Pantry Lentil Sloppy Joes

by BudgetBites
Prep: 15m
Cook: 40m
vegetarian
Pantry Lentil Sloppy Joes - Image

Sign in to see ingredients

Create a free account to unlock this content

Sign In to Continue

Don't have an account? Sign up free

Ingredients
Servings:8
1tbspolive oil
1green bell pepper
1onion
3garlic
1cupwater
1cupvegetable broth
1cupbrown lentils
1cuptomato sauce
1/4cupketchup
3tbsptomato paste
1tspWorcestershire sauce
2tbspbrown sugar
1tspchili powder
1tspyellow mustard
1tbspapple cider vinegar
8hamburger buns
Nutrition Facts

Per serving

Calculating nutrition...

Instructions
  1. 1

    Soften the veggies

    Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped green bell pepper and diced onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

  1. 2

    Simmer the lentils

    Add the water, broth, and dried brown lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 25 minutes, until the lentils are tender.

  2. 3

    Build the sauce

    Stir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick and saucy.

  3. 4

    Pile it on

    Spoon the lentil mixture over hamburger buns and serve right away. Top with sliced onion, tomato, or a spoonful of sour cream if you like.

Sign in to see all instructions

Create a free account to unlock this content

Sign In to Continue

Don't have an account? Sign up free

Pantry Lentil Sloppy Joes

Created by: BudgetBites

Prep Time: 15m
Cook Time: 40m
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 green bell pepper
  • 1 onion
  • 3 garlic
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 8 hamburger buns

Instructions

  1. Soften the veggiesHeat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped green bell pepper and diced onion and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
  2. Simmer the lentilsAdd the water, broth, and dried brown lentils. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for about 25 minutes, until the lentils are tender.
  3. Build the sauceStir in the tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire, brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, and apple cider vinegar. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick and saucy.
  4. Pile it onSpoon the lentil mixture over hamburger buns and serve right away. Top with sliced onion, tomato, or a spoonful of sour cream if you like.

Notes & Tips

This is the trick I pull out when payday is still a few days off. A cup of dried brown lentils runs under a dollar and feeds eight, so you're looking at roughly 40-50 cents a sandwich once you count the buns and pantry sauce. Nobody misses the beef either the lentils go meaty and the sauce does all the sweet-tangy work you remember. Dried lentils don't need soaking, just rinse and pick out any stray stones. Out of ketchup? Tomato sauce covers it. It also freezes well, so double the batch and stash half for a night you don't feel like cooking.