Ground chicken sloppy Joes are a great alternative to the classic beef sloppy Joe! These chicken sloppy Joes are just as satisfying and full of tangy and sweet flavor.
If you're tired of ground beef, or you happen to have a package of ground chicken sitting in the fridge that you don't know what to do with, this recipe for ground chicken sloppy Joes is just what you need!
The ground chicken lightens up this dish a bit, but it's still packed with that tangy and sweet flavor we all love and expect from a delicious sloppy Joe. And, you only need a few simple ingredients.
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Recipe ingredients
Ingredient notes
- Ground chicken: I like to use about 92% lean ground chicken, rather than the super lean 99%. It gives the sloppy Joes more flavor and has a more tender texture. But, if you want to use 99% lean chicken go ahead, the recipe will still work great!
- Onion: a sweet onion gives a nice mellow, sweet (of course!) onion flavor that works really well in sloppy Joes. But if you don't have one, you can easily substitute a yellow onion.
Step by step photos
Step 1
Start browning the ground chicken in the pan. Then, add the diced onion and cook until the chicken is no longer pink and the onion is translucent.
Pro tip
Break it up!
As the chicken cooks, take your time breaking the ground chicken up very well with your spatula or wooden spoon. Breaking the chicken up into very small pieces creates more surface area for the sauce to cling to. This will give you the most moist and tender chicken sloppy Joes!
Step 2
Add the ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, water, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine.
Step 3
Simmer the sloppy Joe mixture until it's nice and thick.
Step 4
Serve on buns and enjoy!
Tips and tricks
- If you don't have ground chicken, you can make this recipe with ground turkey or pork.
- This recipe will serve between 4 - 6, depending on how big you want to make the sandwiches. For example, I can usually get 2 adult servings and 3 child servings out of one recipe.
- Feel free to adjust the flavors to suit your own tastes. If the sloppy Joes taste a bit too sweet, you can add in some more mustard or a splash of vinegar. If you want the sauce to be a bit richer, you can add in more ketchup and/or simmer for a bit longer to reduce the sauce.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can make the sloppy Joe filling 2 - 3 days ahead of time. But, to keep the buns fresh, you need to assemble the sloppy Joes right before serving.
To serve the sloppy Joes later, just let the filling cool after cooking. Then store it in a covered container in the fridge. When it's time to serve, you can reheat it in a pan set over medium-low heat. If needed, add in an additional splash of water to rehydrate the sauce.
Chicken sloppy Joes would taste great with a green salad and/or a side of veggies. Plus, a handful of chips or french fries of course! If you're looking for easy veggie sides to pair with the sloppy Joes, try my recipes for air fryer green beans, creamy tomato cucumber salad, or lemon herb asparagus.
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Print📖 Recipe
Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes
Ground chicken never tasted so good! You can make this delicious and easy ground chicken sloppy Joe recipe in only about 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Dairy-Free
Ingredients
- 16 ounces (454 g) ground chicken (92% lean preferred - note 1)
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 medium sweet (or yellow) onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup (204 g) ketchup
- ½ cup (118 ml) water
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika (can substitute regular or chili powder)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 - 6 hamburger buns (note 2)
Instructions
- Heat the 1 tablespoon oil in a medium (11 - 12 inch diameter) skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the ground chicken. Break the chicken up into very small chunks with a wooden spoon while it starts to brown, about 2 - 3 minutes.
- Add the finely diced onion. Stir and continue to cook for an additional 4 - 5 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink and the onion is translucent. Season the chicken and onion with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, yellow mustard, water, and smoked paprika. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer. When simmering, turn the heat down to medium-low or low, to maintain the simmer. Let the sloppy Joe mixture cook for 4 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened to your liking. Taste the mixture and season with more salt and pepper if needed.
- Optional: while the sloppy Joe mixture is simmering, toast the buns in a toaster oven or dry skillet.
- Divide the sloppy Joe mixture between the buns and serve immediately.
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with 92% lean chicken and 99% lean chicken. The recipe will work with both, but the 92% lean chicken was more flavorful and tender, so that is my preferred choice for this recipe!
- This recipe will serve 4 - 6, depending on how much sloppy Joe filling you add to each bun.
Storage and reheating:
- After cooling to room temperature, store any leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To freeze, transfer the cooled sloppy Joe mixture to an airtight freezer bag and freeze for 2 - 3 months.
- To reheat, simmer the sloppy Joe mixture in a small saucepan until hot. Or, microwave on high in a microwave-safe container, covered with a paper towel to catch any spatter.
The nutrition information below is an estimate only. The nutrition counts of your dish will vary based on the brands and exact amounts of ingredients used. This information was provided by an online nutrition calculator, and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, health, or nutritional advice. See our full nutrition disclosure policy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼ recipe
- Calories: 309
- Sugar: 9.6 g
- Sodium: 764 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1.6 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
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