Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
Updated
Updated
Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes are a tasty, easy twist on the classic sandwich. With great flavor and just the right amount of heat, this easy ground chicken recipe makes everyone happy—including me, since dinner is ready in just 15 minutes!
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Quick & Easy Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
When it comes to quick and easy meals, sloppy joes are always on stand-by at my house. There’s just something about the messy sandwich paired with a side or two that makes everyone happy, whether it’s classic sloppy joes or something a bit different, like Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes.
These Buffalo chicken sloppy joes are my latest variation, and I love them! Ground beef is swapped for ground chicken, and the sauce is simplified, made with tomato sauce, brown sugar, and Buffalo sauce. You still get some of the classic flavors, but the focus is definitely on the Buffalo sauce here, so it has a slight kick. If you want the mixture spicier, you can add red pepper flakes.
Ready in 15 minutes, these make a quick weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. But I also make these sloppy joes for parties and family gatherings, as the chicken mixture can be prepared in advance, and it’s easy to double or triple the recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb. ground chicken, ground turkey also works
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- ½ cup Buffalo sauce, use Buffalo wing sauce, not hot sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 4 toasted hamburger buns
- ¼ cup ranch dressing , or use blue cheese
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles, optional
Instructions
- Warm olive oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet. Swirl to coat and once shimmering, add the ground chicken, onion, and celery.
- Sauté, breaking up the chicken into tiny crumbles until completely cooked through and the veggies are tender, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, buffalo sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer for 3 to 5 minutes to thicken.
- Place the sloppy joe mixture onto the buns. Top with some dressing and blue cheese crumbles.
- Serve immediately with your favorite sandwich sides and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
Did you make this? Leave a rating below!How to Make Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes Step by Step
Cook the chicken: Add 1 lb. ground chicken, 1 onion, and 2 celery stalks to a skillet preheated with 1 tbsp olive oil.
Sauté the chicken, breaking it into crumbles until it is cooked and the veggies are tender. This usually takes me about 5 minutes. Stir in 4 cloves of garlic and cook until fragrant.
Add the sauce ingredients: Stir in an 8-oz can of tomato sauce, ½ cup Buffalo sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp pepper, and simmer for a few minutes to allow it to thicken.
Assemble the sandwiches: Place the sloppy joe chicken mixture on the toasted buns. Top with your desired dressing and blue cheese crumbles, if desired, and enjoy!
How to Store
Once assembled, the sloppy joe sandwiches should be enjoyed immediately, as the bread will become soggy. But you can definitely store the chicken mixture.
Store leftover Buffalo chicken sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat the chicken in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through, then assemble the sandwich and enjoy!
Make sure the cooked chicken mixture is completely cooled, then add to freezer-safe containers (the entire batch or individual portions) and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
I like to serve homemade sloppy joes with my favorite sandwich sides for a quick and easy lunch. A crisp and tangy KFC coleslaw balances the richness, while a creamy macaroni salad adds comfort to the plate. For something fresh and slightly sweet, I love a classic pea salad. And if I’m really in a rush, a simple handful of potato chips always does the trick, too.
Kids loved it! I used leftover turkey and shredded it.
This recipe is simple and quick. Trust the process!