These Vegetarian Sloppy Joes Taste Just Like the Ones With Meat in Them

It's been a long time since I have had a Sloppy Joe sandwich. When I was a kid, my mom used to make Sloppy Joes for us pretty regularly. Honestly though, I bet it's been forty years since I've had one. Well, that is until today, when I tried a completely new and inventive take on the classic sandwich.

The UK Cooperative Extension Office has developed a vegetarian Sloppy Joe for its 2024 Food + Nutrition Recipe Calendar. Here's how to make Lentil Sloppy Joes!

LENTIL SLOPPY JOES

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium bell pepper, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1/2 cup water

1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

1 cup dried lentils

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

1/3 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

8 whole-wheat hamburger buns

DIRECTIONS:

1) Wash fresh produce under cool running water, using a vegetable brush to scrub veggies with a firm surface. Dry and cut to prepare for this recipe.

2) Over medium heat, add oil to medium-sized pot. Saute bell pepper and onions until softened (about 4 minutes).

3) Add water, broth, and lentils. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer.

4) Cover and cook for approximately 25 minutes.

5) Stir in garlic powder, tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, and mustard.

6) Enjoy the finished Sloppy Joe mixture on a bun.

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Of course, the great thing about UK Cooperative Extension Office recipes is that they're designed to feed families in a healthy and affordable way. The entire estimated cost of this recipe is $6.20. That makes the cost per serving just $0.78.