Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes

Some recipes just hit differently. This one? It’s a little messy, a little spicy, and ridiculously comforting — the kind of thing you make when life’s been a bit too hectic and you just want something good without fuss.

I first made these on a Wednesday evening when I got home from work tired, hungry, and honestly a little cranky. I had a pound of ground chicken in the fridge, a bell pepper that was almost too soft, and a few random spices on the shelf. Normally, I might have shrugged and grabbed takeout, but instead, I decided to throw it all together.

By the time the cheese melted into the creamy sauce and the Cajun spices filled the kitchen with that smoky, garlicky aroma, I realized I was grinning. Not because it looked perfect, but because it smelled and tasted exactly like comfort. The buns soak up all that creamy, cheesy, slightly spicy goodness in a way that makes you want to eat the whole thing in one bite. And yes, it’s messy. That’s part of it. Sauce drips, cheese stretches, and your fingers get sticky. But it’s worth it.

This is not a “polished” recipe. There are no Instagram-perfect swirls of sauce or impossibly neat layers. It’s real food, made from what you have, that warms your stomach and makes your day a little lighter.And the best part? It only takes about 25 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients

1 lb ground chicken

1 tbsp olive oil

½ onion, finely diced

1 bell pepper, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp Cajun seasoning

Salt and pepper, to taste

¼ cup chicken broth

¼ cup heavy cream

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

4 burger buns, toasted

Directions

1️⃣ Cook the veggies.Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another minute. Let your kitchen fill up with that garlicky, warm smell.

2️⃣ Add the chicken.
Toss in the ground chicken, breaking it up as it cooks. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir and let it brown for 5–7 minutes until it’s no longer pink.

3️⃣ Make it creamy.
Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. You’ll see it start to cling to the chicken — that’s the magic.

4️⃣ Melt the cheese.
Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until gooey and creamy. The cheese pulls everything together in the best way possible.

5️⃣ Assemble the sloppy joes.
Spoon the mixture onto toasted buns. Don’t worry about perfection sauce spilling over the side is part of the fun.

Timing & Details

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: ~500 kcal per sandwich

Recipe FAQs

1. Can I use turkey or beef instead of chicken?.
Ground turkey works well if you want something leaner. Beef makes it richer and slightly heartier — depends on what mood you’re in.

2. What if I don’t have Cajun seasoning?
You can make your own mix: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, a pinch of cayenne, and oregano. It doesn’t have to be exact — just enough to give it that smoky kick.

3. How can I make it less spicy?
Reduce the Cajun seasoning by half or leave out the cayenne. You’ll still get flavor without the heat.

4. Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! Make the filling in advance and store in the fridge. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, then spoon onto buns when ready.

5. What’s the best way to serve it?
Straight from the pan onto toasted buns, ideally with a side of pickles or coleslaw. Or over rice if you want a less messy option. Honestly, the point is comfort — eat it however makes you happiest.

Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes

Recipe by Salma Recipe

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• ½ onion, finely diced

• 1 bell pepper, finely diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• ¼ cup chicken broth

• ¼ cup heavy cream

• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

• ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 4 burger buns, toasted

Directions

• Cook the veggies.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until soft, about 3–4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for another minute. Let your kitchen fill up with that garlicky, warm smell.
• Add the chicken.
• Toss in the ground chicken, breaking it up as it cooks. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir and let it brown for 5–7 minutes until it’s no longer pink.
• Make it creamy.
• Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. You’ll see it start to cling to the chicken — that’s the magic.
• Melt the cheese.
• Stir in cheddar and mozzarella until gooey and creamy. The cheese pulls everything together in the best way possible.
• Assemble the sloppy joes.
• Spoon the mixture onto toasted buns. Don’t worry about perfection — sauce spilling over the side is part of the fun. Serve hot, grab a napkin, and enjoy.