These Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes will take you out of a dinner rut and give a classic comfort food dish a spicy makeover. Tender, juicy ground chicken is simmered in a tangy Buffalo sauce for an easy slow cooker dinner with all the flavor of your favorite Buffalo wings piled high on a soft bun.
When I was growing up, my Mom made classic Sloppy Joes all the time. And let’s face it, while they are easy and reliable, they are also pretty boring. So, I rarely made them for my family until I discovered this fiery twist on the basic recipe, which is not boring at all!
This recipe is all about ease and explosive flavor. I like to make it in the slow cooker, so it simmers away and is ready whenever I serve dinner.
It’s perfect for busy weeknights, weekend game day parties, or simply when craving something different. So skip the ordinary and get ready to experience sloppy joes with a spicy kick!
I’m spilling all the secrets to creating this flavor-packed favorite in this post. From the step-by-step directions to serving ideas, I’ve got you covered.
If you want more dinner ideas with Buffalo chicken flavor, I’ve got suggestions! Try Buffalo chicken zucchini boats, Buffalo chicken egg rolls, or Buffalo chicken chili.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Ground chicken
- Celery
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Tomato sauce
- Buffalo wing sauce: Make sure you get wing sauce, not straight Buffalo hot sauce! Or make my homemade Buffalo wing sauce.
- Honey: Brown sugar also works. You just need a little sweetness to cut the heat.
- Worcestershire sauce
- Scallions
- Buns
- Ranch dressing: Or blue cheese dressing, depending on where you stand in the ranch vs blue cheese debate!
🥣How to Make Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Grab a large skillet and add the ground chicken, celery, and onion. Cook on medium heat until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Add the mixture to your slow cooker along with the salt, pepper, tomato sauce, wing sauce, honey, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Stir it well, then cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Garnish those Sloppy Joes with a sprinkle of scallions for a pop of color and freshness. Serve it up on soft rolls with a generous drizzle of ranch dressing.
🍴Serving Ideas
For the traditionalists, a soft hamburger bun is your go-to. It’s classic and just waiting to hold that spicy, savory filling. If you are feeling fancy, swap out those regular buns for brioche.
Toss coleslaw on top of that Sloppy Joe filling to add some crunch. The creamy, crunchy slaw mingling with the spicy chicken is a match made in heaven. I like to pair this dish with my blue cheese coleslaw!
If you are eating low-carb, you can skip the bread. Serve the Sloppy Joe filling over cauliflower rice or in lettuce wraps. Add a side of crisp celery sticks and extra wing sauce for dipping. It’s a nod to the classic wing night but with a Sloppy Joe twist.
💭How to Store
Spoon any leftover cooled chicken mixture into an airtight container and put it in the fridge. It’ll keep for 3-4 days, making it the perfect grab-and-go option for lunches or a second dinner.
These Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes also freeze beautifully. Just make sure you’re using a freezer-safe container, and you can stash it away for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to revisit the meal, thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it on the stove or microwave.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- Make sure to brown that ground chicken. It’s not just about cooking it through; browning brings out a depth of flavor.
- You can always add more wing sauce when you serve the dish, but if you turn your Sloppy Joes into a five-alarm fire, it is tough to go back. So go easy on the wing sauce if your family doesn’t love it spicy. If you end up with Sloppy Joes that are too spicy, stir in some yogurt or sour cream to cool it down.
- If you are in a hurry, you can cook this on high for 2-3 hours.
- You can make this with ground turkey instead of chicken.
- Lastly, don’t skip the honey or brown sugar! They balance the acidity of the tomato sauce and the heat of the buffalo sauce, making a massive difference in the finished dish.
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Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joe Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground chicken
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 1 small onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving
- Scallions for garnish
- Hamburger buns
- Ranch dressing or Blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Add your ground chicken, celery, garlic and onion in a large skillet over medium heat.2 pounds ground chicken, 2 stalks celery, 1 small onion, 3 cloves garlic
- Cook until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Add this ground chicken mixture to your slow cooker. Then add the tomato sauce, buffalo wing sauce, honey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.8 ounce can tomato sauce, 1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Stir everything to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours.
- Garnish with scallions if desired.Scallions for garnish
- Serve on buns with ranch or blue cheese dressing.Hamburger buns, Ranch dressing or Blue cheese dressing
Notes
- Make sure you use a wing sauce, not just straight Buffalo hot sauce!
- Go easy on the wing sauce if your family doesn’t love it spicy. If you end up with Sloppy Joes that are too spicy, stir in some yogurt or sour cream to cool it down.
- You can substitute the honey for 2 tablespoons of brown sugar; you just need some sweetness.
- This recipe is also great with ground turkey.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
