Slow-Cooker Lentil Sloppy Joes

Say hello to your new favorite easy, cheap and crowd-pleasing dinner idea!

Although I love this recipe, I haven’t made it very often over the years because I hate buying hamburger buns. Why are the white flour ones always like 77 cents, but the whole wheat ones have to be at least 3 times that much? But I recently found 100% whole wheat buns at WinCo for $1.68. So maybe we’re making progress in that department!

Overall this recipe is a winner because it is so tasty! It also uses just pantry ingredients, so you can make this without going to the store for fresh stuff. AND it’s a slow-cooker meal, which gives you, the cook, the joy of being happily surprised when dinner is ready, just like everyone else who shows up to dinner ready each night.

If that wasn’t enough, it’s very cheap to make. I got out my receipt and calculator and I estimate this to end up being about 64 cents a serving.  For a healthy recipe, that’s very cheap! I think anything less than $1 a serving is pretty good, for a whole-foods recipe.

1 cup lentils (.98/lb) $0.50

1 onion (.38/lb)  .30

2 cans tomato sauce (.46 each) .92

Whole wheat hamburger buns $1.68

1/2 cup walnuts ($5.40/lb) .90

spices, mustard, syrup, garlic, etc estimated about .75

Total $5.05 for 8 servings = 64 cents per sloppy joe.

(If you leave out the walnuts, and use brown sugar instead of pure maple syrup, it’s more like 50 cents a serving).

While this recipe is forgivable and adapatable, I highly recommend you don’t skip the smoked paprika or substitute it for regular paprika. It is not a spicy flavor that kids won’t like, it just gives these sloppy joes a deep, almost meaty flavor. The cheapest way to get spices like these is a bulk section where you scoop out however much you want. Two teaspoons smoked paprika won’t cost you more than a few cents that way.

4.5 from 2 votes

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Slow-Cooker Lentil Sloppy Joes

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 30 mins

3 hours

10 mins

Total Time

1 hr 40 mins

 

Simple, smoky, saucy and super yummy. 

Course: Main Course

Servings: 8 sloppy joes

Ingredients

• 1 cup lentils (dry)
• 1 cup vegetable broth (I use 1 tsp of vegetable Better than Bouillon)
• 28 oz tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup tomato paste (half of one small can)
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbls mustard (any kind)
• 3 tbl pure maple syrup (or brown sugar)
• 1 tbl vinegar (apple cider or white)
• 2 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped fine (optional, for extra texture and meatiness)

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into slow cooker and stir together. 

2. Cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours. Taste and add more chili powder or smoked paprika, if desired. Add more maple syrup or other sweetener if you'd like it sweeter.

3. Serve on whole wheat hamburger buns. Can be served with additional BBQ sauce if you want them really saucy and sweet. Makes 8 sloppy joes. 

Recipe Notes

Notes: You can sneak in 1 cup fresh vegetables if you like, like finely chopped mushrooms or zucchini, or shredded carrots.