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    Home » Dinner » Main Dishes

    Vegan Sloppy Joes

    Published: Dec 29, 2017 · Modified: Sep 5, 2022 · 13 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies. They're delicious, simple, and take about 15 minutes start to finish.
    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies. They're delicious, simple, and take about 15 minutes start to finish.
    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies. They're delicious, simple, and take about 15 minutes start to finish.
    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies. They're delicious, simple, and take about 15 minutes start to finish.
    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies. They're delicious, simple, and take about 15 minutes start to finish.

    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies.  They’re delicious, simple, and take about 20 minutes start to finish.

    Two vegan sloppy joes with tomato chickpea mixture spilling out of challah buns. Sandwiches are on a countertop with a blue cloth in the back.

    Oh, the Sloppy Joe! 

    This messy, tomato sauce and beef sandwich was a school lunch favorite, and honestly, that alone should probably convince me to never touch it again.

    I do, however, remember it fondly, and was thrilled when I saw a vegan chickpea version on the menu at a local cafe.  

    As delicious as their sandwich was, and even though I wanted seconds (and thirds?), it DID NOT taste like a Sloppy Joe!  I left the cafe determined to make a more accurate version.

    To make a vegan or vegetarian Sloppy Joe, you could actually just go buy a can of Manwich and add chickpeas.  Yes, you could do that, because surprisingly– the Manwich sauce on its own does not seem to contain any animal-based products.

    However, if you’re trying to avoid the dreaded High Fructose Corn Syrup, you might prefer to make your own sauce.  This Vegan Sloppy Joe is delicious, simple, and takes about 20 minutes start to finish.

    Making Vegan Sloppy Joes

    If you want your sandwich to taste like the original Sloppy Joe, you’re going to have to use ketchup.  

    I tried to avoid it– I tried other combinations– but those versions were either overly complicated, or didn’t actually taste like a sloppy Joe.

    Quick Tip: Most organic ketchups use sugar instead of corn syrup.  Check the ingredients on the brand you’re buying to double check!  I usually buy organic Heinz.

    If, however, you aren’t concerned about duplicating the classic Joe taste, you can most definitely substitute the ketchup for a can of fire roasted tomatoes.  

    Your vegetarian sandwiches will still be delicious, but will have a slightly different flavor profile.

    Chickpeas on a baking sheet
    Toasting Chickpeas

    To make these vegan sloppy joes, start by roasting chickpeas (sometimes labeled garbanzo beans) for 10 minutes– just long enough to make them slightly crunchy.

    While the chickpeas cook, sauté onions, garlic, and bell pepper, and then stir in the rest of your sauce ingredients.  

    Sloppy joe mixture in a cast iron pan with toasted chickpeas on top.
    Adding the toasted chickpeas to the tomato mixture

    When the chickpeas are done roasting, stir them in, and you’re finished!

    Pile the sloppy Faux-Joe onto whatever light and fluffy sandwich buns you prefer, and chow down.

    Toasted buns loaded with vegan sloppy joe mixture laid out on a baking sheet

    Want more VEGAN recipe ideas?  Try these: Vegan Quinoa Burgers, Veggie Wraps with Buffalo Cauliflower, Vegetable Korma

    Two vegan sloppy joes with tomato chickpea mixture spilling out of challah buns. Sandwiches are on a countertop with a blue cloth in the back.
    Print Recipe Save Recipe Saved!
    5 from 12 votes

    Vegan Sloppy Joe

    These easy-to-make Vegan Sloppy Joes are filled with tomato sauce, chickpeas, and fresh veggies. They’re delicious, simple, and take about 20 minutes start to finish.
    Author: Sarah Trenalone
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time15 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 378kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
    • 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained + patted dry
    • ½ onion, diced
    • 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
    • ½ green bell pepper, diced
    • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (prepared)
    • ½ cup organic ketchup
    • 4 ounces tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon brown sugar, to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon salt, to taste
    • 4 sandwich buns to serve (sub gluten-free bread if necessary)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 450ºF.
    • Line a baking sheet with foil and brush with 1 TB oil. Spread chickpeas on baking sheet and roast 10 minutes.
    • Meanwhile, heat oil in medium to large saucepan.  When oil begins to ripple, add onion and cook 2-3 minutes until it starts to soften.  Add garlic and green pepper, and sauté 2-3 more minutes. 
    • Add mustard, ketchup, and tomato sauce.  Sauté until heated through, then add sugar, salt, and pepper to taste.  
    • Remove chickpeas from oven, and mash about half of them with a fork.  Add to the sauce and stir to incorporate.
    • Toast sandwich buns.  Serve mixture hot on toasted buns.

    Notes

    Recipe Adaption- No Ketchup: Substitute 1 15oz can of fire-roasted tomatoes for the ketchup.  (Your sandwich will taste less like a traditional Sloppy Joe.)
    Nutrition information will vary depending on the size and type of sandwich buns used.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 378kcal (19%) | Carbohydrates: 57g (19%) | Protein: 12g (24%) | Fat: 12g (18%) | Saturated Fat: 2g (13%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 1187mg (52%) | Potassium: 458mg (13%) | Fiber: 7g (29%) | Sugar: 11g (12%) | Vitamin A: 349IU (7%) | Vitamin C: 17mg (21%) | Calcium: 109mg (11%) | Iron: 4mg (22%)
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
    « French Lentils with Dijon Vinaigrette
    Vegan Quinoa Burgers »

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    All commentsI made this
    1. Alisha

      December 28, 2017 at 7:51 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this recipe a few times and am a big fan of how quick and simple it is! Very good for a last-minute meal, especially since the ingredients are ones I pretty much always have on hand.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:29 am

        We love it for a last minute dinner 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Daniel

      December 29, 2017 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      These are delicious. I always keep a can of chick peas around to make this with.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 01, 2018 at 9:28 am

        That’s a good idea! I’m glad you loved!

        Reply
    3. Catherine

      December 31, 2017 at 6:03 am

      5 stars
      This is a delicious recipe! I made yesterday. My hubby liked it!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        December 31, 2017 at 7:27 am

        Aww yay!! I’m so glad you loved it! ????????

        Reply
    4. Meg | Meg is Well

      January 16, 2018 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      YES!!! I have so many fond memories of sloppy joes and I think I made a from scratch crock pot version once and it was good. But I’m at the point in my life where a bun topped with a whole bunch of ground meat is just a little much. I love this chickpea version!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 16, 2018 at 11:30 am

        All the deliciousness, none of the nastiness! One of my favs!

        Reply
    5. Roxana

      January 19, 2018 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      I love chick peas in all forms! This was unbelievably delicious. And super quick and easy. Thank you! I’m thinking this would probably make for good service lunch in pita or bread. It’s probably good cold too.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        January 19, 2018 at 7:41 pm

        Aw I’m so happy you liked it! And you’re probably right- a perfect service lunch! Except, I wouldn’t know for sure, because the hubs devours it all before I can have leftovers hahaha

        Reply
    6. Anon

      March 03, 2022 at 12:09 pm

      5 stars
      It tastes like I remembered it to be as a kid. It’s also really easy and fast to make

      Reply
      • Alisha Trenalone

        March 03, 2022 at 1:32 pm

        Glad you liked it!

        -Alisha at Champagne Tastes

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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