Slow Cooker Vegan Sloppy Joes: Lentils are combined with beer, tomatoes, and spices to create an easy, vegan twist on a sloppy joe. This version of sloppy joes has so much flavor it is even a winner with die-hard meat-eaters. 
My husband was out of town. Time for the kids and I to play 🙂
You see, he is meat and potatoes Midwesterner and my vegan creations sometimes scare him. Lentil Meatballs with Zoodles? He would pass out! But yet when I set lentil meatballs in front of him over regular spaghetti, he eats is with a smile on his face and gets a second serving–have I mentioned he is the pickiest of eaters in my house–if he THINKS he won’t like it, he WON’T try it.
Anyways, whenever he is gone, the kids and I channel our vegetarian/vegan selves and try out all sorts of new recipes.
This one came out of me looking at the pantry and saying, I have leftover hamburger buns from the weekend’s cookout and suddenly started craving sloppy joes. Well, there was sitting a bag of dried lentils–hmm, lentils work as a meaty texture in meatballs, chilis, and tacos. It could work in sloppy joes.
And then I remembered I had a crazy afternoon of car pooling and errands–dinner needed to be ready when the kids and I got home or we would be really, really grumpy. We like to eat! So, why not try it in the slow-cooker? The worse that could happen was that it wouldn’t work and we would eat oatmeal for dinner. And we would be okay with that.
Guess what? It worked like a charm. The kids and I all devoured 2 each. And we still had leftovers. 
Uh-oh, Daddy was coming home the next day. Should I try it out on him? Well, I did! And with some sharp cheddar cheese, he declared them not only edible, but actually really good. Want to know how he agreed to try lentils? The last visit to Costco they were sampling Lentil Curry. He tried it (he said later he thought it was ground beef) and LOVED it. So now, he may be more willing to give lentils a fair chance. After all, he ate 3 Lentil Sloppy Joes that night.
Slow Cooker Vegan Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried lentils
- 1 cup dark amber beer
- 1 cup water
- 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 small red pepper diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Buns for serving
Instructions
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Stir all ingredients (except buns) in slow cooker. Set to high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
If he was won over, I can guarantee this dish is a winner! (And a bit of cheese for those who are not Vegan, doesn’t hurt much!)
Looking for other Vegan Recipes? Try these out:
Asian Rice Salad with Miso Vinagrette
For this recipe I recommend:
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Your husband sounds like mine. He has been know to ask me if there was meat in it before taking a bite. 🙂 I would LOVE these vegan sloppy joes.
Ha! Yep, mine does too at time 🙂
I really like this idea. I like lentils. I am always looking for new crockpot ideas, too. Thanks for sharing. This looks divine.
Thanks Leigh! This is a winner for you!
Your husband sounds like mine! He is always skeptical about what’s in my food! I am always looking for great ideas for meatless monday! thanks!
I hope you love this meatless Monday option!
I LOVE lentils. They’re so versatile, delicious, and good for you! My husband is also super picky (although he would strongly disagree, haha) so sometimes I have to “disguise” the healthy alternatives I use in our food. Great recipe!
I totally understand Allison. I hope this recipe is a winner with you husband as well!
See, now if my carnivorous guy needed to be convinced, the beer is what would do it for him. 😉 Loving the looks of these. I mean, so. seriously. easy. Added to my must-try list!
Kare, you must try it!! And beer is always helpful in convincing stubborn men 😉
These look delicious!!! I think it’s so funny that your husband is your pickiest eater! I love Sloppy Joes but haven’t had them since I was a kid! This is just what I need to get a Sloppy Joe again!
They are delicious! You will be so happy to revisit this childhood classic.
I am so loving the sound of these sloppy joes! I love lentils but never thought to use them in a sloppy joe recipe!
I know it sounds CRAZY, but it works beautifully!
We are a sloppy-joe eating family & it has always become our go-to meal on busy nights. I’d never had thought of using lentils instead of meat. I love lentils & I bet my family will too when I try this recipe. Looks delicious! Great post! 🙂
Thanks Tiffani. Lentils are not only good for you but good for the budget!
I will definitely be giving these sloppy joes a try! I am looking for new way to cook with lentils because they are something my doctor has encouraged me to eat but I never seem to cook them right. These look amazing though so hopefully this can be a new go-to!
You must try this! It is about the best way to eat lentils out there (and add a bit of cheese to help too…)
Fantastic idea for easy dinner! I, too, have those “crazy afternoons” and this looks like a great vegan choice for the family. Who can say no to sloppy Joe, right?
No one can say no 🙂
I had no idea these were similar consistencies! These look delicious and I’m not a big sloppy joe fan but I may need to try these!
You do need to try these! My bet is you will love them!
This is definitely one I’m going to try when I get a new slow-cooker! I love the idea of lentils and still get my protein! Plus it is very cost friendly! Fun too! Thanks for sharing with Saucy Saturdays!
Super cost friendly. I hope you love your new slow cooker!
What would be a good replacement for the beer in the recipe? I don’t have any handy…. broth? water? Thanks for the great recipe 🙂
Thanks Chrissy! Apple Juice or cider would be the best substitute for sloppy joes and cut back on sugar by a bit. But you can use broth just as well. Water is fine, but won’t impart as much flavor 🙂