All American Sloppy Joes Vegetarian

Elevate your weeknight dinner game with these hearty and flavor-packed All American Vegetarian Sloppy Joes! This plant-based twist on a comfort food classic swaps ground meat for protein-rich lentils, creating a satisfying and nutritious filling that's simmered to perfection in a tangy, smoky sauce. With a base of sautéed onions, bell peppers, and garlic, each bite bursts with bold flavors from spices like smoked paprika, chili powder, and cumin, balanced by the sweetness of brown sugar and the tang of apple cider vinegar. Served on toasted burger buns with optional pickle slices for a zesty crunch, this quick and easy 35-minute recipe proves that vegetarian doesn’t mean sacrificing taste. Perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings, these vegetarian sloppy joes are comfort food reimagined—wholesome, delicious, and 100% meat-free!

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons Olive oil
• 1 large Yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 medium Green bell pepper, finely diced
• 3 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups Cooked lentils (green or brown)
• 1 cup Tomato sauce
• 0.25 cup Ketchup
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon Chili powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 4 pieces Burger buns, toasted
• 0 to taste Pickle slices (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the diced onion and green bell pepper to the skillet. Sauté for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1–2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the cooked lentils to the skillet and stir to combine with the vegetables.

Step 5

In a medium bowl, whisk together the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, vegan Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper.

Step 6

Pour the sauce mixture over the lentil and vegetable mixture in the skillet. Stir to coat everything evenly.

Step 7

Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld together.

Step 8

Toast the burger buns while the sloppy joe mixture is simmering, if desired.

Step 9

Spoon the lentil mixture onto the toasted buns and garnish with pickle slices if using.

Step 10

Serve immediately and enjoy your All American Vegetarian Sloppy Joes!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	1518 grams (1518.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1882

Total Fat 47.20g	61%
Saturated Fat 7.50g	38%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.70g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3581mg	156%
Total Carbohydrate 307.20g	112%
Dietary Fiber 51.90g	185%
Total Sugars 66.60g
Protein 68.70g	137%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 428mg	33%
Iron 27mg	148%
Potassium 2907mg	62%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 22.0%

Protein: 14.3%

Carbs: 63.7%