Name: Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound ground chicken; 1 medium onion (, diced); 2 celery stalks (, diced); 4 cloves garlic (, minced); 8 ounce can tomato sauce; 1/2 cup buffalo sauce; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 4 toasted hamburger buns; 1/4 cup ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing; 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles (, optional)

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 the cook, since dinner is ready in just 15 minutes!

A buffalo chicken sloppy joe sandwich on a plate

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 on the classic and we love these ones, too! 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.

Ready in 15 minutes, these make a quick weeknight dinner or weekend lunch. But, this is also a recipe to consider for graduation parties and family gatherings, as the chicken mixture can be prepared in advance and it’s easy to double or triple the recipe.

Close up of a buffalo chicken sloppy joe with blue cheese dressing

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Sloppy Joes

My family never complains when I make this easy ground chicken recipe. Here are a few reasons why.

Quick and easy. From start to finish, it takes just 15 minutes to prepare these buffalo chicken sloppy joe sandwiches!
Bursting with flavor. The sauce on these sandwiches is the perfect mix of a classic sloppy joe tomato-based sauce and spicy buffalo sauce.
Affordable. With just a handful of common ingredients, these sandwiches are very inexpensive to make.
Easy to double the recipe. Need to feed a crowd? Just double the recipe. (This is especially ideal for hungry teenagers!)

Ingredients Needed

To make this simple ground chicken recipe, you’ll need just a few ingredients and seasonings, plus your preferred dressing and burger buns.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

Olive oil – For cooking the chicken and veggies.
Ground chicken – Mimicking the flavors of buffalo chicken, these sloppy joes use ground chicken instead of ground beef for a lean, protein-packed alternative.
Celery – Adds a bit of textural crunch to the mixture.
Onion & garlic – For added flavor and aromatics.
Tomato sauce – The base of any sloppy joe sauce.
Buffalo wing sauce – I used Frank’s brand. Make sure to use buffalo wing sauce, not hot sauce.
Brown sugar – Sweetens the mixture just a tad and gives balance to the spicy buffalo sauce.
Salt & pepper – For flavor.
Hamburger buns – I like to toast them before assembling the sandwiches.
Blue cheese dressing – If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, you can use ranch dressing instead.
Blue cheese crumbles – An optional topping if you love blue cheese!

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

These easy chicken sloppy joe sandwiches are ready in just 15 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights or weekend lunches.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

Cook the chicken. Add the ground chicken, onion, and celery to a skillet preheated with olive oil. Saute, breaking the chicken into crumbles until the chicken is cooked and the veggies are tender. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant.
Add the sauce ingredients. Stir in the tomato sauce, buffalo sauce, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for several minutes 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!

Recipe Tips & Variations

Here are a few tips for making the best buffalo chicken sloppy joes, along with some variations.

Try a different protein. You can make this up with ground turkey, if desired. Once you add the sauce, you likely won’t be able to tell if it’s chicken or turkey!
Make sure to use wing sauce, not hot sauce. You want to use Frank’s premade buffalo wing sauce, not Frank’s hot sauce. The same goes for any other brand.
Spice it up. If you want the mixture spicier, add in some red pepper flakes. As is, this recipe definitely has a kick but the tomato sauce and brown sugar helps keep it mild.

Overhead view of a buffalo chicken sloppy joe

Video: Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes

What to Serve with Sloppy Joes

We like to serve homemade sloppy joes with our favorite sandwich sides for a quick and easy lunch. A few great pairing ideas include our KFC Coleslaw, Macaroni Salad, or Pea Salad. If you’re in a rush, some potato chips always do the trick, too.

How to Store & Reheat Leftovers

Once assembled, the sloppy joe sandwiches should be enjoyed immediately, as the bread will become soggy. But, you can definitely store the chicken mixture.

Fridge. Store leftover buffalo chicken sloppy joe mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat. Reheat the chicken in the microwave or on the stovetop until warmed through, then assemble the sandwich and enjoy!
Freeze. 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.

More Easy Chicken Recipes:

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!