Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes – She Likes Meals

April 13, 2026

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Created On: April 12, 2026 &nbsp| Up to date: April 12, 2026 | Go away a remark

Shake up dinner this week by making my fast and simple Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joes. I combine canned lentils right into a flavorful selfmade sauce that comes collectively in nearly 20 minutes. Serve these hearty lentil sandwiches with a facet of veggies for a balanced dinner. Embrace your inside baby with my straightforward recipe that the entire household will love.

I’ll be sincere, I by no means preferred sloppy joes rising up, and I’m not even positive I’d get pleasure from a daily one lately. However, I’ve been making vegetarian sloppy joe recipes for years and I completely love them. The key is within the selfmade sauce, that comes collectively rapidly utilizing principally pantry staples. I’ve made them earlier than with chickpeas, tofu and tempeh however lentils have one of the best style and texture for this recipe, for my part. Embrace your inside baby with my straightforward recipe that the entire household will love.

Why You’ll Love This Straightforward Dinner Recipe

Full of protein – Lentils are an important supply of each plant-based protein and iron. They are going to fill you up, offer you power they usually assist regulate your digestive system. You actually can’t go fallacious when including lentils to your meals.
Straightforward to make – I used canned lentils for these sloppy joes, which makes the recipe tremendous straightforward and fast to make. The sauce does have an inventory of components wanted, however I guess you have already got most of them available.
Nice for the household – Though I didn’t eat sloppy joes as a child, I at all times consider them as such a household meal from the 90s. They’re hearty, wholesome and stuffed with nostalgia.

Sloppy Joe Recipe Ideas

Add toppings – Sloppy joes are nice by themselves, simply the sloppy joe filling and a bun, however for those who’re like me you’ll be able to’t assist however costume them up a bit bit. I like including tangy pickles, crunchy onion and a slice of cheese to mine.
Combine up the protein – I used a pair cans of brown lentils on this recipe, however you can even combine up the varieties of protein used. For instance, add in chickpeas, tempeh or tofu for a bit selection, as an alternative of simply utilizing lentils.
Make them spicy – I normally make these fairly delicate in taste, however you’ll be able to simply add some additional warmth by both mixing in some Calabrian chili paste to the sauce or topping them with pickled jalapeños.

Vegetarian Lentil Sloppy Joe Recipe Components

Lentils – I used three cans of brown lentils that I rinsed and drained. You might be welcome to make use of residence cooked lentils as an alternative although. You too can use a mix of lentils, chickpeas, tempeh or tofu for those who want.
Walnuts – Walnuts are elective, however I like including in as a result of they supply texture and further wholesome fat. Simply ensure you chop them up finely so that they mix in effectively with the lentils.
Sauce – The sauce is filled with taste and made utilizing principally pantry components like: marinara sauce, ketchup, mustard, onion, garlic, maple syrup and tamari. I’m undecided in the event that they promote bottled sloppy joe sauce on the grocery retailer, however you’re welcome to make use of that in the event that they do.
Buns – I simply used common buns for these sloppy joes, however you’ll be able to benefit from the combination on common bread and even wrapped up in a tortilla for those who want.
Toppings – The toppings are elective, however I like including additional taste by topping my sloppy joes with pickles, onion and cheddar cheese.

How To Make Plant Primarily based Sloppy Joes

Warmth a big skillet over medium warmth and add in 2 tablespoons olive oil. As soon as oil is sizzling, add within the diced onion and inexperienced pepper, plus a pinch of salt. Cook dinner veggies till softened, 3-4 minutes. Add within the minced garlic and prepare dinner for one more minute, till aromatic.
I like to organize the sloppy joe sauce whereas the veggies are cooking. Add all sauce components to a medium sized bowl and blend collectively effectively. You too can add them in one after the other to the pan for those who want, I simply discover it simpler to combine them collectively beforehand.
Add all sauce components to the pan, combine effectively and prepare dinner for about 1 minute to permit the flavors of the dry spices to develop. Subsequent, add within the lentils and walnuts. Combine the whole lot collectively and prepare dinner sloppy joe combination for 3-4 minutes, till the whole lot is heated by and the sauce is sweet and thick.
Place about 3/4 cup of the sloppy joe combination onto a bun after which add any additional toppings you want. Serve with chips and a facet of veggies for lunch or dinner. Take pleasure in!

Recipe Steadily Requested Questions

Make this recipe vegan by omitting the cheese.
Make this recipe gluten free by serving on a gluten free bun.
Can the lentils be substituted? Sure, for those who don’t wish to use lentils, I’d counsel utilizing chickpeas or tofu as an alternative.
Is that this recipe freezer pleasant? Sure, you’ll be able to simply freeze the sloppy joe filling till prepared to make use of. Freeze all collectively or in particular person parts, for as much as 3 months.
How lengthy do leftovers final? If saved in an air-tight container, leftover sloppy joe filling will final for 4-5 days. Re-heat within the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop.

Have a query I didn’t reply? Ask me within the remark part under and I’ll get again to you ASAP!

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