• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Veggie Inspired logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
    • The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook
    • The Meat-Free Kitchen
    • Plant-Based Diet Cookbook For Dummies
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Veganuary
  • About
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Veganuary
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Sandwiches, Wraps, Tacos, and Burritos

    Mexican-Inspired Healthy Sloppy Joes

    Published: May 24, 2016 · Modified: May 8, 2020 by Jenn Sebestyen

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    recipe image for Pinterest

    This classic messy sandwich gets a meatless makeover and a Mexican flavored twist. Top off these Healthy Sloppy Joes with guacamole and serve them with a side of chips. An easy weeknight meal the whole family will love!

    Healthy Sloppy Joes - finished dish on a white plate

    It’s like my classic Vegan Sloppy Joes and my easy Vegan Burrito Bowls coming together in a saucy, sloppy sandwich. Or maybe it’s like my Sloppy Joe Casserole minus the cornbread crust and piled high on burger buns. Either way you look at it, you won’t be able to resist these delicious, flavorful, Mexican-inspired Sloppy Joe sandwiches. Grab a pitcher of margaritas and dig in!

    Table of Contents hide
    1 Ingredients you need
    2 How to serve
    3 Pro tips for success
    4 More Mexican-inspired vegan recipes
    5 Healthy Sloppy Joes

    Ingredients you need

    healthy sloppy joe ingredients
    Mexican-Inspired Healthy Sloppy Joes ingredients: Pinto beans, black beans, onion, garlic, red bell pepper, corn, and jalapeños. Not pictured: Mexican BBQ Sauce (see below)

    Traditional homemade sloppy joe recipes are made with ground beef in a seasoned tomato sauce. This healthy sloppy joe recipe uses black beans and pinto beans for a plant based protein punch.

    Bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, and corn bring flavor and texture and a delicious Mexican vibe, not to mention vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

    Substitutions / Adaptations

    Protein ~ Any kind of bean will work, like white beans, kidney beans, or chickpeas. If you don’t have canned, you could cook your own from dried beans. You could also use diced bake tofu or crumbled tempeh. 

    Veggies ~ Any color of bell pepper will work. If you don’t like peppers, diced corn or zucchini would be good options.

    Corn ~ Canned, frozen, or fresh will work. If you don’t like corn or can’t have it, feel free to leave it out or add other veggies instead.

    Heat ~ Jalapeño peppers bring a medium heat. If you like things spicier, feel free to use a hotter pepper, like a hot chili pepper or a habanero. You could also go milder with a poblano or a can of diced green chiles.

    Mexican BBQ sauce

    ingredients for Mexican BBQ sauce
    Mexican BBQ Sauce ingredients: salsa, coconut sugar, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and lime juice.

    Store bought canned sauce is popular, but not very healthy as it contains high fructose corn syrup and other questionable ingredients that aren’t stocked in most home pantries. 

    Homemade is always best and it allows us to add other flavors and make the recipe our own. For this version I use jarred salsa and southwest flavors to create a Mexican BBQ sauce that pairs perfectly with the beans, peppers, and corn in this recipe. 

    open faced sandwich on a plate next to a glass of water and extra buns

    How to serve

    These healthy Sloppy Joes are perfect with a big dollop of guacamole on top and a few extra slices of jalapeño. Tortilla chips on the side complete the meal.

    If you like things cheesy, drizzle some vegan queso on top.

    More sides to serve with these sandwiches: potato salad,  corn salad, kale salad, or sweet potato fries.

    close up of the finished dish

    Pro tips for success

    ~ Be sure drain the canned beans and rinse them well.

    ~ If you’re using canned corn, be sure to drain that well, also.

    ~ Use a salsa with lots of flavor and a bit of heat. After being mixed with all the ingredients, it will mellow out a bit, so start bold. 

    ~ Speaking of heat, if you’re serving this to kids, be sure to take the ribs and seeds out of the jalapeño. They probably won’t enjoy biting in to one of those. 

    More Mexican-inspired vegan recipes

    • Mexican Bean Dip
    • Vegan Taco Salad
    • Vegan Taco Chili
    • Black Bean Enchiladas
    • Tortilla Rollups
    • Baked Vegan Tacos

    I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment below with your feedback.

