This Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes recipe puts a lighter spin on the classic sandwich but keeps all the saucy goodness. Lean ground chicken simmers in a homemade sweet tomato barbecue sauce that feels comforting, familiar, and hard to resist.
You can make this easy meal from scratch with pantry staples, and it comes together quickly. It tastes like pure nostalgia, and the kid in you will love it!
Most Sloppy Joe recipes use ground beef, but this one is a lighter, healthier option.
This is one of my go-to recipes for an easy weeknight dinner, and I love that it's a one-pan meal, because the less mess to clean up, the better!
Try these recipes next: Inside-Out Egg Rolls in a Bowl, which can be made with ground chicken or turkey; Lemon Chicken Orzo; or my Easy Cheeseburger Bowls (which take less than 30-minutes to make).
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Ingredients
Here's a quick look at the ingredients you'll need to make this easy recipe for healthy Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes.
Ingredient Notes
- Dark soy sauce is a type of soy sauce that is thicker and darker than regular soy sauce. It's commonly used in Asian cooking, especially Chinese cuisine, and it is a great way to add a beautiful, rich, dark color and a touch of sweetness to your dish.
- Brioche buns are sweeter and more tender than the typical hamburger buns you will find. This type of bun complements the slight sweetness of the sloppy joe filling.
See the recipe card below for all the ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions
- Ground chicken: substitute with ground turkey for a mild flavor comparable to chicken.
- Monterey Jack: mild or strong cheddar cheese can be swapped for the Monterey Jack.
- Garlic: 1 teaspoon of garlic powder can be substituted for fresh garlic.
Variations
- Try another type of ground meat: use ground beef or ground pork for a richer, heartier-tasting dish.
- You don't have carrots or celery: use green bell peppers instead or any other color bell pepper.
- For extra sweetness: add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the sloppy joe sauce.
- For a bit of tang and crunch: sliced dill pickles in my sloppy joe as a must!
How to Make Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
Step-by-step-Instructions
This chicken sloppy joe recipe tastes great and is a good source of lean protein. We make it often as one of our weeknight meals.
Step 1: Sauté aromatics. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, carrot, celery, and onions, and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.
Step 2: Add chicken. Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Sauté until the meat is cooked through and starting to brown and most of the liquid has evaporated. This should take 6-8 minutes.
Step 3: Add garlic. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Step 4: Add seasoning. Add the smoked paprika and the remaining ingredients through to the diced tomatoes. Simmer with the lid ajar for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on the mixture, as you want the chicken mixture to be saucy and not dried out.
Step 5: Toast the buns. Toast the buns in the toaster (or bake on the middle rack of a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for 5 minutes or so).
Step 6: Assemble and serve. On the bottom half of each toasted bun, lay a slice of cheese and spoon a generous amount of the chicken mixture over the cheese. Serve with coleslaw, a simple green salad, homemade French fries, or potato chips. Enjoy.
What to serve with ground chicken sloppy joes?
- A simple green salad
- Homemade coleslaw
- Potato chips or French fries
Secret for Success
- Sauté the meat until it starts to brown slightly. The caramelization of the sugars in the meat adds extra flavor to the dish.
Storage
Store the ground chicken mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Make Ahead
This is a great recipe to make ahead of time because it reheats beautifully in the microwave or gently over the stovetop.
FAQ
Yes absolutely!
Yes, and you can even triple it if you like. Freeze it in individual portions to help with meal preparation and busy weeknights.
Absolutely! The flavors actually improve after a day in the fridge.
Ground chicken absorbs flavor, so cooking it low and slow in the sauce will keep it nice and tender.
I ♥️ Hearing from You
If you enjoy this recipe, let me know by leaving a comment. I love knowing about any fun tweaks or clever swaps you make.
-Donna
Recipe
Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
Equipment
- 12-inch skillet
- wooden spoon
- chef's knife
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup carrot, diced
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 pound lean ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- ¼ cup ketchup, I love Heinz ketchup
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, I love the brand Cirio
- 6 slices Monterey Jack cheese
- 6 brioche-style buns, or hamburger buns
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, carrot, celery, and onions, and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent.1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, ½ cup carrot, ½ cup celery, ½ cup onion
- Add chicken. Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon. Sauté until the meat is cooked through and starting to brown and most of the liquid has evaporated. This should take 6-8 minutes.1 pound lean ground chicken
- Add garlic. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.1 tablespoon garlic
- Add seasoning. Add the smoked paprika and the remaining ingredients through to the diced tomatoes. Simmer with the lid ajar for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on the mixture, as you want the chicken mixture to be saucy and not dried out.1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- Toast the buns. Toast the buns in the toaster (or bake on the middle rack of a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for 5 minutes or so).6 brioche-style buns
- Assemble and serve. On the bottom half of each toasted bun, lay a slice of cheese and spoon a generous amount of the chicken mixture over the cheese. Serve with coleslaw, a simple green salad, homemade French fries, or potato chips. Enjoy.6 slices Monterey Jack cheese
Notes
Nutrition
I'm Donna, a home cook living near Montréal, Canada. I have decades of experience puttering in the kitchen, a love of cookbooks, and an unreasonable number of enameled pots. Keep it simple, learn as you go, and enjoy every bite!
Julie says
Very good and very sloppy!! Kids loved that part too! Love the added crunch with the pickle in the middle. Makes lots of leftovers- I love that part too!
Donna Poirier says
Thank you Julie, I’m happy to know you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks for your review 🙂
Francois says
One of my favourites ! And it’s easy to just reheat leftovers !
Donna Poirier says
Thank you Francois 🙂
Frank says
These Sloppy Joes are to die for !!!
Donna Poirier says
Thank you 😊