These vegetarian lentil sloppy joes are made in the Instant Pot with just a few simple and inexpensive ingredients. Freezer-friendly and kid-friendly, these sandwiches are the perfect healthy comfort food.
I'm excited to share this Instant Pot lentil sloppy joe recipe with you because it's a recipe that I've been making for years!
Did everyone receive sloppy joes for school lunch as a kid? I was never a fan of the original sloppy joe, so I took that as a challenge to make a vegan instant pot sloppy joes that would taste better than the real thing.
These lentil sloppy joes are the grown-up, healthier version of that long-gone cafeteria sandwich. They have all of the same flavor but are meatless and 100% vegan!
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Why this recipe works
- Easy: Lentil sloppy joes require just 10 minutes of active cooking time. The rest of the cooking time is up to the Instant Pot!
- Tastes just like sloppy joes: These meatless sandwiches are tangy and packed with that classic sweet sloppy joe flavor, just without the meat.
- Budget-friendly: This recipe uses inexpensive and simple plant-based pantry staples like BBQ sauce and lentils.
- Healthy: Lentils are packed with fiber, plant-based protein, and iron, making this a satisfying and nutritious recipe.
- Dietary-features: vegan, gluten-free (just use GF BBQ sauce), soy-free, nut-free
Ingredients
- Lentils: Use brown lentils. Green lentils do work but will take an extra 2-3 minutes to cook. Red and orange lentils do not work for sloppy joes because they cook much more quickly and are better in recipes like Instant Pot red lentil curry.
- Ketchup and mustard are two must-use pantry staples that contribute to the backbone of sloppy joe flavor. For this grown-up version of sloppy joes, I like to use Dijon mustard or whole seed mustard, depending on what I have on hand. Regular mustard does work if that's what you have on hand.
- Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness that balances out acidity from the ketchup and mustard.
- BBQ sauce: I recommend using a ketchup-based sweet barbecue sauce.
- Vegetable broth: If you don't have vegetable broth, you can use water.
Step by step instructions
Time-saving tip: The onions and carrots don't have to be sauteed. Sauteing them deepens their flavor, but you can save time by skipping this step and just adding all of the sloppy joe ingredients to the Instant Pot at once.
Start by pressing the "saute" function on your Instant Pot. Once it reads "hot" add the olive oil.
Add diced onion and carrot and saute until softened, about 6 minutes. Next, add the garlic and saute a minute more, until aromatic.
Add in all remaining ingredients except for the BBQ sauce. Lock the lid in place. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure for 15 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
It will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build up and 15 minutes for it to release naturally. All in all, it should take about 40 minutes for the pot to come to pressure, cook, then release pressure.
Unlock the lid and test a few lentils. If they are soft, stir in the BBQ sauce.
If the lentils need more time in the Instant Pot, simply return the lid and cook them on high pressure for another 2 minutes. Do a quick pressure release. Repeat as needed.
Serving ideas
When I was a kid I ate sloppy joes with nothing other than a burger bun, but that feels like a missed opportunity for a variety of delicious and nutritious toppings.
Here are a few topping ideas if you're craving a more balanced meal:
- Sliced onions, quick pickled red onions, or even the caramelized onions used in my mushroom cheesesteak recipe
- Romaine lettuce, spinach, or arugula
- Pickles
- Avocado for healthy fats
- Tahini coleslaw
This lentil filling is also delicious on baked potatoes!
Serve with a side of instant pot kale or an arugula salad for an extra serving of vegetables.
For a classic comfort food meal, enjoy sloppy joe sandwiches with a side of chips and vegan french onion dip.
Storage and freezing
- Storage: Store leftover lentils in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual servings in a microwave-safe container in just about 2 minutes. Or reheat an entire recipe on the stove over medium heat, stirring until heated through.
- Freezing instructions: Let the lentil sloppy joe filling cool to room temperature before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge before using or heat up in the microwave or stove for quick use.
More Instant Pot favorites
Looking for a stovetop version? These vegetarian lentil sloppy joes are the exact same recipe, just made on the stovetop instead of the Instant Pot!
Did you try this recipe? You can leave a star rating in the recipe card or a review in the comments below. Or check out my cookbook and keep up to date with my YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or newsletter!
