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BBQ Chicken Sloppy

BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes

These BBQ Chicken Sloppy Joes are a fun, flavorful twist on a comfort food favorite! Juicy ground chicken simmers in smoky BBQ sauce with onions, peppers, and a hint of spice, then gets topped with creamy coleslaw for the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and crunchy. A quick and satisfying dinner that's sure to please everyone at the table!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 sandwiches
Course: Dinner, Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine: American, BBQ
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the BBQ Chicken Filling
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil, divided
  • 1 medium yellow onion finely chopped
  • kosher salt to taste
  • 0.5 piece red bell pepper finely chopped, seeds and ribs removed
  • 1 piece jalapeño finely chopped, remove seeds for milder flavor
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1.25 cups canned crushed tomatoes
  • 1.5 teaspoons chili powder
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 0.5 cup Kansas City–style BBQ sauce
For the Coleslaw
  • 0.5 head green or purple cabbage shredded
  • 1 medium carrot peeled and grated
  • 1 piece scallion thinly sliced
  • 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 0.33 cup fresh cilantro coarsely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 0.75 teaspoon kosher salt
For Serving
  • 4 pieces brioche or white hamburger buns toasted
  • dill pickle slices for garnish

Method
 

  1. Step 1 – Build the Flavor Base: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and a pinch of salt, cooking 5–6 minutes until translucent. Stir in red bell pepper and jalapeño; cook another 4–5 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  2. Step 2 – Cook the Chicken: Push veggies to the side, add remaining oil, and crumble in ground chicken. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
  3. Step 3 – Make the Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, chili powder, and black pepper. Simmer 3–4 minutes until thickened slightly, then add BBQ sauce. Cook 5 more minutes until glossy and saucy.
  4. Step 4 – Toss the Slaw: In a mixing bowl, combine cabbage, carrot, scallion, mayonnaise, cilantro, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Toss until evenly coated and creamy.
  5. Step 5 – Assemble the Sandwiches: Spoon BBQ chicken mixture onto toasted buns, top with slaw, and add dill pickle slices. Close and enjoy immediately!

Notes

For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free BBQ sauce and buns or serve over rice. Freeze the cooked chicken mixture (without slaw) for up to 2 months. If your sauce is too thin, simmer longer or add 1 tablespoon tomato paste. For make-ahead prep, both chicken and slaw can be prepared several hours early. To make it in a slow cooker, brown chicken and veggies first, then cook on low for 2–3 hours with sauce.