Snobby Joes (Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes)

Serves 4 to 6

_{Photo by Kate Lewis}

This is the original easy vegan lentil sloppy joes. Snobby Joes first appeared in Veganomicon and they’ve been a PPK staple ever since. They think they’re better than everyone because they contain no meat. And no soy, either, while we’re at it. Just simple ingredients: lentils, tomato sauce, a handful of spices, and a little maple syrup and mustard at the end that marries all the savory flavors.

Vegan sloppy joes are one of those foods that are just inherently fun. They’re messy, they’re hearty, they taste like childhood, and they come together in about 30 minutes with stuff you probably already have. There’s no reason to overthink them. Cook some lentils, simmer them in sauce, pile it on a bun, and eat it over a plate because it’s going to fall over the place and that is just fine because you can scoop it back up with potato chips or carrot sticks. They both have their place.

Tips for the Best Vegan Sloppy Joes

The lentils need to be cooked really tender. Not al dente, not “still a little firm.” Soft. That’s what gives this a meaty, sloppy texture instead of a lentil salad on a bun. If your lentils are still holding their shape too well after 20 minutes, give them more time and more water. You can also mash about half of them with a fork once they’re drained, to get a mix of textures: some whole, some broken down into the sauce.

Brown or green lentils are the ground beef here, only much cheaper and much kinder. Don’t use red lentils. It’s not that they’re mean, but they cook down to mush. And french lentils are just a little too firm. You want the Goldilocks of lentils for these meatless manwiches. 

A more recent swap I make: 1 tablespoon smoked paprika in place of the chili powder. It gives the whole thing a deeper, smoky flavor. It’s a suggestion, not a mandate. The chili powder version is the classic and it’s great. But if you like things with a little barbeque flair, give it a try. 

Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes after you turn off the heat. The flavors meld and it thickens up. I know it’s hard to wait but it’s worth it.

This quick easy recipe is iconic and delicious, has raised families and fed villages, and is the best thing to happen to vegans since sliced buns. 

Speaking of buns, I like to keep it simple. A sturdy kaiser roll is great if you want something that holds up to the mess. But I also don’t mind a regular hamburger bun that gets just a little mushy and makes me feel like a kid again. Both are correct.

How to Serve Sloppy Joes Vegan Style

Mostly, I just serve with pickles. But coleslaw is always a hit. 

A drizzle of Vegan Ranch Dressing on top

On the side:

Baked Garlic Curry Fries 

Creamy Avocado Potato Salad 

Sour Cream & Onion Potato Skins because why not go all in

Potato chips never fail!

Out of the Bun and Into the Streets: Turn Your Sloppy Joe Into More of a Meal

Serve over The Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Sauteed Kale with Tahini or roasted Brussels sprouts on the side. This is the plate that makes you forget you ever needed a bun.

Tacos! Use as the filling for Butternut & Adzuki Autumn Tacos instead of the beans, or for BBQ 5-Spice Tempeh Mushroom Tacos instead of the tempeh. Sloppy lentils in a corn tortilla with some cabbage on top is a whole situation.

Stuff into a baked potato with a drizzle of My Favorite Vegan Ranch Dressing.

Stuff into a sweet potato and top with barbecue sauce or, fine, ranch is good here too.

Pile on top of Mac & Shews for a more hearty, protein packed, sloppy delicious, good time. Also works with Sundried Tomato Mac & Cheeze or any of the vegan mac and cheese recipes on the site.

Sloppy Joe Stuffed Peppers: Cut 4 bell peppers in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place them cut side up in a baking dish, drizzle with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt, and bake at 375°F for about 15 minutes until they start to soften. Fill each half with Snobby Joe mixture (you can stir in some cooked rice to stretch it if you want) and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot and bubbling around the edges. Top with shredded vegan cheese or Cashew Queso if you’re feeling it.

Warm Sloppy Joe Dip: Heat up a batch of Snobby Joes and transfer to a cast iron skillet or oven-safe dish. Thin it out just slightly with a splash of water so it’s more scoopable than sandwich-able. Top wtih fresh sliced scallions. Serve warm with tortilla chips, Fritos, or sturdy crackers. This is a Super Bowl move.

Sloppy Joe Shepherd’s Pie: Spread the Snobby Joe mixture into the bottom of a casserole dish. Top with a thick layer of The Best Vegan Mashed Potatoes or Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Use a fork to rough up the top so it gets crispy. Bake at 400°F for about 20 minutes until the mashed potatoes are golden on top and the filling is bubbling up the sides. Let it sit for 10 minutes before serving so it holds together when you scoop it.

