• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kathy's Vegan Kitchen
  • Recipes
  • Categories
    • Entrees
    • Breakfast
    • Sandwiches
    • Small Bites
    • Vegan Desserts
    • Sauces, Dips & Dressings
    • Vegan Sides
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • How-To
    • Our Vegan Life
  • Vegan Reviews
    • Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service
    • Purple Carrot Review
    • Veestro Review
    • Fresh N’ Lean Review
  • About
  • TOP 50 EBOOK
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • 4TH OF JULY
  • COOKBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • 4TH OF JULY
    • COOKBOOK
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home / Recipes / Sandwiches

    Vegan Sloppy Joes

    Published: Jun 9, 2022 · Modified: Jun 27, 2022 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

    549 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This vegan sloppy joe is incredible and you won't believe it's not like a regular Manwich sloppy joe. If you are looking for a burger that is low-fat, delicious and kid-approved this is the burger for you!

    open face vegan sloppy joe next to a bun, with a pasta salad in background.

    When I was a kid, my mom made Manwich Sloppy Joes. But, of course, our parents poisoned us with SpaghettiOs and ring bologna. And, we lived. After becoming plant-based, I struggled to get my family on board. Fortunately, once I figured out how to make healthy vegan versions of the food my family loved, I won the battle, and everyone joined my plant-based journey.

    One of my first successes was a vegan sloppy joes recipe. As a result, vegan sloppy joes are one of my family's favorite meals.

    Even though traditional sloppy joes don't contain any vegetables, I've added other vegetables to my vegan sloppy joes other than an onion. Also, instead of using ketchup, I use a combination of ingredients that are healthier and tastier than ketchup. 

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Step by Step to Making Vegan Sloppy Joes
    • Easy Meal Prepping!
    • Substitutions, Freezing, & Reheating
    • Looking for Related Dishes? Check these out.
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Recipe Ingredients

    vegan sloppy joes veggies

    VEGGIES:

    • Baby portobello mushrooms
    • White onion
    • Garlic
    • Red bell pepper
    • Celery stalks

    OTHER INGREDIENTS: 

    • Cooked lentils (I used Trader Joe's steamed, cooked lentils)
    • Red Wine Vinegar
    • Pure Maple Syrup
    • Chili Powder
    • Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
    • Organic Tomato Paste
    • Montreal Steak Seasoning
    vegan sloppy joes recipe

    Step by Step to Making Vegan Sloppy Joes

    These sloppy joes are easy to make, and they all cook in one skillet. Like many of my one-pot recipes, vegan sloppy joes are cooked in stages to keep the vegetables and other ingredients from becoming overcooked. And, if you are looking for a quick and easy way to cut your veggies, I strongly suggest investing in an inexpensive vegetable chopper. 

    First, I saute the onions and the garlic until the onions are translucent. Then, I add the mushrooms, celery, and red bell peppers.

    vegan sloppy joes saute onions

    My version of sloppy joes caters to both adults and children. The combination of flavors is what makes it so wonderful. Loaded with a lot of vegetables, this sandwich fools the average carnivore. I served this at a party once, and no one realized the "meat" was mushrooms.

    Once the vegetables are sauteed, add the rest of the ingredients. The mixture will thicken as the moisture from the tomatoes and vegetables cooks down. 

    vegan sloppy joes ingredients sauteing in a pan on the stove.

    I used Annie's Worcestershire Sauce, but any vegan Worcestershire will work. The combination of the pure maple syrup and the Worcestershire sauce's tanginess works well with the garlic and tomato paste to create a beautiful sauce. I like to add a diced jalapeño for a hint of spice, but if you don't like it hot, don't add the jalapeno. 

    Easy Meal Prepping!

    Since I prefer to plan, I made vegan sloppy joes to heat them quickly for dinner. Leaving the flavors to brew in the refrigerator makes the vegan sloppy joes better. 

    vegan sloppy joes meal prep

    Substitutions, Freezing, & Reheating

    If you are avoiding bread, by all means, use a lettuce wrap for your sloppy joes.

    Although most bread is vegan, not all bread is oil-free. Believe it or not, the bread in the bakery section of the local grocery store carries a lot of oil-free bread options. So, stay out of the bread aisle and check out the bakery bread. 

    Other Oil-Free Bread Options

    • Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 bread, English muffins, and tortillas
    • Trader Joe's Whole Wheat Tuscan Pane
    • Trader Joe's Corn and Wheat Tortillas
    • Vermont Bread Company (get the organic whole wheat varieties)
    • Engine 2 Tortillas 

    Gluten-Free Bread Options

    • Ezekiel / Food for Life (check the label; most are  gluten-free)
    • Glutino 
    • Kinnikinnick Foods 
    • Manna Organics 
    • Mission Corn Tortillas 
    • Nature's Own
    • New Grains Bakery 

    To freeze sloppy joes, leave an inch of air between the top of your freezer container to avoid freezer burn. However, vegan sloppy joes will last in the refrigerator for one week, which has NEVER happened at my house. 

    Although I have fond memories of childhood "Manwich" sloppy joes, vegan sloppy joes are hearty and tasty. So, if you are struggling to make vegan dishes, your whole family enjoys, give this one a try. My kids love it, and I never have enough left to freeze for later.

