Impossible Sloppy Joes
These vegan Impossible sloppy joes are rich and meaty and a nostalgic, simple dinner idea. Brown the vegan ground beef, add homemade tomato sauce, and serve on soft buns with lots of pickles.
Sloppy Joes are one of my husband’s favorite meals. I’ve made a lentil sloppy joe version and a mushroom version in our kid cookbook, and now, I’m using one of my favorite meat alternatives to make Impossible sloppy joes!
Served with a tangy homemade tomato sauce, on soft buns and plenty of pickles, these vegan sloppy joes remind me of childhood. We love them alongside baked beans and my tortellini pasta salad or roasted potatoes.
Ingredient Notes
- Impossible Meat: This is my preferred choice for a ground meat substitute, but other brands will work.
- Bell Pepper: I like using green as it’s what my mom always used, but you can use a different color. For spicier sloppy joes, I like to add in some jalapenos along with the green peppers.
- Onion: Picky eater approved! The onions almost melt into the sauce when cooked and provide extra flavor and plant-based umami. Same with the garlic.
- Homemade Sauce – just a few simple pantry ingredients for a sauce that’s so much better than any store-bought sauce. Make sure to use tomato sauce and not marinara sauce. That, along with the ketchup, sugar, mustard, and vegan Worcestershire, hits all the right notes: sweet, savory, and tangy. I use Annie’s brand Worcestershire sauce.
How to Make These Impossible Sloppy Joes
Cook the Onion and Pepper
In a large skillet or saute pan, heat the oil, then add in the onion and bell pepper. Let cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring often to prevent browning, until the vegetables have started to soften. They will continue to cook once you add the Impossible meat.
Add the Meat
Add the Impossible meat and cook, breaking up with a spoon or spatula to create ground meat. As impossible is easy to overcook, I like to cook until it’s mostly browned but not overcooked as the meat will continue to cook when you add the sauce.
Add in the Sauce
Add in all of the ingredients for the sauce: tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, mustard and Worcestershire to the meat. You can whisk this all together first, like in a large Pyrex measuring cup, or just add directly to the meat. I usually like to whisk first, but if I’m in a hurry, I’ll just dump and mix together in the skillet!
Cook for 5 minutes or so, until the sauce has thickened and warmed through.
Ways to Serve
For the ultimate Impossible sloppy joes, we like these with tangy coleslaw on top and plenty of dill pickles.
Other ways to serve:
- Grilled Cheese: Add a layer of the Impossible sloppy joe mixture when making a grilled cheese.
- Loaded fries: My husband loves leftovers like this! Same with baked potatoes, open a baked potato and top.
- Chili dogs: Another classic way to enjoy leftovers; vegan hot dogs topped with the sloppy joe mixture.
Tips for Success
I find that when it comes to making homemade sloppy joes, we all want a sauce that tastes like what our mom used to make! I think the sauce here is perfect, but if you need to adjust to your tasting, use the below as a guide:
- Too Sweet? Add a pinch of salt or 1/ 2 teaspoon vinegar
- Too Tangy? Add a little more brown sugar or a drizzle of ketchup
- Too Tomato Flavored? Simmer an extra 5 minutes to concentrate flavors
- Does the Sauce Need More Depth? Add extra Worcestershire.
- Is the sauce too loose? Simmer uncovered 3-5 minutes to thicken
- Is the sauce too thick? Add a splash of water
Storage Notes
- Refrigerating – Let the Impossible sloppy joes cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezing – Once cooled, add to freezer-friendly containers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
- Reheating – Warm the Impossible sloppy joes on the stovetop in a skillet or saucepan until hot.
More Recipes Using Meat Alternatives
- Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Soup
- Potato, Spinach and Sausage Soup
- Impossible Chili
- Spicy Vegan Pasta with Sausage
- Kofta Meatball Sandwiches
- Vegan Sausage and Farro Stuffed Squash
- Impossible Meatballs
- Rigatoni and Sausage Pasta
Impossible Sloppy Joes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green peppers
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 12 ounce package Impossible Meat, or other plant-based meat
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 burger buns
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and green pepper and cook for 8 minutes, stirring often, until vegetables have started to soften.
- Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until just fragrant, then add in the impossible meat and cook, breaking up, until just browned and no longer pink.
- Add in the rest of the sauce ingredients: tomato sauce, ketchup, worchesershire sauce, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook until heated through and combined, about 5 more minutes.
- Serve on buns! We like these sandwiches with coleslaw and my dill pickles on top.
Notes
- Too sweet? Add a pinch of salt or 1/ 2 teaspoon vinegar
- Too Tangy? Add a little more brown sugar or a drizzle of ketchup
- Too Tomatoy? Simmer an extra 5 minutes to concentrate flavors
- Need depth? Add extra Worcestershire.
- Is the sauce too loose? Simmer uncovered 3-5 minutes to thicken
- Is the sauce too thick? Add a splash of water