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BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes are a quick easy 30-minute family dinner and delicious twist on classic sloppy joes. Made with ground chicken, barbecue sauce, tender onions, and simple seasonings.
BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes Recipe
If you love sloppy joes but want to try something a little different, these BBQ chicken sloppy joes are a must-make for family dinner. They combine juicy ground chicken with sweet and tangy barbecue sauce to create a flavorful sandwich.
These sloppy joes are messy in the best way possible! Serve on toasted hamburger buns and it’s sure to become a family favorite.
One of the best things about this BBQ chicken sloppy joes recipe is how quickly it comes together. With simple ingredients and about 30 minutes from start to finish, you can have a hearty, satisfying meal on the table without spending hours in the kitchen.
Serve them with crispy french fries or tater tots, potato wedges, coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, or corn on the cob for an easy meal everyone loves.
Why You’ll Love These BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Quick and Easy : This simple dinner is ready in about 30 minutes.
- Family-Friendly : The sweet and tangy barbecue sauce makes every bite delicious.
- Simple Ingredients : You only need a handful of everyday ingredients to make it.
- Perfect For Busy Weeknights : The ground chicken filling comes together quickly in one skillet.
- Healthy Dinner Choice : Protein packed ground chicken is the base for this hearty and healthy meal.
- Easy To Customize : Add cheese, bacon jalapeños, coleslaw, or switch up the flavor of the BBQ sauce to make these sandwiches your own.
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Olive Oil : I use extra-virgin ‘light tasting’ olive oil
- Finely Diced Onion : Use a yellow onion or sweet onion
- Ground Chicken : The lean, flavorful protein that makes up the filling.
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Smoked Paprika : Adds a subtle smoky flavor that compliments the barbecue sauce.
- BBQ Sauce : Use your favorite barbecue sauce, any flavor, any spice level, whatever you love.
- Tomato Sauce : You will only use ¼ cup of the tomato sauce so there will be some left in the can
- Worcestershire Sauce : Brings a rich, savory depth to the sauce.
- Yellow Mustard
- Hamburger Buns : Soft hamburger buns, potato buns, or brioche buns are perfect for serving
How To Make BBQ Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes (Printable Recipe Card)
In a large skillet, cover medium-high heat, add the olive oil and finely diced onion. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened.
Add the ground chicken, kosher salt, and black pepper into the skillet. Cook and crumble the ground chicken until it’s no longer pink; about 6 to 7 minutes. Drain or soak up any excess fat or liquid in the skillet.
Sprinkle the garlic powder and smoked paprika over the chicken. Stir and cook for 30 seconds to bring out the flavor of the seasonings.
Stir in the barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling is thick, glossy, and saucy enough to spoon onto a bun without running off.
Serve the BBQ chicken sloppy joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns of choice. Enjoy!
How To Store Leftover BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Room Temperature : Do not leave the cooked chicken filling at room temperature for more than 1 to 2 hours. If you’re serving these at a party or gathering, place the ground chicken filling inside a slow cooker on the warm setting.
- Fridge : Store the BBQ chicken filling separately from the buns in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 to 4 days. Reheat the filling in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened.
- Freezer : Allow the filling to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or zip top bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently in a skillet before serving.
- Make-Ahead Instructions : You can cook the filling 1 to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it. Reheat over medium-low heat, adding a small splash of water or broth if the sauce has thickened too much in the refrigerator. Toast and fill the buns just before serving so they do not become soggy.
Variations and Topping Ideas
- BBQ Cheddar Chicken Sloppy Joes : Top each sandwich with a shredded cheddar cheese or a slice of pepper jack cheese. Once I toast the buns, I like to add a slice of cheese onto one side of each bun, and broil it until melted.
- Bacon BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes : Add crispy bacon strips to the sloppy joe sandwiches for a smoky, savory crunch.
- Spicy BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes : Use spicy barbecue sauce and add sliced jalapeños onto the sandwiches when serving.
- Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes : Use Hawaiian barbecue sauce or add a 8 ounce can of well drained crushed pineapple.
- BBQ Ranch Chicken Sloppy Joes : Drizzle ranch dressing over the filling before serving.
- Low-Carb Option : Serve the ground chicken mixture in lettuce cups or over a baked potato instead of on buns.
