Sloppy Joes are as popular in America as they are messy to eat, which means very. According to YouGov, they are in the top 25 most-loved dishes in the US (sitting just under chicken nuggets, at number 21).
Typically, they consist of three key ingredients: sauce, ground meat, and a bread roll, but they can be made with many different ingredients, depending on your taste. Lentils, for example, are an easy plant-based stand-in for ground beef, as are mushrooms, tofu, and plant-based grounds. If you’ve got a craving for this juicy, super sloppy sandwich, find some of our favorite meat-free ways to make it below.
What exactly is a sloppy Joe?
According to Food Timeline, a research service dedicated to food history, the origin of sloppy Joe sandwiches is unknown. However, they likely originated from hamburgers, which became a popular American dish in the 19th century (largely because they could be made cheaply, with meat and filler ingredients, like bread crumbs and onions, blended together).
Regarding the name, the platform cites a quote from John F. Mariani, a journalist who wrote in the Encyclopedia of American Food & Drink in 1999. “There is probably no Joe after whom it is named—but its rather messy appearance and tendency to drip off plate or roll makes ‘sloppy’ an adequate description,” it reads. “‘Joe’ is an American name of a proletarian character and unassailable genuineness.”
According to Mariani, recipes and names for sloppy Joe-like dishes vary from region to region. In Iowa, for example, they’re called “loose meat sandwiches.” But regardless of what they’re called, all versions tend to consist of bread that is filled with a “sloppy,” saucy, meaty filling.
What is sloppy Joe sauce made of?
As mentioned above, there are many different variations of sloppy Joe sauce. It changes from region to region, and even from household to household, but in general, sloppy Joe sauce tends to have a slightly sweet, tangy flavor and a tomato base. Common ingredients include ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, spices, and Worcestershire sauce. In the South, where barbecue is popular, sloppy Joes may have a smokier taste, while in Texas, where Tex-Mex flavors are popular, chili beans are sometimes added to the mix to give the sandwich a spicier kick.
5 ways to make a meat-free sloppy Joes
When it comes to sloppy Joes, there are no real rules. You can make them smoky, spicy, mild, or tangy, and you can also make them totally plant-based.
Nora Cooks
1 Vegan Sloppy Joe With Plant-Based Ground Beef
Classic sloppy Joes contain ground beef, but you can get that same nostalgic texture by opting for a plant-based alternative, just like in this recipe from Nora Cooks. Recipe developer Nora Taylor combines Beyond Meat beef crumbles with ingredients like lentils, chili powder, smoked paprika, and maple syrup to get a perfect mix of savory, smoky, and sweet flavors. “Just because the days of cafeteria sloppy joes are behind us, doesn’t mean we can’t indulge in this classic childhood meal,” writes Taylor. “The homemade version is even better thanks to incredible vegan ingredients.”
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Eating Bird Food
2 Vegan Sloppy Joes With Green Lentils
If you prefer, you can skip the plant-based meat altogether and just make a sloppy Joe with lentils. This recipe from Eating Bird Food will show you how to transform the simple ingredient into a tasty, sloppy filling by combining it with plant-based ingredients like onions, bell peppers, garlic, maple syrup, and tomato sauce. “It’s similar to the sloppy Joes you grew up with,” says recipe developer Brittany Mullins. “Still absolutely delicious, just a bit more sophisticated.”
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Elavegan
3 Vegan Sloppy Joes With Beans
In this hearty Elavegan dish, recipe developer Michaela Vais opts for a white bean filling with ingredients like tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and vegan Worcestershire sauce, and it works perfectly. It’s nourishing, satisfying, packed with protein, and offers just the right amount of sloppy. “In my opinion, there is no need to use beef, turkey, or chicken to make these sloppy Joes,” notes Vais. “Beans and lentils are also rich in protein, and they also contain fiber as opposed to meat.”
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Vegan Punks
4 Vegan Sloppy Joes With Tofu
For a meaty texture without plant-based meat products, look no further than tofu. When combined with ingredients like Marmite, vegan beef stock, nutritional yeast, and dark soy sauce, it will give you all the umami taste and nostalgic mouthfeel you’ve been searching for. “This vegan sloppy joe recipe delivers all the feel-good flavors of the family favorite but with a completely plant-based recipe,” notes the blog Vegan Punks.
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Plant Power Couple
5 Vegan Sloppy Joes With TVP
Textured vegetable protein (TVP) is a simple plant-based ingredient made with processed soybeans, but it is incredibly versatile. After soaking, it has a naturally meaty consistency and it can soak up flavors well. This makes it a great alternative to ground meat. Find out more about how to make it into a delicious sloppy Joe filling by following this recipe from Plant Power Couple. “[This] spicy/sweet sloppy Joe sauce will have everyone clamoring for seconds,” notes the blog.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.