Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

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Completely meatless sloppy joes that are loaded with all that flavor and are made filling with a special ingredient! These sloppy joes are hearty and delicious!

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (1)

Today’s post is sponsored byCalifornia Walnuts! These meatless sloppy joes are hearty and filling because we’re using walnuts as one of the ingredients in our meatless filling!

You read that right COMPLETELY MEATLESS SLOPPY JOES!

But before I tell you all about this vegan sloppy joe recipe, let me tell you about whats going on in my neck of the woods!

I’m writing this post on Friday morning because the weatherman tells me the likelihood that I’ll have electricity on Monday is slim to none. On the off chance, we do have power; I’ll be sure to do a little update to this post. But for right now, we’ve got a category 2 hurricane (which will most likely become a cat. 3 at any moment now) heading our way. We live just a little north of Houston, so I am so thankful we most likely won’t be affected by the 110 mph winds that these type of hurricanes bring, but flooding and power outages are genuine possibilities.

Besides, I really didn’t want to keep this meatless sloppy joes recipe from you!

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2)

Total honesty: I am completely not ready for this storm. I was headed to Austin this weekend for a friends bachelorette weekend, but after reports of Austin having the same forecasts as Houston, we put a stopper on the plans. Total bummer!

After ourplans came to crashing halt, I got up super early to see if I could find a few water bottles at the grocery store now that we’d be riding out the storm at home. The general vibe? Polite panic. I have to admit; I expected the worst. To my pleasant surprise, it was completely the opposite. Holding each others place in line, hushed whispers of where employees were unloading water bottles, patience, and friendly conversation while we all waited in long lines for the checkout was what actually happened. It’s such an amazing feeling to see how quickly the community comes together when something like this happens. I hear there are Facebook pages set up for hurricane victims that are stranded. Just submit your location, and someone will find you. How amazing is that?

Faith in humanity, restored.❤️

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (3)

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (4)

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (5)

But enough about all this hurricane stuff, let’s get into these meatless sloppy joes! As much as I love a meaty, hearty sloppy joe (how old am I, like 10?) sometimes you want a powerhouse of good-for-you ingredients packed between a pillowy brioche bun. And this vegetarian-friendly sloppy joe is totally in the zone! My version comes loaded with tons of peppers, onions, garlic, meaty portobello mushrooms, and the star of this recipe — WALNUTS!

Pro tip: pulse the walnuts in the food processor along with the mushrooms so that they develop that proper texture for sloppy joes. And for proof, just look at that picture ??

Couldafooled me??‍♀️

This recipe is my go-to sloppy joes recipe. I’ve been making it for years, and though most of the time it’s with actual ground beef, it’s nice to also have a meatless option that delivers on the flavor, texture, and fills you up too! For me, sloppy joes have to have that perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tomatoey tang. One secret ingredient I always like to use – apple cider vinegar. Just one tablespoon takes this recipe way over the top and really gives it that depth of flavor. Naturally, with that amount of acid, this recipe is best if consumed the day you prepare it. I don’t suggestmaking this ahead of time.

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (6)

I totally cannot get enough of these meatless sloppy joes! Toast your buns, top them with good-for-you meatless sloppy mix and just sit back and take in all that robust flavah!

Get these on the dinner table!

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (7)

Update: I report with mixed feelings that my family and I are okay but much, much of Houston has been affected by Hurricane Harvey. We’ve had record amounts of flooding due to the heavy rains and meteorologists are reporting the rains are to continue at least until Wednesday. Please keep all the people of Houston and its surrounding areas in your prayers! If you’d like to help in other ways, there are a few different charities you can donate to. Remember, no amount is too small 🙂

Yield: 4-5 servings

You Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time35 minutes

Completely meatless sloppy joes that are loaded with all that flavor and are made filling with a special ingredient! These sloppy joes are hearty and delicious!

Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (8)

Ingredients

  • 1 pound portobello mushrooms (gills+stems removed)
  • 3/4 cup California Walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 cups ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon EACH: dry mustard AND cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (or vegan Worcestershire)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • buns for serving

Instructions

  1. make the 'meat': Pulse the mushrooms and walnuts in a food processor in batches until it breaks down into a ground beef texture.
  2. cook: heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions, bell pepper and minced garlic, and let cook for 5 minutes or until the veggies soften. Add the prepared mushroom mix to the skillet, stir so everything is well combined and let cook for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients: ketchup, brown sugar, dry mustard, cayenne, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Stir everything together and let simmer for 5 minutes. Adjust with additional salt to taste.
  3. assemble:Serve the prepared sloppy joe mix on top of toasted buns. Best when served the day it's prepared. I find the sloppy joes mixture looses that texture on day two.

Notes

Thank you to our friends over atCalifornia Walnutsfor sponsoring this post! We truly love partnering with companies that promote wholesome, quality ingredients!

