Go Back
A close-up view of the spicy ground chicken mixture for Cajun Sloppy Joes simmering in a skillet, with visible chunks of onion and bell pepper.

Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes: A Spicy Weeknight Twist

Spice up your dinner routine with these Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes! This easy, 30-minute recipe features lean ground chicken in a bold, homemade Cajun sauce. A flavorful and satisfying twist on a classic comfort food favorite.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Cajun
Calories: 385
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Yellow Onion finely chopped
  • 1 cup Green Bell Pepper finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Celery finely chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1.5 lbs Ground Chicken
  • 15 oz can Tomato Sauce
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
  • 1 tbsp Brown Sugar packed
  • 6 Brioche Buns for serving, toasted
  • 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1 tsp Dried Oregano
  • 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper or more, to taste
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 tsp Salt

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet
  • 1 Measuring Spoons and Cups

Instructions
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the vegetables have softened.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
  3. Add the ground chicken to the skillet. Use a spoon to break it apart and cook until browned and cooked through. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Stir in the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. Cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.
  5. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir well to combine everything.
  6. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for at least 10-15 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken and the flavors to meld.
  7. Serve generous scoops of the Cajun chicken mixture on toasted brioche buns.

Notes

Spice Level: Feel free to adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to suit your taste. For a milder version, start with 1/8 teaspoon.
Make-Ahead: The sloppy joe mixture can be made up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Simply reheat on the stove before serving.
QR Code linking back to recipe