Name: Vegan Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 12 ounces vegan ground beef; 1/4 cup yellow onion (chopped); 1/4 cup green bell pepper (chopped); 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon yellow mustard; 3/4 cup ketchup; 1 tablespoon light brown sugar; salt (to taste); ground black pepper (to taste)

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Vegan Sloppy Joes ~

A plant-based version of the old-school American classic!

This easy recipe is simple to make and always a crowd favorite.

Vegan ground beef, peppers, and onion are simmered in a sweet and savory homemade sauce and then piled onto toasted buns for a tasty throwback meal the whole family will love!

Close-up of a vegan sloppy joe sandwich on burger bun.

Originally published September 30, 2015. Updated with new photos May 19, 2021.

Everyone loves these sloppy joes and the recipe is one that has remained virtually unchanged over the last 14+ years.

The only tweak was made back in 2012 when I became vegetarian (I’ve been vegan since 2017) and switched the ingredients to make vegetarian sloppy joes that also happened to be a vegan version with all the flavor of traditional sloppy joes. Definitely a great recipe to start with and a change for the better! Lots of vegan sloppy joe recipes use cooked lentils in place of the traditional ground beef and you could certainly do that with this recipe as well. The tangy tomato sauce is what really gives these vegan sloppy joes their robust flavor so go with whatever good source of plant-based protein you want to use.

I like to make these vegetarian sandwiches for easy weeknight dinners, campouts, Super Bowl Sundays, and even Halloween.

For years, homemade sloppy joes have been part of our go-to meal for fueling up before heading out for a night of trick-or-treating. It’s a great way for the kids to get something filling in their tummies before loading up on sugar for the rest of the night.

Serve with a side of Creamy Vegan Mac & Cheese or a baked potato and they’re good to go!

Table of Contents

Ingredients for Vegan Sloppy Joes

You will need the following:

1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces vegan ground beef, such as Impossible or Beyond Beef
1/4 cup yellow onion
1/4 cup green bell peppers
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
salt, to taste
ground black pepper, to taste
4 hamburger buns or 8 slider buns

How to Make Vegan Sloppy Joes

STEP ONE: Into a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil.

STEP TWO: When the oil is hot, add the ground beef, onion, and green pepper. Cook until ground meat is browned and vegetables are softened.

Skillet with vegan ground beef, bell pepper, and onion.

STEP THREE: To make the sloppy joe sauce, stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

STEP FOUR: Reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Skillet simmering with vegan ground beef in sauce.

STEP FIVE: Pile the sloppy joe mixture onto toasted burger buns and serve warm or at room temperature. Store any leftover filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

Vegan Sloppy Joe filling piled onto bottom burger bun.

Serving Suggestions

Pile the sloppy joe filling onto toasted burger buns for classic sloppy joes.
For a lighter Skip the buns and serve as a lettuce wrap.
Swap the beyond meat for cooked brown lentils.
Top with dill pickles or pickled jalapeno peppers.

Quick Tip

This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd. I like to prepare the sloppy joe filling and then transfer it to a slow cooker on the Warm setting. Set hamburger buns and any other toppings such as hot sauce or dill pickles on the side so each guest can build their own delicious sandwich.

More Vegan Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love!

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