    Of course, you should serve vegan sloppy joes with Steak Fries, Air Fried and Crispy, Skinny AF Sweet Potato Fries, or Oven Baked Fries & Perfect Crispy Oil-Free and Garlic.

    Another great idea is to serve sloppy joes with Vegan Potato Salad or Vegan Macaroni Salad. 

    Vegan Macaroni Salad Recipe

    Looking for Related Dishes? Check these out.

    • Vegan 4th of July Recipes
    • Hummus & Tabbouleh Wrap
    • Lentil Burger
    • Vegan BLT

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & consider leaving a review in the comments further down. Thank you!

    📖 Recipe

    vegan sloppy joes

    Vegan Sloppy Joes

    Kathy Carmichael
    Vegan Sloppy Joes aren't so sloppy, but they are genuinely delicious. These sloppy joes are homemade, low-fat, and kid-approved. You can make them ahead of time and heat them later or freeze them as well. Served with vegan Greek Pasta, this meal is complete!
    4.8 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Sandwiches
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 184 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Sloppy Joes:

    • 16 small diced baby portobello mushrooms
    • 1 can organic drained black beans or pinto beans
    • 1 cup White Onion diced
    • 2 cloves minced Garlic
    • 2 small diced Red Pepper
    • 3 Celery Stalks diced
    • 2 cups cooked lentils i used Trader Joes steamed, cooked lentils
    • 1 Tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
    • 2 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup
    • 1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
    • 1 Tablespoon Vegan Worcestershire Sauce
    • 2 Tablespoons Organic Tomato Paste
    • [1 Tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning]
    • Vegan Hamburger Buns choice

    Instructions
     

    • Saute Vegetables:Sauté garlic and onion in a large skillet until translucent.
    • Add red pepper and celery; cook for approximately three more minutes.
    • Add mushrooms, and cook until brown and liquid dissipates.
    • Add cooked lentils
    • Add all remaining ingredients: black beans (or pinto beans), red wine vinegar, maple syrup, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato paste.
    • Stir.
    • Let simmer.
    • As the ingredients simmer, the consistency will thicken.
    • If you make it ahead, place a top on the pan and place it in the refrigerator.
    • Re-heat when ready to serve

    Serve:

    • Using a vegan bun, toast and pile a large scoop of sloppy joes on the bun.
    • Top with your favorite toppings. I served with sprouts.
    • Popular toppers: Coleslaw, pickles, tomatoes, onions; the possibilities are endless.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 184kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 11gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 98mgFiber: 9gSugar: 8g
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/
    « Italian Pasta Salad
    Strawberry Salad »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bill

      October 05, 2018 at 11:57 pm

      What is Morteray Steak sauce? What can I use instead?

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        October 23, 2018 at 5:21 pm

        Monterey steak seasoning. It is made by McCormick

        Reply
    2. Linda

      April 03, 2020 at 9:58 am

      I don't like mushrooms what can I substitute

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        April 03, 2020 at 3:15 pm

        Hi Linda, just leave the mushrooms out. You don't need them.

        Reply
    3. Anonymous

      April 03, 2020 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars

      Reply
    4. Heather

      April 20, 2020 at 5:10 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe! I love that it’s so healthy but tastes so unhealthy. So much flavor! I did not have beans, so I omitted them, but it was still fantastic.

      Reply
    5. Gisèle

      November 04, 2020 at 6:14 am

      Sounds delicious! Quick question, am I correct in reading 12 cups cooked lentils in the ingredient section or is that a mistake? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        November 04, 2020 at 12:09 pm

        Gisele, the correct amount is 2 cups cooked lentils. Sorry for the error, and thank you for pointing it out. I appreciate it. Let me know if you enjoy the recipe.

        Reply
    6. Leatha

      March 06, 2021 at 11:40 am

      Kathy...I ordered some Organic Trader Joe coconut chips for one of your recipes. I can't find the recipe now. Why did I order the coconut chips?? Help!! Oh, we loved the lentil sloppy joe's. Thanks much.

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        March 06, 2021 at 6:58 pm

        Leatha, I think it's coconut bacon...that's what I would make with coconut chip from Trader Joes! Let me know if I can help 🙂

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kathy! I love creating delicious whole foods plant-based recipes. I believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet!

    More about me →

    Kathys Vegan Kitchen Featured In

    Vegan Grilling

    • Vegan Meatloaf
    • Vegan Potato Salad
    • BBQ Cauliflower
    • BBQ Jackfruit
    • Vegan BBQ Sauce
    • BBQ Coleslaw

    Top 50 Recipes Cookbook

    Popular

    • Vegan Stir Fry
    • Mango Salad With Cilantro & Lime Dressing
    • Vegan Meatloaf
    • Vegan Chicken Salad
    • Bean Salad With Oil Free Dressing
    • Vegan Drunken Noodles

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Affiliate Policy

    Cookbook

    • My Top 50 Recipe Cookbook!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Made with ♥️ in Arizona.

    Copyright © Kathy's Vegan Kitchen :)

    549 shares