Lentil Sloppy Joes
Lentil Sloppy Joes costs about $5.55 to make ($0.92 per serving) at U.S. grocery prices reviewed August 2026, and each serving has roughly 379 calories, 19 g protein, and 59 g net carbs. Total time: 40 min.
- 19 g protein/serving
- 379 calories/serving
- 59 g net carbs
- 40 min total time
- Easy difficulty
Red lentils simmered with tomato paste and onion into a thick, sweet-savoury mess, served on bread. Feeds six for the price of a couple of coffees.
What it costs
| Ingredient | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1½ cups red lentils | $1.23 |
| 1 can tomato paste | $0.79 |
| 1 large onion, diced | $0.44 |
| 1 bell pepper, diced | $0.89 |
| 3 cloves garlic | $0.12 |
| 1 tbsp olive oil | $0.24 |
| 12 slices bread | $1.35 |
| mustard, vinegar, brown sugar, chili powder, salt | $0.50 |
| Total | $5.55 |
How to make it
- Soften onion and pepper in oil, 6 minutes; add garlic and chili powder for a minute.
- Stir in tomato paste, then add lentils and 3 cups of water.
- Simmer 20-25 minutes until the lentils collapse and the mixture is thick.
- Season with mustard, vinegar and a little sugar until it tastes balanced. Pile onto bread.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 379 |
| Protein | 19 g |
| Fat | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 67 g |
| Fiber | 9 g |
| Net carbs | 59 g |
| Saturated fat | 1 g |
| Sodium | 305 mg |
Substitutions
- Bell pepper, green → Carrots, whole. grated carrot when peppers are pricey
Make it cheaper
Lentils from a bulk bin are cheaper still, and this recipe is mostly lentils by weight.
Common questions
How much does it cost to make Lentil Sloppy Joes?
About $5.55 total, or $0.92 per serving, using U.S. average grocery prices reviewed August 2026. Actual cost depends on your store and region.
How much protein is in Lentil Sloppy Joes?
Each serving has roughly 19 g of protein (379 calories per serving), computed from USDA-typical ingredient values.
How can I make Lentil Sloppy Joes cheaper?
Lentils from a bulk bin are cheaper still, and this recipe is mostly lentils by weight.
Do leftovers of Lentil Sloppy Joes keep well?
Excellent — freezes 3 months and reheats straight from frozen.
Related budget recipes
Black Bean & Rice Burritos
28 g protein · 30 min$0.87 /serving
Red Lentil Soup
17 g protein · 40 min$0.81 /serving
Egg Fried Rice
15 g protein · 25 min$1.26 /serving
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
10 g protein · 15 min
9 of 49 ingredient prices come from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data; the remaining 40 are estimates. Last reviewed 2026-08-12. Your store will differ — treat every figure as a planning estimate, not a quote. Nutrition is computed from USDA-typical ingredient values and rounded.