving husband thinks so! Excellent dish, Dana! If folks want a bun/bread-free way to enjoy it, too, I wrapped mine up like a burrito in swiss chard and it was incredible. The flavors work so well together and you get a little extra green in there, too. Will definitely be making this again!
Rachael says
Could I use red lentils instead of the green? I’ve never cooked with any kind of lentils before but had a craving for sloppy joes the other day and was so glad you had a recipe. My mom had some in her cupboard that she gave me so I’m hoping they can work.
Hi! They will be more mushy/tender, but that should work!
Jan says
I thought this could make a good potluck dish so I tried it out first. Very delicious, sauce is perfect. I didn’t use the oil otherwise made it exactly by the recipe. It’s a lot of sloppy joe for me so I’m going to try freezing the leftovers.
Tawna Strande says
I just made this tonight. It was amazing. I did add a little super mustard and no salt ketchup. Thank you for the receipe.
Melissa says
This was a great and easy recipe. It was great on its own. I made it a second time and added 5 drops of liquid smoke and it just amped it up that much more!
Sharyn says
I’m looking forward to trying this for a vegan potluck at the campground.
Allison says
I made this and left out the Worcestershire sauce because I didn’t have any. It was delicious and very satisfying!!
Tiffany says
This was absolutely delicious.
Nicole says
This was so delicious!!! We ate with whole wheat buns and a side of your cornbread recipe. It is really savory!
Tamara says
Yum! Definitely the sloppy joe taste I remember as a kid. I made with black beans and just mashed them a bit.
Meghan says
I’ve made these twice now & am in love with them! Delicious.
Kristy says
Just finished licking my plate clean and ran up to my computer to add a review. These are fabulous! I’m not a very good cook but these were simple to whip up. I loved the suggestions for adjusting the taste as part of the recipe. Little things like that help out a novice like me. I will be back to try other recipes for sure.
Some substitution notes: I used the precooked lentils from TJ’s, no oil to sauté the veggies- just water, and maple syrup instead of coconut flour since it’s what I had available. Very yummy!
Sheryl says
So good! New to the vegan lifestyle but with delicious recipes like this, what’s not to do!
Sophie says
Made this tonight, and it is excellent! I’m not vegan, I was just looking for some lentil recipes to change up my diet a bit. I’m really glad to have found this. I’ve never thought of making homemade sloppy joes before. I’m pretty sure every one I’ve ever had came from a can. But this sounded so good I had to try it, and it did not disappoint.
I used light brown sugar instead of coconut sugar because I had it on hand and regular worcestershire sauce (although I doubt that would really change the flavor).
I might try making this with ground beef or ground turkey in the future because the sauce is fantastic, but the lentils had a great flavor and texture. Definitely didn’t feel I was “missing” anything by doing the vegetarian version.
Additional note: I am not particularly skilled in the cooking department, and I found this recipe very easy to follow and execute. So for anyone else who is a bit of a novice in the kitchen, this is a great one to try.
Sandra says
Can I use canned lentils?
Yes!
Pauline says
I made these after work this week and we loved them! I couldn’t believe my very carnivorous husband not only had seconds but said he liked this better than normal sloppy joes. We’ll definitely be making this again. It was easy after work meal to make. Thanks!!
Kaitlyn says
Can I just say OMG holey deliciousness!!!
made this tonight and it was so good both my husband and son wanted seconds!
Taryn says
It was DELICIOUS. Made no substitutions. Used Trader Joe’s pre-made lentils and ZOMG. Just so much deliciousness. I have been a vegetarian for over 10 years, these taste BETTER than sloppy Joe’s. Even my meat and potatoes fiancée loved them. He’s made them TWICE in two weeks. Thank you for this recipe! It’s the newest in the rotation!
Lindsay says
These look amazing! Any recommendations on how to modify this for the slow cooker?
Hi Lindsay! We haven’t tried it in a slow cooker but if you check the other comments, others have had success in doing so!
Ash says
This was delicious! Packed with flavor. Savory and delicious. Thanks!
Lin says
Tastes great! Very easy and flexible too
Monique says
A-mazing once again! I almost didn’t try it because it sounded too weird to be good…yet you didn’t disappoint….again!! So yummy 12 old asked if we could go vegan for like a month requested that I make this a regular part of the menu. I tweaked the recipe a bit using honey, red, white and black but next time I will follow even more closely! Thanks !
Lillian says
This is my husband’s favorite! My one year old ate the most he has ever eaten in one sitting! Thank you for the yummy recipes! ?
Samantha says
My boyfriend and I made these last night. If you have all the ingredients prepped and set aside the cooking and assembly takes no time at all! Great texture and flavor…BBQy, smoky and hearty! I ate one, open faced and my boyfriend inhaled two ;) This recipe has been officially saved to our “definitely make again” collection!
Hannah says
Recipes for vegan friendly Worcester sauce? Making it now :P
Not yet, Hannah!
Nick f says
Okay, so I didn’t like this. But I didn’t want to give up. So I added some spices that I use in my regular sloppy joes. Still didn’t like it. Got out the food processor and pureed them, and it tastes great!
Rich L. says
Very comforting. I was a bit concerned because it seemed so simple. My only disappointment is the fact that serves 4-5. I bet I ate 2 servings for dinner. Thanks for sharing. I’ll be making this one again!