    Be sure to sign up for my FREE Newsletter to be the first to get my NEW recipes! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.


    For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!

    Healthy Sloppy Joes - finished dish on a white plate

    Healthy Sloppy Joes

    Healthy Sloppy Joes – this classic messy sandwich gets a meatless makeover and a Mexican twist. Serve 'em up with tortilla chips and salsa on the side and wash 'em down with a pitcher of margaritas. It's fiesta time!
    5 from 8 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Entrées
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 196kcal
    Author: Jenn Sebestyen

    Ingredients

    Mexican BBQ Sauce

    • 12 ounces salsa (or 1 ¼ cups), your favorite
    • Juice of 2 limes
    • ¼ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • Salt/pepper to taste

    Healthy Sloppy Joes

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ of a red onion diced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • ¼ cup water divided, for sauteing
    • 1 red bell pepper diced
    • 1 jalapeño pepper ribs and seeds removed, diced
    • 1 ½ cups cooked black beans or 1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained
    • 1 ½ cups cooked pinto beans or 1 15 oz can, rinsed and drained
    • 1 cup corn kernels fresh, frozen, or canned
    • 2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or to taste
    • 6 burger buns gluten free if desired

    Toppings

    • Guacamole
    • Extra jalapeño sliced

    Instructions

    • Whisk all the ingredients for the Mexican BBQ Sauce in a medium bowl until well combined. Set aside.
    • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the red onion for 3 to 4 min until softened. Add the garlic and sauté another minute.
    • Add the red bell pepper and jalapeño and sauté 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Pour the Mexican BBQ Sauce into the pan and simmer for about 10 minutes.
    • Add the pinto beans, black beans, and corn and stir to combine. Simmer another 5 minutes to heat through.
    • Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary or add salt/pepper to your liking.
    • Add the chopped cilantro and stir.
    • Serve hot on burger buns with guacamole and extra jalapeño slices, if desired.

    Notes

    ~Leave the ribs and seeds of your jalapeño in if you like the heat!
    ~Nutrition facts calculated without buns or toppings.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 196kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 529mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 13g

    Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.

    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Veggie_Inspired or tag #VeggieInspired!
    2.9K shares
    • Share
    • Tweet

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mary says

      June 01, 2016 at 8:37 pm

      The recipe arrived in my “inbox” at 5 am I had them made by 6 am. I took them to work and treated my co workers to lunch, they were yum yum YUMMY!!! I did not have pinto beans so substituted kidney beans. The salsa I used had mango thertfore I did not add the sugar. Served in a soft tortilla wrap with lettuce and guacamole instead of a slider bun. Served as a taco salad on bed of romaine for lunch the second day. Will definitely add this recipe to my lunch/dinner “rotation”5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        June 01, 2016 at 11:12 pm

        Wow, Mary, you are fast! I love it!! So glad you loved them and how lucky your coworkers are!! Love the idea of turning it into a taco salad too! Thanks so much for your feedback!

        Reply
    2. Sus roughmeasures says

      May 31, 2016 at 3:03 pm

      Love this recipe, it’s been too long since I have had a good sloppy joe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        May 31, 2016 at 3:27 pm

        Thank you, Sus! It’s so comforting to have food that reminds me of my childhood from time to time. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Becca Amuse Your Bouche says

      May 31, 2016 at 3:20 am

      Sloppy Joes aren’t really a ‘thing’ in the UK but I would love these – I love the Mexican twist!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Jenn Sebestyen of Veggie Inspired

    Hi, I'm Jenn! This is where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

    More about me →

    Order your copy today!

    The Meatless Monday Cookbook Cover

    Clean Eating

    • The Ultimate Guide to Making Salads for Dinner
    • Vegan Green Goddess Dip
    • Tahini Goddess Dressing (Oil-Free)
    • Easy Vegan Mayonnaise with Silken Tofu

    Top Rated

    • Garden Veggie Pasta
    • Veggie Cream Cheese
    • BBQ Chickpeas Sandwiches
    • Vegan Cinnamon Cookies

    Featured In

    As featured in collage.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Nutrition Disclaimer
    • Copyright Statement

    • Sign Up Now for the latest FREE recipes

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Publicity and Press

    Copyright © 2023 Veggie Inspired, LLC

    2946 shares