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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!
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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!
Ingredients you need
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.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
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
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.
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.
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
- Black Bean Mexican Risotto
- Mexican Sloppy Joes
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the star rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment with your feedback. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!
Healthy Sloppy Joes
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
Nutrition
Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.
Cathy
I love Mexican food and look at all those jalapenos, yum!
Jenn S.
Spice is nice! At least in this house. 🙂 Thanks, Cathy!
Mel
I have never eaten a Sloppy Joe! I didn’t even know what it was until we moved to Canada. In England they just don’t exist. I adore Mexican flavours so your version would be a great first recipe for me to try :O)
Jenn S.
It’s definitely time to give it a try, Mel! I’d love to know what you think!
Kathy Hester
I love sloppy Joes and can’t wait to try your Mexican version!
Jenn S.
Thanks, Kathy! I hope you love them!!
Anjali
This sounds so yummy Jenn! I love burgers like these and love all the ingredients you’ve used! Definitely trying this sometime.
Jenn S.
Thanks, Anjali! I hope you get a chance to try it!
Uma
This will be perfect after a big game day! Love it Jen!
Jenn S.
Yes! Thanks, Uma!
Linda
Mexican all day every day! These are calling my name.
Jenn S.
I hear it too! You better go make some. 🙂 Thanks, Linda!
Patricia
Somebody hand me a napkin! These look like the perfect fill-you-up and get-a-little-messy dish! Perfect for this weekend! Yum!
Jenn S.
I totally agree! Thanks, Patricia!
dixya
im loving the idea of Mexican BBQ sauce with this!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Dixya! It turned out better than I was expecting. Can’t. Stop. Eating. Them!
Kristen Chidsey
Jenn–these are awesome!! I would take these hands down over a regular sloppy joe!
Jenn S.
Thank you so much, Kristen! They are definitely not lacking in flavor!
The Vegan 8
Oh my gosh I have the same Mexican food and salsa addiction! I could put salsa on pretty much everything! These look sooo good and a great twist on the typical sloppy joes!
Jenn S.
Thank you, Brandi! I imagine you can get some pretty darn good salsa down there in TX! It’s just so good! I make my Lentil Sloppy Sandwiches all the time because we love them so much, but these Mexican ones just took over as the #1 favorite!
Becky Striepe
These look amazing, Jenn! I showed them to my husband, and he says that we MUST make them! 😀
Jenn S.
Yay!! I love to hear that! You will love them! I can’t wait to hear what you think! Thanks, Becky!
Casey the College Celiac
I love the combination of beans! This looks and sounds amazing and so easy to whip up!
Jenn S.
Yes, super easy! Thanks, Casey. I hope you love it!
Trinity Bourne
Oh yummy, you make such feel good food – I feel good just looking at it.
Yummy.
Jenn S.
HaHa, thanks, Trinity! I grew up on the comfort food of the midwest, so it still creeps into my healthier cooking too!
Strength and Sunshine
I grew up eating sloppy joes (and then I made them rebecca-friendly) 😉 But the one thing I do miss is the soft potato buns my mom would get for them..SO good! sloppy joe must have potato bun…but sadly not anymore 😛 So I just have to make up for it other fun ways 😉
Jenn S.
I grew up with them too, but it was the sauce from the can (you know the one!). Homemade is so much better. You should totally create a soft gluten free potato bun!! I agree, soft pillowy buns are the best for sloppy joes, but this bean mixture is so good, you could just eat it with a spoon!!
Vivian | stayaliveandcooking
Hmmmm, sounds delicious! I love pinto beans and we eat more vegetarian these days, so I’ll definitely remember these. Pinned 🙂
Jenn S.
Thanks, Vivian! I hope you enjoy them. Please let me know how they turn out if you try them.