30-Minute Easy Gluten Free Lentil Sloppy Joes

Name: 30-Minute Easy Gluten Free Lentil Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil; 1/2 white onion, diced; 1 red or green bell pepper, seeded, deveined, and diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 14 ounce jar Eden Foods Organic Crushed Tomatoes; 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire Sauce; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 2 14 ounce cans Eden Organic Green Lentils, rinsed and drained; 2 tablespoons coconut sugar; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; kosher or fine sea salt and pepper, to taste; 6 gluten-free hamburger buns, toasted; pickle slices, for serving

Plant-based comfort food that delivers all the hearty satisfaction of classic sloppy joes without the meat. Green lentils simmer in a tangy tomato sauce with aromatic spices, creating a protein-rich filling that's naturally gluten-free when served on appropriate buns. The combination of Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and coconut sugar provides the perfect sweet-savory balance that makes this dish appealing to both vegetarians and meat-eaters. Quick enough for weeknight dinners yet satisfying enough for casual entertaining.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Level: medium
Cuisine: American

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Vegan Vegetarian Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Nut-Free

Ingredients

6 servings

2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil
½ white onion, diced
1 red or green bell pepper, seeded, deveined, and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 14 ounce jar Eden Foods Organic Crushed Tomatoes
1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire Sauce
soy sauce + dash of vinegar1:1vegancontains soyadds glutenadds soy
umami depth
Full guide →
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 14 ounce cans Eden Organic Green Lentils, rinsed and drained
cooked quinoa1:1vegangluten-free
different texture
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
brown sugar1:1vegetariangluten-free
same sweetness
Full guide →
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
kosher or fine sea salt and pepper, to taste
6 gluten-free hamburger buns, toasted
pickle slices, for serving(optional)

Method

7 steps

1
Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat
2
Add onion and bell pepper, cook until softened, about 4 minutes
3
Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds
4
Stir in crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, lentils, coconut sugar, chili powder, onion powder, and cumin
5
Lower heat, cover pan, and simmer for 15 minutes
6
Season to taste with salt and pepper
7
Serve on toasted buns with pickles if desired

Tips

Tip 1

Rinse canned lentils thoroughly to remove excess sodium and improve texture

Tip 2

Toast buns lightly to prevent them from becoming soggy from the lentil mixture

Tip 3

Let mixture simmer uncovered for last few minutes if too watery

Good to Know

Storage

Refrigerate up to 4 days in covered container

Make Ahead

Make filling 1-2 days ahead, reheat gently before serving

Serve With

Serve immediately while hot on toasted buns

See pairing guide →

Common Mistakes

Watch

Don't skip rinsing lentils to avoid excess sodium

Watch

Keep heat at medium to avoid burning garlic

Substitutions

Vegan Options

lentils→

cooked quinoa1:1vegangluten-free

different texture

Worcestershire sauce→

soy sauce + dash of vinegar1:1vegancontains soyadds glutenadds soy

umami depth

Full guide →

Gluten-Free Swaps

coconut sugar→

brown sugar1:1vegetariangluten-free

same sweetness

Full guide →

Find more substitutions →

FAQ

Can I use red lentils instead of green?

Red lentils will break down more during cooking, creating a mushier texture, but work fine if you prefer that consistency.

How long will leftovers keep?

Store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on stovetop or microwave, adding splash of water if needed.

Can I freeze the lentil mixture?

Yes, freeze for up to 3 months in freezer-safe container. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.