Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Pockets

These Vegetarian Sloppy Joe Pockets are a delicious and meatless twist to classic Sloppy Joe recipes, using vegetarian beefless mince mixture cooked in a rich tomato sauce base and loaded into canned biscuit dough with shredded cheese.

Once assembled, these Sloppy Joe pockets are baked until golden on the outside and fluffy inside with mouth-watering flavors of Sloppy Joe mixture.

Enjoy these vegetarian Sloppy Joe pockets as party appetizers, picnic snacks, or a main meal alongside your favorite side dishes. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOE POCKETS

These vegetarian Sloppy Joe pockets are a delicious and beefless variation of classic Sloppy Joe’s. Instead of regular ground beef mixture, this recipe uses beefless ground mince loaded into canned biscuits, creating scrumptious pockets of Sloppy Joe mixture encased in baked biscuit dough.

These vegetarian Sloppy Joe pockets are ideal for a midweek dinner, lunchboxes, or hand-held party snacks.

HOW SHOULD I STORE VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOE POCKETS?

Once completely cooled, wrap the individual Sloppy Joe pockets with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store them in an airtight container or Ziploc bag in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thaw frozen Sloppy Joe pockets in the fridge overnight and reheat them in the oven at 350F until warmed through. These stored pockets can also be reheated in the microwave, but the texture may become softer.

CAN I MAKE THESE SLOPPY JOE POCKETS WITH GROUND MEAT?

Absolutely! Use ground beef (regular or lean) to make these Sloppy Joe pockets. When using ground beef, first brown the meat in a saucepan with olive oil and drain any excess grease. Set aside and add back to the pan with the other Sloppy Joe mixture as per the recipe.

HOW SHOULD I SERVE THESE VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOE POCKETS?

Serve these vegetarian Sloppy Joe pockets with your favorite dipping sauce and side dishes such as salad, French fries, and vegetables.

ARE THESE SLOPPY JOE POCKETS GLUTEN-FREE?

No. I’ve used regular canned biscuits, which contain wheat flour, and I’ve also used all-purpose flour to lightly coat the surface of the countertop when rolling out the biscuit dough.

To make these Sloppy Joe pockets gluten-free, use Pillsbury’s gluten-free canned biscuits or another brand of gluten-free biscuits, and use gluten-free flour when rolling out the dough.

TIPS FOR MAKING VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOE POCKETS

• Add a kick of heat to these vegetarian Sloppy Joe pockets by adding some hot sauce and cayenne pepper, red chili flakes, or paprika to the Sloppy Joe mixture.
• Be sure to pinch the edges of the dough seams together to prevent the Sloppy Joe mixture from spilling out while the pockets bake.
• These Sloppy Joe pockets can be cooked in an air fryer instead of an oven. Cook the pockets at 350F for 10-15 minutes, turning the pockets over halfway through the cooking time and ensuring enough space between the pockets in the air fryer basket.
• It’s important to allow the Sloppy Joe mixture to cool slightly before loading it onto the biscuit dough. Hot mixture can cause the dough to soften, which makes it more challenging to handle.
• Don’t overfill the biscuit pockets with Sloppy Joe mixture, as this will burst through the seams of the biscuit dough while baking.
• You can brush egg wash over the tops of these assembled pockets for a shiny and golden finish.

For those that need a visual, are some photos to help you out along the way!