If you’re looking for a comforting, healthy, and fast dinner, this recipe is for you. Completely plant based and ready in just ten (10!!!) minutes, my Vegan Sloppy Joes are perfect for busy weeknight dinner.
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While these iconic sandwiches don’t usually get the nutritional stamp of approval, my vegan recipe is about to change that. Packed with plant based protein and naturally sweetened with maple syrup, these homemade Sloppy Joes have all the flavor and none of the guilt.
Unlike other vegan Sloppy Joes recipes that opt for lentils or other pulses, my recipe calls for vegan meatless crumbles. This means that the end result is not only more convincing, it’s also easier to digest.
While traditional Sloppy Joes call for ketchup, I prefer making my own sauce from scratch. This keeps the added sugar to a minimum! Tomato sauce and rich tomato paste combine with maple syrup for a much healthier and tastier Joe.
Perhaps best of all? This vegetarian Sloppy Joes recipe comes together in a shocking short time – just 10 minutes! So if you’re in need of some serious kid-friendly vegan comfort food stat, this is the recipe for you.
Recommended Ingredients and Equipment
This simple recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients, many of which you probably already have on hand. And all the ingredients can be easily found at your local grocery store.
Here’s everything you need:
Ingredient Notes
- Vegan Meatless Crumbles – When it comes to Meatless Crumbles, there are a lot of options out there. Boca, Morningstar, Beyond Meat, and Impossible Meat are just a few. I personally recommend Gardein for this recipe. This can also be made with tempeh if you prefer.
- Vegan Butter – While I love the richness that vegan butter adds to this Sloppy Joe sauce, you can easily swap in heart healthy olive oil instead.
- Tomato Paste – Since this recipe calls for just a tablespoon of tomato paste, I recommend buying the kind that comes in a tube. It’ll last much longer in the fridge than the canned kind.
- Maple Syrup – While maple is my preferred sweetener, you can easily swap in agave or date syrup instead.
- Vegan Worchestershire – Traditional Worchestershire is often made with fish products, so be sure to find a certified vegan option.
- Green Bell Peppers – Sloppy Joes generally call for green bell peppers, which are less sweet and a bit more astringent than their colorful counterparts. Green bell peppers are also usually cheaper (score!), but you can swap in any color of bell pepper you like.
- Garlic – While I recommend fresh garlic, you can swap in 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder for each clove in a pinch.
Recommended Equipment
For this recipe, you will need a skillet, basic kitchen utensils, including a chef’s knife. (<<affiliate links)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step One – Sauté the Veggies
In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once it is melted, add the onions, peppers, and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until the onions are translucent and fragrant.
Add the vegan beef crumbles, and sauté for another minute, until they are defrosted.
Pro Tip: The cooking time on the vegan beef will vary depending on the brand you use. Make sure to follow the instructions on the back of the package.
Step Two – Sauce it Up
Add the remaining ingredients and mix to incorporate. Turn the heat to low and simmer until all the liquid has evaporated and you have a thick meat sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Step 3 – Assemble and Enjoy!
Add 3/4-1 cup of filling to the bottom of a toasted bun. Top with top bun and serve immediately.
Serving and Storing
Serving – My Vegan Sloppy Joes are best served on a toasted bun. To maintain the bit of crispiness on the bun, serve immediately after spooning on the “meat” sauce.
Storing – Sloppy Joe mix will refrigerate for up to 5 days. You can also store them in the freezer for up to a month.
Tips and Tricks
- If you opt to use tempeh in place of the meatless crumbles, I recommend grating it on the large side of a box grater. This will help it to approximate the shape and consistency we are looking for.
- Some brands, like Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat, pack their meat crumbles similar to ground meat. For these brands, be sure to sauté the “meat” first, breaking it into chunks, before adding the sauce ingredients.
- If you want to emulate your favorite diner and their perfectly toasted bread, spread a thin layer of vegan mayonnaise on the inside of the slices. Place them in a skillet over medium heat, mayo side down. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until perfectly golden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once you have a perfectly toasted bun, scoop on the vegan Sloppy Joe mix and go to town! If you like a bit of extra crunch and some added spice, I recommend adding some slices of raw red onion or pickled jalapeños to your sandwich.
If you’re avoiding carbs, the homemade Sloppy Joe mix would make an excellent filling for stuffed peppers or zucchini boats. Also make sure to check the meatless crumbles you are using – they will differ greatly in carbs.
Think of my vegan Sloppy Joe mix like a slightly sweet chili. It’d be great over fries, tater tots, roasted or baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. You could also do a quasi-Cincinnati style chili by spooning some over spaghetti.
More Vegan Sandwich Recipes
- Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches
- Vegan Tempeh Reuben
- Portobello Philly Cheesesteak
- Ultimate Meatball Sub
Check out all my vegan burger and sandwich recipes for more inspiration!
Vegan Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. vegan butter
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and minced
- 12 ounces vegan beefless crumbles
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1-2 tbsp. maple syrup
- 2 tbsp. vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 6 hamburger buns, toasted
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Once it is melted, add the onions, peppers, and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes, until the onions are translucent and fragrant. Add the vegan beef crumbles, and sauté for another minute, until they are defrosted. Note: The cooking time on the vegan beef will vary depending on the brand you use.
- Add the remaining ingredients, mixing to incorporate. Turn the heat to low and simmer until all the liquid has evaporated and you have a thick meat sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Add 3/4-1 cup of filling to the bottom of a toasted bun. Top with top bun and serve immediately.
Notes
- If you opt to use tempeh in place of the meatless crumbles, I recommend grating it on the large side of a box grater. This will help it to approximate the shape and consistency we are looking for.
- Some brands, like Beyond Meat and Impossible Meat, pack their meat crumbles similar to ground meat. For these brands, be sure to sauté the “meat” first, breaking it into chunks, before adding the sauce ingredients.
- If you want to emulate your favorite diner and their perfectly toasted bread, spread a thin layer of vegan mayonnaise on the inside of the slices. Place them in a skillet over medium heat, mayo side down. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until perfectly golden.
- No buns? No problem! If you’re avoiding carbs, the homemade Sloppy Joe mix would make an excellent filling for stuffed peppers. I’ve also been known to eat it directly from the pan, so you’ll hear no judgement from me whatsoever. Think of my vegan Sloppy Joe mix like a slightly sweet chili. It’d be great over fries, tater tots, roasted or baked potatoes or sweet potatoes. You could also do a quasi-Cincinnati style chili by spooning some over spaghetti.
Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a 14-year (and counting) vegan, professionally trained photographer, former pastry chef, founder of My Darling Vegan, and author of the
Karen Becker says
Made this recipe for dinner tonight and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing.