Why You’ll Love This these Sweet & Smoky BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes
These BBQ chicken sloppy joes are basically the grown-up version of your childhood favorite, but with way more flavor and none of that mysterious canned sauce.
You get all that sweet, smoky barbecue goodness wrapped up in a sandwich that’s messy enough to be fun but refined enough that you won’t feel like you’re eating kid food.
Plus, they come together in one skillet in about 20 minutes, which means you can have dinner on the table faster than you can decide what to watch on Netflix.
Ingredients List
You only need six simple ingredients to whip up these crowd-pleasing BBQ chicken sloppy joes, and I bet you already have most of them hanging out in your kitchen right now.
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 lb lean ground chicken
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 4 hamburger buns
- lettuce
- cheddar cheese
A few healthy ingredient swaps to reflect upon:
- Ground chicken is naturally leaner than beef, giving you plenty of protein without all the extra fat
- You can easily swap in whole wheat buns for extra fiber, though let’s be truthful, sometimes regular buns just hit different
- The barbecue sauce does pack some sugar, but you’re only using 3/4 cup for the whole batch, so it’s not like you’re drowning everything in it
- Loading up on that lettuce gives you some vitamins and a nice crunch that balances out all the saucy goodness
Step by Step Directions
Making these BBQ chicken sloppy joes is as straightforward as browning some chicken with veggies and mixing in barbecue sauce for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and ground chicken.
- Cook while breaking up the chicken chunks with a wooden spoon until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is no longer pink.
- Stir in the barbecue sauce and heat through until everything is well combined and warmed.
- Line the hamburger buns with lettuce leaves.
- Spoon the BBQ chicken mixture onto the lettuce-lined buns.
- Top with cheddar cheese if desired and serve immediately.
For entertaining larger groups, consider transferring the finished mixture to a slow cooker warmer to keep it at the perfect serving temperature throughout your gathering.
Substitutions and Variations
Ground Meat Options
- Ground turkey works just as well if you can’t find ground chicken, and honestly, most people won’t even notice the difference.
- Lean ground beef makes this more like a traditional sloppy joe, though you’ll want to drain any excess fat.
- Ground pork adds a slightly richer flavor, but it can be a bit greasy so keep an eye on that.
Sauce Swaps
- Try different barbecue sauce flavors like honey bourbon, smoky chipotle, or tangy Carolina-style to completely change the atmosphere.
- Mix in a tablespoon of brown sugar if your barbecue sauce isn’t sweet enough for your taste.
- Add a splash of apple cider vinegar for extra tang, because sometimes store-bought sauce needs a little help.
Vegetable Mix-Ups
- Swap the green bell pepper for red or yellow peppers, or use a mix of all three if you’re feeling fancy.
- Diced celery adds a nice crunch and works especially well if you’re going for that classic sloppy joe texture.
- A minced jalapeño or two will give you some heat without overwhelming the kids.
Bun Alternatives
- Brioche buns are a game-changer if you want to feel a little bougie on a Tuesday night.
- Toast some thick slices of Texas toast for an open-faced version that requires a fork.
- Stuff the mixture into pita pockets or flour tortillas for a completely different handheld encounter.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
These BBQ chicken sloppy joes are pretty hearty on their own, but to be frank, nobody wants to eat a sandwich floating solo on a sad, empty plate.
- Classic coleslaw – The cool, creamy crunch is basically the perfect counterpoint to all that saucy warmth, and you can grab a bag of pre-shredded cabbage if you’re not feeling ambitious.
- Sweet potato fries – They’ve got that slight sweetness that plays really nicely with barbecue flavors, plus they feel a little more grown-up than regular fries.
- Corn on the cob – Nothing says summer barbecue atmosphere quite like buttered corn, and you can even grill it if you want to commit to the theme.
- Baked beans – Sure, it’s beans with barbecue, but sometimes doubling down on a good thing is exactly the right move.
- Pickle spears – The sharp, briny bite cuts through all that rich sauce and gives your taste buds a little wake-up call between bites.
- Simple green salad – Sometimes you just need something fresh and light to balance out the indulgence, and a basic salad with vinaigrette does the trick without any fuss.
- Watermelon wedges – Fresh fruit feels almost necessary after something this saucy, and watermelon has that clean, sweet finish that just works.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
Let me share some tricks that’ll help you nail these sloppy joes every single time.
- Don’t rush the browning – Ground chicken can go from perfectly cooked to rubbery faster than you can say “dinner disaster,” so keep the heat at medium and let it take its sweet time getting golden.
- Drain wisely – If your chicken releases a lot of liquid (and it probably will), drain most of it but leave just a tablespoon or two behind for extra flavor.
- Taste your barbecue sauce first – Some sauces are crazy salty or super sweet, so knowing what you’re working with helps you adjust seasoning before you’ve committed to the whole batch.
- Let it simmer a few extra minutes – After you add the sauce, give everything a chance to get acquainted, letting those flavors meld together instead of just heating and serving immediately.
- Toast those buns – A quick toast in a dry skillet or under the broiler keeps your bun from turning into a soggy mess under all that saucy goodness.
- Keep extras warm in a slow cooker – If you’re feeding a crowd or want leftovers that don’t get weird and congealed, transfer everything to a slow cooker on warm.
- Add vegetables gradually – Toss the onions in first since they take longer to soften, then add the peppers a few minutes later so everything finishes at the same time.
Nutritional Facts
These BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes pack plenty of protein while keeping things relatively light compared to traditional beef versions.
Per serving (1 sandwich):
- Calories: 380-420 (depending on bun and cheese)
- Protein: 28-30 grams
- Carbohydrates: 35-40 grams
- Fat: 12-15 grams
- Saturated Fat: 4-6 grams
- Fiber: 3-4 grams
- Sugar: 12-18 grams (mostly from barbecue sauce)
- Sodium: 800-1,200 mg (varies notably by sauce brand)
- Cholesterol: 70-85 mg
Key nutritional highlights:
- Lean protein powerhouse – Ground chicken provides complete protein with less saturated fat than ground beef
- Vegetable boost – Onions and bell peppers add fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants
- Lower calorie option – Roughly 100-150 fewer calories than traditional beef sloppy joes
- Iron and B-vitamins – Chicken supplies essential B-vitamins, especially niacin and B6
- Watch the sodium – Barbecue sauce can pack a salty punch, so choose lower-sodium varieties if you’re watching intake
- Customizable nutrition – Swap whole wheat buns for extra fiber or use reduced-sugar barbecue sauce to cut carbs
Fun “Did You Know?”
I find it fascinating that ground chicken wasn’t commonly used in American cooking until the 1980s.
Before then, most sloppy joes were made with beef or pork.
Today’s BBQ chicken version provides a lighter twist on the classic comfort food while maintaining that same satisfying, messy eating encounter that made Joe’s original sandwich famous decades ago.