Recipe
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Instant Pot Lentil Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry brown lentils rinsed; see note #1
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion finely diced
- ½ cup diced carrot
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce check ingredient list to make sure its vegan
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ¼ cups water or vegetable broth
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce
- 5 burger buns
- optional toppings: lettuce, white onion, pickles, avocado
Instructions
- Press the "sauté" function on your Instant Pot. Set to "normal" heat and set the timer for 7 minutes. Once the Instant Pot reads "hot" add the 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
- Sauté diced onions and carrots for about 6 minutes, until softened and lightly browned. Add garlic and sauté a minute more.
- Deglaze the pot with 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable broth. Stir to remove any stuck on pieces of onion or garlic from the Instant Pot.
- Add all remaining ingredients except for barbecue sauce: dry lentils, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt, and remaining water or broth.
- Lock the lid in place and set the pressure vent to "sealing". Press the "high pressure" button and set the timer to 15 minutes. It will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
- When the timer is up, allow the pressure to release naturally. This will take about 15 minutes. Remove the lid and stir in the barbecue sauce.
- Serve on toasted burger buns with lettuce, onion, pickles and avocado. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Lentils: I recommend brown lentils because they cook more quickly than green lentils. If using green lentils you may need to add an extra 2-3 minutes. Red and orange lentils do not work for this recipe.
- If the lentils aren't as tender as you'd like after cooking for 15 minutes, cook them on high pressure for another 2 minutes. Do a quick pressure release. Repeat as needed.
- This recipe can easily be doubled. Double all ingredients, including liquid, and cook for the same amount of time.
- How to freeze: Add cooled (it should no longer be steaming) lentil sloppy joe filling to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the fridge before using or heat up in the microwave or stove for quick use.
Lindsay says
This was super delicious, and so easy to make! Based on other reviews I decided to cook the lentils for 17 mins instead of 15, but I live in Colorado and the altitude can affect cooking times. The extra 2 mins was perfect for me. I personally love serving this over baked potatoes with pickles.
Cassidy Reeser, MS, RD says
I recently visited my parents in Colorado and tried cooking lentils there. They took the longest time to get them to cook on the stove, which I'm not used to living much closer to sea level. I appreciate your note on altitude cooking and I'm sure others will too!
Meredith Trotter says
Delicious! Like some other commenters, I decreased liquid by 1/4 cup. I increased cooking time by 1 minute. Still just slightly under cooked, will increase to 2 minutes next time. Will definitely make this again!
Cassidy Reeser says
Thanks for the review!
Denise says
I loved this recipe! I used 1/4 less vegetable broth and it came out perfect!
Liz says
This is one of our new favorites. Will be making this regularly.
Stefany says
Delicious! Next time I would add 2-3 more minutes of cooking time as some of my lentils were still too firm.
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
Thanks for making it! 🙂
Victoria says
The flavors come together really well! Mine came out kind of watery so I may try reducing the amount of liquid next time.
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
Thanks for the review, glad you liked the sloppy joes!
Casey says
I've made this several times. Great recipe! So easy and filling.
Allie says
I agree! The flavor was great but there was too much liquid and the lentils were just a little over done for my taste. 2-3 minutes less and reduce liquid by 1/4-1/2 cup 🙂
Emily Koczur says
Tonight was my second time making this recipe. It was so good the first time (and second of course), that I wanted to make sure I doubled the batch to freeze and save for later. It's so easy too. Thanks!
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
Thanks Emily, so happy to hear that! Enjoy!
Lori says
This was a fabulous, easy to make recipe!! Everybody loved it!!
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
Awesome, so glad everyone liked it!
Wendy Gregg says
This recipe is delicious! I have made it multiple times. My husband suggested leaving the BBQ sauce out and putting it on our sandwiches separately. He made a good choice. The flavor in this recipe really pops without drowning all of it's deliciousness in BBQ sauce. It's awesome either way, but my preference is to put a little on each bite.
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
I'm glad you both like them! Thanks for the tip and for making the recipe.
Meghan says
Just made them tonight for my partner and I. We both loved them! Super easy and darn delicious. H
Cassidy Reeser, RDN, LD says
Thanks Meghan, glad you both liked the recipe!
Amanda Luck says
I dont have an instant pot can I make it in a crockpot?
Cassidy says
I think it would work if you cook on high for 2-3 hours, but I can't say for sure since I haven't tried it out myself.
Jamie says
I love these!! So much flavor! I doubled the batch with no problems. I will be making again for sure!!
Cassidy says
Thank you! Glad you liked it!
Cheryl says
I've made these before from other recipes and didn't like them. This recipe is FANTASTIC! It will be a regular on our menu~ Thanks so much
Cassidy says
Cheryl, thank you! So glad to hear you like this recipe.