Snobby Joe Power Bowl: Scoop the Snobby Joe mixture over brown rice. Top with sliced avocado, pickled red onion, toasted pepitas, shredded cabbage, and a drizzle of tahini and hot sauce. Squeeze a lime over the whole thing. This is the weeknight lunch that makes meal prep worth doing.

Instant Pot Directions For Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes

Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode. Heat the oil and sauté the onion and pepper for about 5 minutes until softened. Add the garlic and sauté another minute. Add the dry lentils, 2 cups water (not 4, you need less in the Instant Pot), dry spices, oregano, salt, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Stir well. Cancel sauté mode, seal the lid, and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure. Open, stir in the maple syrup and mustard, and let sit for a few minutes to thicken. If it’s too liquidy, switch back to sauté mode and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes or so until it tightens up.

THE SNOBBIEST JOE FAQ:

What kind of lentils should I use? Green or brown lentils are my first choice. They hold their shape just enough while still getting tender and meaty. 

Can I use canned lentils? Yup. Drain and rinse a 15 oz can (or two for a bigger batch). Skip the boiling step and just add them when you’d add the cooked lentils. You might need to simmer a little longer to let the flavors absorb. They won’t be quite as good as cooking from dry, but they’ll get the job done on a weeknight.

What is tomato sauce? For anyone outside the US: tomato sauce here means plain, smooth, cooked-down tomatoes in a can. Not ketchup, not marinara, not pasta sauce. It’s just pureed tomatoes, basically. If you have to use marinara, though, it will work, just choose the plainest lowest sugar option. 

Can I substitute the maple syrup? For sure. Brown sugar works great, just use about 2 tablespoons. Agave works too. Regular white sugar in a pinch. The sweetness is important to balance the tomato and chili powder, so don’t skip it entirely.

Can I freeze this vegan sloppy joe? Hells yeah. It freezes beautifully. Let it cool completely, then store in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove. It might need a splash of water when reheating.

Can I make this vegan sloppy joe recipe in a slow cooker? You can. Sauté the onion, pepper, and garlic on the stove first (this step makes a difference, don’t skip it). Then dump everything except the maple syrup and mustard into the slow cooker with the dry lentils and 3 cups of water. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. Stir in the maple syrup and mustard at the end.

Are lentil sloppy joes gluten-free? The filling is naturally gluten-free. Just use a GF bun or serve it over rice or a baked potato.

Are lentil sloppy joes soy-free? Yup. No soy anywhere in this recipe. One of the reasons people love it.

Are these like a manwich recipe? Sure! Basically the same thing. But feminist.

It’s too spicy. What should I do? Cut the chili powder back to 1 or 2 tablespoons, or try the smoked paprika swap (1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika, no heat at all). You can always add more spice at the table.

My lentils won’t get soft. Old lentils take longer to cook. If you bought them from the bulk bin and they’ve been sitting there a while, they might need 30 to 40 minutes instead of 20. Just keep simmering and add more water if the pot gets dry. They’ll get there eventually.

Can I add other vegetables? For sure. Diced mushrooms, grated carrot, or diced zucchini all work. Add them when you sauté the onion and pepper. Some people add corn, which is good in a Tex-Mex direction, I guess, if that’s your thing.

The texture is weird. Help. If it feels too whole-lentil-y and not sloppy enough, mash about half the lentils with a fork or potato masher once they’re in the pot. That breaks them down and makes the sauce thicker and more cohesive.

Snobby Joes (Vegan Lentil Sloppy Joes)

Isa Chandra

Vegan lentil sloppy joes with tomato sauce, chili powder, maple syrup, and mustard. Saucy, smoky, sweet, and messy in the best way. Thirty minutes, one pot, no soy. A Veganomicon classic.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Sandwich

Cuisine American

Servings 4 to 6

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 cup uncooked green or brown lentils
• 4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion diced small
• 1 green pepper diced small
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 3 tablespoons chili powder or 3 tablespoons chili powder, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 4 to 6 kaiser rolls or sesame buns optional – for serving
• Pickles for serving

Instructions

 

• Put the lentils in a small sauce pot and pour in 4 cups water. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, until lentils are soft. Drain and set aside.
• About 10 minutes before the lentils are done boiling, preheat a medium soup pot over medium heat. Saute the onion and pepper in the oil for about 7 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and saute a minute more.  Add the cooked lentils, the chili powder, oregano and salt and mix. Add the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Cook for about 10 minutes.
• Add the maple syrup and mustard and heat through. Turn the heat off and let sit for about 10 minutes, so that the flavors can meld, or go ahead and eat immediately if you can’t wait.
• Place in toasted buns with pickles, or use some of the serving suggestions above

Keyword Manwich, Sloppy Joe

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!