These chicken sloppy Joes are bursting with flavor and ready to serve in 30 minutes. Made with ground chicken, everything is cooked in one skillet for an easy weeknight meal.
The classic American sandwich, sloppy Joe’s gets a makeover! My version is made with ground chicken rather than beef and it tastes hands down amazing!
Super easy to make, this 30 minute meal is great for family weeknight dinners. Serve it with a side of home fries for a great Friday night treat!
Why you will love this chicken sloppy Joes!
- One skillet: When it comes to quick and easy meals, anything made in one pan is always a bonus!
- Flavorful: The ground chicken is seasoned with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup and mustard making each bite super delicious!
- Make ahead: This sloppy Joes mixture an be made ahead of time and is freezer friendly too.
How to make chicken sloppy Joes
Be sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
- Add the ground chicken to a hot skillet with oil and brown.
- Stir in the veggies and cook til softened.
- Stir in the seasonings and water.
- Cover and simmer.
How do you serve sloppy Joes?
Once the meat is cooked, spoon it onto buns. You can stay classic and serve them as is, but I like to top mine with coleslaw and pickles.
You can also top it with some sharp cheddar if you like. You can use regular white buns to serve and brioche buns also work really well.
Can you make it ahead of time?
The ground chicken filling can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the cooled filling and defrost it in the fridge overnight before reheating on the stove top.
Take care to only reheat the chicken once.
What is sloppy Joe sauce made of?
The meat is cooked with garlic, onions and bell pepper. The sauce for the chicken is simple, and is made with:
- Chili powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Tomato paste
- Worcestershire sauce.
Each bite is sweet and tangy with a little heat.
How to Make Ahead
If making ahead of time, let the chicken cool before storing it.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Dice the onion and bell pepper into small evenly sized pieces. They will be easier to incorporate into the mixture.
- If you are sensitive to spicy foods, you can reduce the amount of chili powder.
More Easy Chicken Sandwiches
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- The Best Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe
- Juicy Skillet Chicken Burgers Recipe
- BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
- Chicken Shawarma Wrap
Chicken Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 onion diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/2 tablespoon mustard
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once heated, add the ground chicken and salt to the pan, browning the chicken.
- Stir in the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and cook for a couple minutes until softened. Then, stir in the chili powder, ketchup, mustard, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and water.
- Cover the pan, turn the heat down to low, and simmer for 10 minutes. Give the mixture a stir and add in more water if needed. Season with salt to taste.
- Serve the meat on buns with slaw and/or pickles or keep it classic without toppings.
Notes
- Dice the onion and bell pepper into small evenly sized pieces. They will be easier to incorporate into the mixture.
- If you are sensitive to spicy foods, you can reduce the amount of chili powder.
- If making ahead of time, let the chicken cool before storing it.
Douglas Ochsner says
As to me and my Mom, we weren’t enthused with it. Too much tomato taste drowned out the chicken. I almost wonder if chicken broth should be used instead of water.
Becky Hardin says
I am sorry this wasn’t to your taste, definitely adjust to your preference!
Tyler Hutche s says
To me this recipe was perfect. The only thing I did because I love garlic is I added some garlic powder, and just a tad more like a splash extra of Worcestershire sauce. Otherwise it was great, fresh tasting, and I had no issue with tasting the chicken, bit this was so much better than canned sloppy joe sauce. The bell peppers added a nice texture too.
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Tyler!
Jane says
Love this recipe. Will never buy sloppy joe sauce again! Will probably never even make one with beef again – this is THE BEST.
Daniel says
I thought this was a fabulous chix sloppy Joe recipe. My wife and I really enjoyed it and will continue to use it. I added some smoked black pepper and a lil cayenne to heat it up a bit. This was my first time making this, so the only thing I will change is cut the tomato paste down to 3 Tbsp, as it can be a bit overwhelming. Anyways, I appreciate the post, it was great!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Daniel!
Maureen F says
We can’t eat red meat because of allergies so I am searching for good ground chicken recipes to replace ground beef. These chicken sloppy joes are delicious!
Becky Hardin says
So glad you enjoyed them!
Glenda Henry says
I loved making this recipe, quick and easy! I didn’t have chili powder, so I used a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and a couple teaspoons Frank’s Red Hot sauce. Just the right kick! Delicious!!
Becky Hardin says
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing, Glenda!
LaDonna says
It IS the BEST Fried Chicken Sandwich !
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for stopping by, LaDonna!