Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes with Cheese Sauce

5 from 1 vote

These Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes are bold, saucy, and packed with smoky Cajun flavor. Juicy ground chicken is simmered in a rich tomato-based sauce, then piled onto buttery brioche buns and finished with a smooth, homemade cheddar cheese sauce.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Cajun

Keyword: cajun sloppy joes, cheese sauce sloppy joe, spicy sloppy joe

Servings: servings

Ingredients

1 lb ground chicken
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon tomato paste
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
½ cup tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon brown sugar optional
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
8 oz sharp cheddar cheese freshly shredded
¼ teaspoon paprika
Freshly ground black pepper
4 –6 brioche hamburger buns split
Softened butter for toasting

Instructions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground chicken and cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until no longer pink and lightly golden.
Add the chopped onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and Cajun seasoning and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in tomato paste until the chicken is well coated. Add chicken broth, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes until thick. Season with salt and optional brown sugar.
In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and cook until thickened. Reduce heat and stir in cheddar cheese and paprika until smooth.
Butter the buns and toast until golden. Spoon Cajun chicken onto the buns, drizzle with warm cheese sauce, sprinkle with black pepper, and serve immediately.

Notes

Simmer the chicken uncovered to control thickness and avoid a watery filling
Keep cheese sauce over low heat to prevent graininess
Ground turkey can be substituted with no change to cook time
Store leftover chicken and cheese sauce separately for best texture

Nutrition