Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes (Printer-Friendly)

Ground chicken and Cajun spices meld in a peppery, saucy skillet filling served in soft toasted buns.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 celery ribs, diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 500 grams ground chicken (1.1 pounds), preferably thigh

→ Seasoning and Sauce

07 - 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, to taste
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
10 - 1/2 cup (120 ml) tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes
11 - 2 teaspoons brown sugar or honey
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon or yellow mustard
13 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce
14 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) chicken stock or water
15 - Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

→ For Serving

17 - 6 soft hamburger buns, toasted
18 - Pickles or sliced jalapeños, for garnish

# Steps to Make This:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add olive oil or butter. Sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery for 5 to 7 minutes until vegetables are soft and aromatic.
02 - Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Push vegetables to the side, add ground chicken to the center, and break up with a spoon. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until no longer pink.
03 - Sprinkle Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika over the mixture. Stir and cook 1 minute to bloom the spices.
04 - Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
05 - Pour in tomato sauce, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken stock or water. Stir until well combined.
06 - Reduce heat and let simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens to your preferred consistency. Add more water if needed.
07 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, cayenne, or a splash of vinegar or lemon for brightness if desired.
08 - Lightly toast buns. Spoon the hot chicken mixture onto the bottom half of each bun. Top with pickles or jalapeños if desired and cover with bun tops. Serve immediately.

# Additional Notes:

01 - Allow vegetables to fully soften during the initial sauté to develop a sweet, flavorful base.
02 - For a richer finish, stir in a teaspoon of butter before serving if chicken is very lean.
03 - Simmer sauce until it clings to the filling—adding a splash of water if it becomes too thick.

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