Pro Tips From The Test Kitchen
- The finished sloppy joe filling should be thick, glossy but still have some sauce to it. If it looks a little loose, just keep simmering for another minute or two, to let it thicken up more before serving. My family actually prefers a more thick, not as saucy filling so I always simmer for a bit longer.
- Toasting the buns is optional but I highly recommend it. It adds structure and helps the bread hold up to the saucy chicken mixture. I place both halves of the buns onto a baking sheet, spread some butter onto each (or spray with coking spray) and then broil for a few minutes until toasted brown. You can also use a skillet pan or flat top griddle to toast the buns as well.
- Add a slice of cheese after toasting the buns and return the buns back to the oven to melt the cheese. My kids love this! Cheesy saucy sloppy joes ♥
- Barbecue sauces vary widely in sweetness and smokiness, so choose one you already enjoy. I love the Kinders brand so that is what I always use.
- Use hamburger buns, sweet Hawaiian buns, potato buns, brioche buns, or whatever bun you prefer. There are lots of options at the grocery store.
- Some side dish options for sloppy joes are; chips, fresh fruit, coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, roasted potatoes, baked beans, macaroni salad, pickle spears, corn on the cob, or frozen french fries or tater tots.
- I can get 5 or 6 sloppy joes from this recipe because my kids don’t love a thick filling in the buns. If you want heartier, filling loaded sloppy joes then you would probably only get 4 or 5 sandwiches.
More Sloppy Joe Recipes You’ll Love
- Taco Sloppy Joes
- Hawaiian Sloppy Joes
- Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
- French Onion Sloppy Joes
- Cheez Whiz Sloppy Joes
- Chili Cheese Sloppy Joes
- Chicken Alfredo Sloppy Joes
- Gumbo Soup Sloppy Joes
- BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes
- Frito Pie Sloppy Joes
BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes are a quick easy 30-minute family dinner and delicious twist on classic sloppy joes. Made with ground chicken, barbecue sauce, tender onions, and simple seasonings.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup finely diced yellow or sweet onion (about 1 small onion)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 5 hamburger buns or brioche buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cover medium-high heat, add the olive oil and finely diced onion. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened.1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup finely diced yellow or sweet onion
- Add the ground chicken, kosher salt, and black pepper into the skillet. Cook and crumble the ground chicken until it's no longer pink; about 6 to 7 minutes. Drain or soak up any excess fat or liquid in the skillet.1 pound ground chicken, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Sprinkle the garlic powder and smoked paprika over the chicken. Stir and cook for 30 seconds to bring out the flavor of the seasonings.½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Stir in the barbecue sauce, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and yellow mustard. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the filling is thick, glossy, and saucy enough to spoon onto a bun without running off.¾ cup BBQ sauce, ¼ cup tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- Serve the BBQ chicken sloppy joe mixture onto toasted hamburger buns of choice. Enjoy!5 hamburger buns or brioche buns
Notes
- The finished sloppy joe filling should be thick, glossy but still have some sauce to it. If it looks a little loose, just keep simmering for another minute or two, to let it thicken up more before serving. My family actually prefers a more thick, not as saucy filling so I always simmer for a bit longer.
- Toasting the buns is optional but I highly recommend it. It adds structure and helps the bread hold up to the saucy chicken mixture. I place both halves of the buns onto a baking sheet, spread some butter onto each (or spray with coking spray) and then broil for a few minutes until toasted brown. You can also use a skillet pan or flat top griddle to toast the buns as well.
- Add a slice of cheese after toasting the buns and return the buns back to the oven to melt the cheese. My kids love this! Cheesy saucy sloppy joes ♥
- Barbecue sauces vary widely in sweetness and smokiness, so choose one you already enjoy. I love the Kinders brand so that is what I always use.
- Use hamburger buns, sweet Hawaiian buns, potato buns, brioche buns, or whatever bun you prefer. There are lots of options at the grocery store.
- Some side dish options for sloppy joes are; chips, fresh fruit, coleslaw, potato salad, pasta salad, roasted potatoes, baked beans, macaroni salad, corn on the cob, or frozen french fries or tater tots.
- I can get 5 or 6 sloppy joes from this recipe because my kids don’t love a thick filling in the buns. If you want heartier, filling loaded sloppy joes then you would probably only get 4 or 5 sandwiches.
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