Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/4/23
Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes on plates, served with chips

The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 5 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
314 Calories
9g Fat
42g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 5 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 314
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 1158mg 50%
Total Carbohydrate 42g 15%
Dietary Fiber 8g 27%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 41mg 206%
Calcium 162mg 12%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 1038mg 22%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Sloppy joes, the mid-20th century recipe for sweet and tangy ground beef sandwiches, has gained popularity again, so it's no wonder there is a meatless version—vegetarians and vegans want in on this retro recipe too. These sloppy joes made with TVP (textured vegetable protein), making them perfect for your vegetarian or vegan kids, are healthier than regular sloppy joes since they're cholesterol-free and much lower in fat than beef or even turkey.

Sloppy joes are fun (and messy) to eat and are great for a crowd, especially since they're budget friendly and easy to make. Serve these TVP sloppy joes with a tomato, cucumber, and corn salad and chips on the side.

Although TVP typically needs to be rehydrated before adding to a recipe, since it will simmer along with vegetable broth and tomato sauce, it can be added as is.

Ingredients

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium onion, diced

  • 1 medium green or red bell pepper, diced

  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

  • 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 1 dash hot sauce, such as Tabasco sauce, optional

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • 1 1/2 cups TVP (texturized vegetable protein)

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 5 to 6 hamburger buns, for serving

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes ingredients

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add the onion and bell peppers and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes or until the onions are soft.

    Onions and peppers in a skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  3. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the vegetable broth and tomato sauce, stirring to combine well. Once hot, add the chili powder, soy sauce, hot sauce or Tabasco sauce, sugar, and TVP, stirring well to combine.

    Onions, peppers, tomato sauce, chili powder, soy sauce, hot sauce or Tabasco sauce, sugar, and TVP in a skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  4. Allow to simmer for at least 15 more minutes and season well with salt and pepper. The vegetarian sloppy joe mixture will thicken slightly as it cools, so don't worry if it seems a bit too thin while cooking. Taste, and adjust seasonings if needed.

    Sloppy joe mixture in a skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

  5. Spoon the TVP sloppy joe mixture onto hamburger buns.

    Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes on plates

    The Spruce Eats / Christine Ma

TVP Tip

TVP is a great food to buy in bulk; it's much cheaper than meat and easy to incorporate into your food repertoire if you're cooking on a budget. Check the bulk bins at your local natural grocery store or order online.

Using Leftovers

Leftover sloppy joes filling can be used the same way as leftover chili. Make chili mac casserole, stuff it inside bell peppers with rice, or simply portion out leftovers into individual-sized containers and stick them in the freezer. They will be ready to grab on early mornings when you need to get out the door and haven't yet packed a lunch, and are a quick dinner option on a busy weeknight.

Tip

If you prefer a less soggy sloppy joe, lightly toasting the hamburger buns first is a good idea.