Move over traditional Sloppy Joe; this vegan sloppy joe recipe is a fast and easy dinner! Using natural ingredients, which are so much better than anything in a can, this plant-based version will have your family reaching for seconds!
I don't know about you, but I grew up on sloppy joes. For my mid-western mom, they were a quick and easy dinner to make that all the kids loved. Years passed, and I forgot about sloppy joes until my husband reintroduced them into our lives. One bite, and I was transported back into time.
Now, vegan sloppy joes are a dinner table regular in our household. I have been playing with the sauce to develop a vegan version that tasted as good as I remembered—a tangy tomato sauce but also sweet. Over the years, I have perfected this recipe. Depending on what I have on hand, I use crumbles or pinto beans as the vegan meat alternative. I think they both taste great and work well with this recipe.
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What I Love About This Recipe
- A quick meal to make on weeknights
- This vegan recipe uses pantry staples and no unique ingredients.
- Sloppy Joes are fun to serve with tater tots for a 70's nostalgic feel.
History of Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
Sloppy Joes are a classic American sandwich. They are made with ground beef cooked in a tangy, tomato-based sauce and served on a hamburger bun. The exact origin of the Sloppy Joe is a subject of debate, but it is widely believed to have originated in the United States.
One popular theory traces Sloppy Joe's roots to the early 20th century in Sioux City, Iowa. A cook named Joe "Sloppy Joe" Iannuzzi reportedly created the sandwich in the 1930s. He ran a tavern called "Ye Old Tavern" and served loose meat sandwiches to patrons. These sandwiches eventually became known as "Sloppy Joes."
Another theory attributes the creation of the Sloppy Joe to a cook named Joe in Havana, Cuba. In the 1940s, a bar called "Sloppy Joe's" was frequented by American tourists, and the establishment served a sandwich consisting of ground beef, tomatoes, and spices. This sandwich was similar to the American Sloppy Joe we know today.
The popularity of Sloppy Joes grew over the years, and the dish became a staple in American homes and school cafeterias. Today, there are various regional and personal variations of the Sloppy Joe recipe, but its origins can be traced back to the United States, with possible influences from Cuba.
Either way, sloppy joes become widely popular in the US throughout the 1940s and 1950s. I grew up on them. They were often served in elementary school, and my mom loved to make them. They were easy and affordable. I have updated my mom's classic made with jackfruit, homemade sauce (she used Manwich), and a whole wheat bun.
How to Make Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
Below are the ingredients used in making this recipe. See the recipe card for the ingredients and amounts.
- Frozen meat crumbles - There are several brands on the market. I usually use morning star. Below I have several less-processed meat alternatives.
- Olive oil
- Yellow onion
- Red, yellow, or green bell pepper
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Tomato sauce
- Soy sauce or vegan Worcestershire sauce
- Sugar - Use the sugar of your choice.
- Dijon mustard
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Vegan burger buns
- Optional - A dash or two of hot sauce!
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a deep skillet or pan until the oil shimmers, about one minute. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables become tender and the onion transparent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the soy crumbles to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.
- Whisk together the tomato sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes or until sauce thickens. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Add a dash or two of your favorite hot sauce if you like it on the spicy side.
- Toast the hamburger buns. Add a scoop of sloppy joe mix and serve with your favorite side.
Meat Crumbles Alternatives
Are you looking for a less processed meat alternative? Try replacing the vegan meat crumbles with one of these suggestions at a 1:1 ratio.
Pinto Beans
Green Lentils
Shredded Jackfruit
Tempeh Crumbles
In the Mood for Something Else?
What to Serve with Vegan Sloppy Joes
Sloppy joes taste great on their own, or you can add to them. Here are a few ideas for sides
- Blackened corn or corn on the cobb
- Pasta salad
- Pickles
- Potato salad
- Roasted cauliflower
- Sweet potato fries
- Tator tots
- Vegan coleslaw
- Zucchini fries
Frequently Asked Questions
Refrigerator instructions - Place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days.
Freezer instructions - Place leftovers in a freezer-safe container and store for up to one month.
Saucepan - Add the desired amount to a small saucepan and reheat over low-medium heat. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to loosen it up.
Microwave - reduce to 80% power and reheat in 30-second intervals until it reaches the desired temperature. Stir between each interval. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water to loosen it up.
This sloppy joe recipe is made with all-natural ingredients. Manwhich is a processed sauce that contains high fructose corn syrup and xantham gum.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out. Or take a picture and tag me on Facebook.
Recipe
Vegan Sloppy Joe Recipe
Equipment
- 1 deep skillet
- 1 Wooden spoon
- 1 cutting board
- 1 Sharp knife
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 small bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen veggie meat crumbles
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon chile powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- hot sauce (optional)
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a deep skillet or pan until the oil shimmers, about one minute. Add the diced onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables become tender and the onion transparent, about 3-4 minutes.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 small yellow onion, 1 small bell pepper, 2 cloves fresh garlic
- Add the vegan meat crumbles to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.1 package (16 ounces) frozen veggie meat crumbles
- Whisk together the tomato sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a separate bowl.1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce or vegan Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon chile powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, salt and pepper to taste
- Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet with the meat crumbles. Stir well to combine. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 10-15 minutes or until sauce thickens. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. If you like it on the spicy side, add a dah or two of your favorite hot sauce.hot sauce (optional)
- Toast the hamburger buns. Add a scoop of sloppy joe mix and serve with your favorite side.4 hamburger buns
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