Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes (Printer-Friendly)

Spicy Cajun-style chicken with peppers and savory sauce tucked in toasted buns. Easy, cozy, and crowd-pleasing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

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, finely diced
05 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

→ Protein

06 - 1 pound ground chicken (preferably thigh meat, breast acceptable)

→ Seasonings and Sauce

07 - 1 to 1.5 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, to taste
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
10 - 1/2 cup 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 chicken stock or water
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
16 - Pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

→ To Serve

17 - 4 soft sandwich buns, toasted
18 - Pickle slices or sliced jalapeños, optional

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil or butter and allow to shimmer. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally.
02 - Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds, stirring to prevent burning.
03 - Push the vegetables to the sides of the skillet. Add ground chicken to the center and break it up with a spoon. Cook 5 to 6 minutes until no longer pink, stirring frequently to combine with the vegetables.
04 - Sprinkle Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika over the chicken and vegetables. Stir well and cook for 1 minute to toast the spices.
05 - Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to remove raw flavor.
06 - Add tomato sauce, brown sugar or honey, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer.
07 - Reduce heat to low and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring periodically, until the mixture is thickened and glossy. Adjust with extra water if needed for preferred consistency.
08 - Taste and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, cayenne, and a small splash of vinegar or lemon juice, if needed, to enhance brightness.
09 - Warm buns on a dry skillet or under a broiler until lightly toasted.
10 - Spoon a generous portion of the hot filling onto each toasted bun. Top as desired with pickles or jalapeños. Serve immediately.

# Extra Suggestions:

01 - Ground chicken dries out quickly; for added moisture and sheen, stir in 1 teaspoon butter at the end of cooking if meat appears lean.
02 - Carefully taste Cajun seasoning before adding the full amount, as blends vary in saltiness and heat.
03 - Allowing vegetables to soften fully before adding chicken creates a sweet, savory flavor base crucial to the sauce.
04 - Cooking tomato paste briefly before adding liquids ensures a rounded, non-metallic sauce.

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