Description
A quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring tender ground chicken spiced with Cajun seasoning, served on toasted buns. Perfectly balanced with a spicy kick and family-friendly versatility.
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground chicken (93% lean preferred)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced (about 150g / 5.3 oz)
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced (about 120g / 4.2 oz) (optional but recommended)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (store-bought or homemade blend of paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, black pepper)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup ketchup (120ml / 4 fl oz)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth (120ml / 4 fl oz), low-sodium preferred
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 6 hamburger buns (toasted or plain, brioche recommended)
Instructions
- Dice the onion and green bell pepper into small, even pieces. Mince the garlic cloves.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until softened and the onion becomes translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir often to prevent browning.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the ground chicken to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning over the meat and stir well.
- Cook the chicken until it loses its pink color and starts browning in spots, about 6-8 minutes, maintaining medium heat to keep it tender.
- Stir in the tomato paste, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken broth. Mix thoroughly and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Let the sauce cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and coating the chicken. If desired, stir in hot sauce for extra heat.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash more broth; if too thin, simmer a bit longer.
- Toast the hamburger buns until golden and slightly crispy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Spoon a generous amount of the Cajun chicken mixture onto each bun and serve immediately.
Notes
[‘Use medium heat when browning chicken to avoid drying it out.’, ‘Toast buns every time to prevent sogginess and add texture.’, ‘Adjust Cajun seasoning and hot sauce to control spice level for family preferences.’, ‘Leftover filling stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days and freezes for up to 3 months.’, ‘Reheat gently with a splash of broth to loosen sauce if needed.’, ‘Substitute ground turkey or beef if desired; adjust seasoning accordingly.’, ‘For a creamy twist, stir in ¼ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt off heat before serving.’, ‘For gluten-free, use gluten-free buns or serve over greens or zucchini noodles.’, ‘Cheese can be added by stirring in shredded cheddar or pepper jack before serving.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American, Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sloppy joe sandwic
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 470
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: Cajun chicken, sloppy joes, ground chicken recipe, quick dinner, spicy chicken sandwich, weeknight meal, family-friendly, easy recipe