Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes Creamy Cheese Sauce (Printable)
Spicy Cajun chicken meets rich cheddar sauce on toasted buns for a comforting Southern-inspired meal.
# What You Need:
→ For the Cajun Chicken
01 - 1 lb ground chicken
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 small onion, finely diced
04 - 1 small green bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 3/4 cup tomato sauce
12 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
13 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
→ For the Creamy Cheese Sauce
14 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
15 - 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
16 - 3/4 cup milk
17 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
18 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
19 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ For Serving
20 - 4 soft brioche or hamburger buns, split and lightly toasted
21 - Sliced green onions or chopped parsley for garnish
# How-To:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper and sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add ground chicken, breaking it apart with a spatula, and cook until no longer pink. Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper, then stir well. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce, mixing thoroughly. Simmer uncovered for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
02 - While the chicken simmers, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add milk, whisking constantly, until smooth. Cook until slightly thickened for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
03 - Spoon a generous portion of Cajun chicken mixture onto each toasted bun bottom. Drizzle with creamy cheese sauce and sprinkle with green onions or parsley if desired. Cap with bun tops and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The combination of Cajun spices and rich cheddar sauce creates layers of flavor that make regular sloppy joes seem boring
- Everything comes together in under 40 minutes but tastes like you spent all day developing the flavors
02 -
- Letting the chicken mixture simmer uncovered is crucial because you want that sauce to reduce and thicken
- Remove the cheese sauce from heat before adding cheese or it might separate and get grainy
03 -
- Pepper Jack cheese in the sauce adds another layer of heat if you really love spice
- A splash of hot sauce in the cheese mixture takes it over the top