Lentil Sloppy Joes
Made in the crockpot, this vegan-friendly sloppy joe recipe comes together with ease.
Servings: 8 -10
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried green or brown lentils rinsed and drained
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 (8 ounce can) tomato sauce
- 1 (6 ounce can) tomato paste
- 1 small yellow onion minced
- 1 small red or yellow bell pepper diced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Buns for serving
Instructions
- In the base of a large slow cooker, combine 1 cup lentils, 2 cups of vegetable broth, 8 ounces tomato sauce, 6 ounces tomato paste, 1 minced onion, 1 diced bell pepper, ½ tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir until everything is evenly combined.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and set to cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
- After slow cooking, stir the lentils into the sauce again. If needed, leave the lid off the slow cooker for 5 minutes to thicken up (I typically don't find this necessary).
- Serve serve the lentil sloppy joe mixture on buns or as desired.
Notes
Gluten-Free Lentil Sloppy Joes: Replace the soy sauce with coconut aminos to keep this vegan sloppy joe recipe gluten-free. Use your favorite gluten-free buns or baked potatoes.
Lentils: Do NOT use red or yellow lentils, as they will become soft and your sloppy joes won't have a meaty, hearty texture.
Stovetop Instructions: In a large saucepan, sauté onions and peppers in 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil. Add the rinsed lentils and 3 cups vegetable stock, bring to a boil, and then simmer the lentils for 15-20 minutes, or until tender. Once the lentils are cooked, add the tomato sauce, minced garlic, tomato paste, maple syrup, soy sauce, and red wine vinegar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring often for the flavors to develop.
Storage: Store leftover sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze in a freezer-safe bag/container for up to 1 month. Defrost in refrigerator if needed and reheat in a heat-safe bowl covered with a damp paper towel in 60 second intervals until warmed through.
Nutrition
Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 8g | Sodium: 721mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 990IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 3mg
