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vegetarian sloppy joes on wooden plates with blue towel in background.

Sweet and Tangy Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

Ashley
This nostalgic sloppy joe recipe features a ground plant-based meat substitute cooked with chunky vegetables in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce flavored with lots of delicious spices!
4.75 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 sanwiches
Calories 304 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
  • ½ medium yellow onion diced
  • ½ green or red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb plant-based meat substitute such as Impossible Foods or Beyond Meat*
  • salt + cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon herbs de provence or Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric or ground mustard
  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon liquid aminos or lite soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1-2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • hamburger buns for serving

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and bell pepper and cook until onion is translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook about another minute until fragrant.
  • Add meat and break apart with wooden spoon. Season with salt + pepper, garlic powder, herbs de provence, smoked paprika and turmeric. Cook until meat is browned and almost cooked through, stirring occasionally, about 3-5 minutes.
  • Add crushed tomatoes, liquid aminos or lite soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, liquid smoke and brown sugar to meat mixture. Stir to combine all ingredients. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered until thickened and reduced, stirring occasionally, about 10-15 minutes depending on your desired consistency. Remove from heat.
  • Toast four hamburger buns in the oven and top each bottom bun with a few spoonfuls of sloppy joe mixture. Add toppings if desired and enjoy!

Notes

*See notes in blog post above for other meat substitution suggestions. You may also make this recipe with ground beef, turkey or chicken if you are not vegetraian.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Sandwich with whole wheat bunCalories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 32.1gProtein: 19.1gFat: 11.3gSaturated Fat: 0.7gSodium: 682mgFiber: 4.6gSugar: 11.9gCalcium: 160mgIron: 2mg
Keyword easy vegetarian recipes, sloppy joe, sloppy joe sandwich, vegetarian recipes, vegetarian sloppy joe
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