Lentil Sloppy Joes!
Seeing as I’ve posted recipes for both Healthy Oreos and Healthy Butterfingers this week, I figured a non-dessert post was in order. After all, a person can’t live on chocolate, cookies, and candy, alone. We can come close…
Anywhoos, so last night I made these:
Thinking of sloppy joes brings me back to high school.
My mom always placed high importance on family dinner nights, and she’d somehow manage to make a big meal even on days we were super busy. (We were always super busy!)
My sister and I played on the school’s varsity tennis team, with long practices each day, and Friday nights were particularly animated: we’d board a bus in the afternoon, then play intense matches until well after dark. Intense might not be a strong enough word… we sometimes played against China’s future Olympic team!
Ever the supportive parent, my mom attended almost every match. Yet, when we’d finally drag our tired (and hungry) bodies off the courts, there it would magically sit, waiting for us:
A home-cooked meal.
Sloppy joes became one of our favorite Friday-night dinners, and one of our mom’s favorites as well, because she could make them in the morning in the crock pot. Her recipe is actually meatless (I’ve been a vegetarian since high school), but it calls for a few ingredients one can’t buy in the US. So last night I changed it up, and I incorporated lentils into my new creation.
Although I didn’t use a crock pot for this recipe, I imagine you could. The recipe comes together very quickly, and there’s even a microwave option!
Did you sit down to family meals when you were growing up?
Or do you try to have family meals with your own kids? My family tried to all eat together whenever we could. Sometimes after-school activities got in the way; and sometimes we were forced to eat in the car, en route to soccer practice or art class. But when we got the opportunity to sit down as a family, we took advantage.
I don’t remember ever eating dinner in front of the television, unless it was a special “movie night.”
Lentil Sloppy Joes
(Sloppy Loes)
- 2 15-oz cans lentils, drained and rinsed (about 3 cups cooked lentils)
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1-2 stevia packets, or 3-5 tsp sugar or sweetener of choice, or to taste
- 14 oz tomato sauce (I used no-salt-added)
- up to 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or soy-free alternative)
- optional: 1/2 an onion (diced) and 2 tsp oil
Lentil sloppy joes: If making these on the stovetop: sauté the onion and garlic in the oil until onion is translucent. Add lentils and spices, stir, then add all other ingredients and cook uncovered (stirring occasionally) until thick like sloppy joe filling. If making this in the microwave: add all ingredients to a large microwave-safe dish (minus the onion and oil, which you won’t use with this method). Microwave until it boils, stir, then repeat the process until it is thick like sloppy joe filling. Makes about 5 cups.
View Sloppy Joes Nutrition Facts
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These were very tasty! As a vegetarian, I’m always looking for a new lean protein recipe. My carnivorous husband absolutely loved them, too, and asked to put them in our meal repertoire. We did add a little bit of shredded cheese (hey, more protein, right?). Thanks!
I can’t eat tomatoes, and wondering if you have a good substitute idea for what they bring to this recipe. Thanks!
These look AMAZING!!! My husband and daughter are going to LOVE this!!! When I went Vegan 6 years ago my family just followed right along for the ride. But there have been some meals that they have been missing, sloppy joes is one of them. I usually use Dry Lentils when using Lentils…if I did this recipe in the crockpot with dry lentils, how many cups do you think I should use?
And THANK YOU for this recipe!!!
I had these at a party and I wanted the recipe but forgot to ask. Then I just happened to find It on one of my favorite websites . I am so happy! They are sooooooooooooo good and surprisingly easy. Definitely one of my fave recipes of all time.
if you were going to make in a crockpot with dry lentils any tips or ideas on how to make it work? Thank you!
Made this tonight in the crockpot just threw it all in with dried lentils. 4 hours on high and it was delish! I used healthy-ish buns bc some of us don’t like English muffins. I used 1 cup dried lentils and 2 cups broth. Can’t wait to make it again!
Hi Kate,
This recipe looks so delicious! I just have a stupid question! Do you cook the lentils first and then cook with all the ingredients?
I made these for dinner last night and they were very yummy! Served with potatoes and steamed broccoli it was a great meal. I’m not a vegetarian nor is anyone in my family but I love making vegetarian alternatives as much as my husband and son will put up with it. ? Thanks for a delicious Friday night dinner recipe!
This recipe is a staple in my meal prepping! Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe. The sauce thickens and coats the lentils really well.
Any ideas to make this tomato free (allergy)? thank you!! Looks delicious!
just made this recipe…..loved it!! I didn’t have it as a Sloppy Joe in a bun….but I will eventually…I had it in a bowl with a soft and yolky fried egg on top…so yum!! will now be trying more of your recipes with the hopes that they are all as tasty!! Thank you!!
This is now one of my new favorite recipes. I added a little more of the spices (it tasted a bit too bland for me as is). This sloppy joe recipe is addicting!!!
Oh, wow, I’ve been CRAVING sloppy joes! This looks amazing… can’t wait to try it! 🙂 Lisa
Yummy! I tried this last week and the adults loved it! It was too spicy for the kids, so next time I’ll make half a batch with no chili powder and less of the other spices too. I always loved sloppy joes as a kid, so I was thrilled to try this out! My meat-eating husband liked this version more than the original meat style! 🙂 Lisa
this is awesome! will try this out surely.
does this nutritional content you posted include the oil used?
You can saute in oil spray or veg broth if you don’t want to use the oil.