One pot lentil sloppy Joes
Delicious and easy vegan sloppy joe. Lentils are simmered in a sweet and savory sauce with tomatoes and onions. Great dish to feed a crown or for an easy week night meal for the whole family. Instant pot and stove top directions. High protein and kid friendly.
This recipe is
- healthy
- an American classic
- vegan & vegetarian
- gluten free
- one pot
- an easy weeknight meal
- great for a crowd
Ingredients
- Lentils – Brown or green lentils work great in this recipe. Lentils are a great meat substitute, especially for ground beef. They’re healthy for you because they’re high in fiber and protein.
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Ketchup – You can also use tomato paste for a deeper flavor.
- Cumin – This adds a nice earthy flavor.
- Mustard – The acid balances out the flavors in this dish.
- Brown sugar – This gives a hint of sweetness. I love using dark brown sugar. You can also use maple syrup or coconut sugar.
- Canned tomatoes – or a can of tomato sauce.
- Salt & black pepper
- Vegetable broth
Helpful tips
If you want to save some time, you can use canned lentils. I prefer the taste of home cooked lentils, though.
If you want to add in fresh onion or bell peppers (green bell peppers or red bell pepper work great in this recipe), just sauté them in some olive oil on medium heat in a large sauce pan for 5 minutes or so. Then add in the dried lentils and veggie broth and bring to a boil. After the lentils are cooked, then add in the rest of the ingredients.
If you want to add a slightly smoky flavor, add 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
Storing tips
Fridge – The leftover sloppy joes will last about 5-7 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
Freezer – You can make a big batch of this and then freeze it. Let them thaw out slowly in the fridge to prevent it from getting mushy.
To serve
There are a lot of ways to serve this vegan version of sloppy joes. Use it like you would any ground meat mixture.
On a bun– Serve the sloppy joe mixture on some hamburger buns. For healthier options, put them on whole wheat burger buns. Toasted buns taste amazing as well.
On a baked potato – This goes great as a topping for a baked potato.
On loaded fries – Top some fries with the sloppy joe mixture, then whip up some vegan queso. Top with some diced jalapeño
On chili dogs – Put some of this sloppy joe filling on top of vegan hot dogs.
Great side options
- potato chips
- green salads
- garden pasta salad
- quinoa black bean salad
Instant pot directions
This is a great recipe to make in your instant pot. You need less veggie broth in the instant pot than you do on the stove top, so for one pound of lentils, use only three cups of veggie broth. Place all of the ingredients in the pressure cooker, then set it to seal. Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
FAQ’s
Can I use red lentils?
Using red lentils will change the texture and flavor of this recipe. Red lentils also don’t take as long to cook. I haven’t tested out this recipe with red lentils yet. If you use red lentils, use a little less broth.
Can I cook this in a slow cooker?
This recipe would work great in a slow cooker. Just add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
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Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joe
Ingredients
- 1 lb bag of dry green or brown lentils
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 16 ounces diced tomatoes
- 4 tablespoons mustard
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (add 1-2 tbsp more if you like you sloppy Joe's sweet)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups vegetable broth (if making in the pressure cooker)
- 5 cups vegetable broth (if making on the stove)
Instructions
Pressure Cooker
- Rinse the lentils. Place all ingredients in a pressure cooker.1 lb bag of dry green or brown lentils, ¾ cup ketchup, 16 ounces diced tomatoes, 4 tablespoons mustard, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon cumin, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 3 cups vegetable broth
- Cover and seal and cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Let it naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release.
- If it’s too thick, add a little bit of water until desired consistency is reached
- Serve on a hamburger bun with more ketchup and mustard
Stove Top directions
- Rinse the lentils. Place all ingredients in a big pan on the stove.1 lb bag of dry green or brown lentils, ¾ cup ketchup, 16 ounces diced tomatoes, 4 tablespoons mustard, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon cumin, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 5 cups vegetable broth
- Cover and bring everything to a boil
- Turn down to medium heat and simmer with the lid slightly off until lentils thicken and soften. Should be between 25-30 minutes. Take the lid off to simmer if it's still too watery after 30 minutes.
- Add more water if it becomes too thick
- Serve on a hamburger bun with more ketchup and mustard
Nutrition
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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