Have you made this recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and a comment below. You can also share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #LITTLESPICEJAR, I'd love to see what you made!

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Won't Believe They're Meatless Sloppy Joes Recipe | Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

What mistakes everyone makes when cooking sloppy joes? ›

Not making the sauce thick enough

One of the key steps that you must get right for a successful sloppy joe is considering the consistency of the sauce. While you don't want it to be so stodgy that you have trouble spooning it into a bun, you don't want it to drip off the bread, either.

Can you eat manwich without meat? ›

The best easy meatless manwich recipe! Lentils, vegan crumbles simmered in a savoury sweet tangy tomato sauce, piled on a bun and devoured! A classic sandwich. Ready in 20 minutes.

Does canned Sloppy Joe have meat in it? ›

Manwich, a portmanteau of man and sandwich, is the brand name of a canned sloppy joe sauce produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's, introduced in 1969. The can contains seasoned tomato sauce that is added to ground beef cooked in a skillet. It is marketed as a quick and easy one-pan meal for the whole family.

Should I drain meat before adding manwich? ›

directions. Brown hamburger meat and then drain grease from meat. Start to preheat oven to what ever the biscuit instructions say. Add the can of Manwich to the drained beef in pan and mix.

What's the difference between sloppy joes and Sloppy Jane? ›

If you're aiming to eat a lower-fat diet, then consider fixing yourself a sloppy jane. This variant on the sloppy joe swaps out regular ground beef for leaner beef. It also places a higher focus on vegetables and other low-calorie ingredients.

How do you make sloppy joes taste better? ›

Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, or shredded carrot, can easily be added to this recipe and your kids won't even notice a difference. Hawaiian Sloppy Joes: Substitute more BBQ sauce for the ketchup and add 8 oz., drained crushed pineapple.

Is there a difference between Sloppy Joes and Manwich? ›

Sloppy Joes are the sandwich, while Manwich is the store-bought canned sloppy joe sauce, produced by ConAgra Foods and Hunt's. What is this? While the brand markets this product as a quick and easy one-pan meal, I strongly recommend you make the sauce from scratch.

What happens if you make Hamburger Helper without meat? ›

Yes! Although traditionally Hamburger Helper has called for meat additions, these ingredients can be easily substituted by your choice of protein. Instead of meat, you can add vegetables or a meat alternative of your choice to Hamburger Helper meals to make them plant-based.

Are sloppy joes healthy to lose weight? ›

In its traditional state, a Sloppy Joe would never be considered a diet food that might aid a person in his or her weight loss goals, but the concoction can be made less caloric and fatty with a few simple changes in the recipe.

What if I forgot the tomato paste in the sloppy joes? ›

You can use canned tomatoes, tomato sauce or even ketchup when you don't have tomato paste.

Is Mccormick sloppy joe mix vegan? ›

Yes just spices. No meat products but will require something to make a meal.

What is sloppy joe meat called? ›

Sloppy joe meat being prepared with Manwich sauce. Early and mid-20th century American cookbooks offer plenty of sloppy joe-type recipes, though they go by different names: Toasted Deviled Hamburgers, Chopped Meat Sandwiches, Spanish Hamburgers, Hamburg a la Creole, Beef Mironton, and Minced Beef Spanish Style.

How to keep sloppy joes from getting soggy? ›

Sloppy Joe Tips and Tricks

As we said below, a key step here is placing the buns inside-up on a baking sheet and placing them under a broiler until they're golden brown. This will toast the inside of the bun, preventing the buns from getting soggy and gross.

How do you thicken up sloppy Joe sauce? ›

Cornstarch thickens the sauce and binds up any fat, creating a silky-smooth, cohesive texture. A potato masher breaks the ground beef into fine, uniform pieces that will (mostly) stay put on the bun instead of tumbling out.

What is the most common mistake in sauce making? ›

The most common problems arise when the flour is not whisked in thoroughly into the pan drippings and/or while adding the stock to the roux and/or you adding the liquid too quickly. Any and all of these missteps can produce lumps.

What are the common mistakes we make while cooking food? ›

Take a look at our list of five common cooking mistakes to ensure you prepare your next dish properly and perfectly.
  • Packing Your Pans to the Brim. ...
  • Improper Preparation. ...
  • Adding Food Too Early. ...
  • Going Rogue. ...
  • You Overcook or Undercook.

What is the most common mistake when cooking vegetables? ›

One of the most common mistakes is overcooking green vegetables. Prolonged cooking causes them to lose their vibrant colour, texture, and nutritional value. To prevent this, aim for a tender-crisp texture by cooking vegetables only until they are just fork-tender.

Why do they ring the bell at Sloppy Joe's? ›

The tip bell (which is rung with gusto when a generous tip is received) is from a Coast Guard cutter boat. Big Skinner used the bat to keep the bar in order in the 30s and 40s.

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