This chicken gumbo sloppy joes recipe – without soup is a great weeknight meal idea. Unlike traditional sloppy joes this recipe eliminates the processed can soup and uses more fresh veggies. Onion, garlic, celery, and green pepper get sautéed with several spices for a flavorful base. Ground chicken is lean and a great source of protein in this recipe. Ketchup brings everything together and creates a “sauce”. Serve on toasted buns such as brioche or pretzel buns. This makes a great family meal with some kettle chips and a side salad.
Serve on a toasted brioche bun, fresh hamburger buns, or a pretzel bun! When serving loose meat sandwiches, potato chips on the side are a must! This is a great veggie and protein packed recipe for picky eaters! Top with a slice of cheese if desired.
Highlights of this sloppy joe recipe:
- Protein-packed
- Easy to make and customizable
- Made in one pan
- Loaded with veggies and flavor
- No soup or highly processed ingredient needed
- Flavor can be customized
- Good on a bun or by itself
- Comes together in a total time of under 30 minutes
- Budget friendly
- Great for meal prep or busy weeknights
- Perfect blend of spices
If you wanted to add soup for extra creaminess, you can add a can of chicken gumbo soup. This easy meal is perfect for game days and will be a family favorite!
Full List of Ingredients & Substitutions:
- Green bell peppers
- Celery stalks
- Garlic cloves
- White onion, could also use yellow onion or red onion
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Ketchup
- Ground chicken, could use ground turkey or lean ground beef
- Buns & toppings as desired
Tools I used for these easy sloppy joes:
- 4 qt. Braiser – the perfect casserole dish for preparing this recipe – any large skillet will do.
- Rubber Spatula – a must for any home chef! Perfect for scrapping the mixture out of the pan.
- Pyrex Mixing Bowl Set – I love this set of nesting bowls for all recipes.
First Steps:
- Prep veggies like diced onion, diced celery, and diced bell pepper
- Heat olive oil
- Add in veggies to sauté
If you like this Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes Recipe – Without Soup, you’ll love these other recipes…
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Veggie Burger Recipe
Easy Tater Tot Casserole with Ground Turkey Recipe
One-Pot Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Creamy Smothered Cajun Chicken Recipe with Pasta
Homemade Chicken Patties in the Air Fryer
Variations & serving ideas for the simple sloppy joe:
- For some spice, sauté in some diced jalapenos or serrano peppers
- Serve on Texas toast
- Use leftover turkey meat from a roasted turkey or chicken from a rotisserie chicken
- Mix in chopped bacon
- Garnish with green onions, parsley, fresh thyme, or other fresh herbs
- Serve family style for an easy weeknight dinner
- Serve in lettuce cups instead of on a bun
- Serve sloppy joe mixture over rice
Serve these sloppy joes with…
Copycat Zoe’s Kitchen Pasta Salad Recipe
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill BLT Salad Recipe
Alexia Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer
Creamy Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Final Steps:
- Saute veggies
- Season
- Add in ground chicken and brown, drain excess fat if any
- Mix in ketchup
Instructions for the Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes Recipe – Without Soup:
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once warm add in onion, green pepper, and celery, sauté until soft, 4-5 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and oregano.
- Add in ground chicken and sauté until cooked through. Add in ketchup and mix to combine.
- Serve on a toasted bun and enjoy immediately. Leftover sloppy joe mix will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Chicken Gumbo Sloppy Joes Recipe – Without Soup
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 medium White onion, finely diced
- 3 ribs Celery, finely diced
- 1 Green pepper, finely diced
- 2-3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 tsp Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper
- 1 lb. Ground chicken
- 3/4 cup Ketchup
- Buns of choice
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once warm add in onion, green pepper, and celery, sauté until soft, 4-5 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and oregano.
- Add in ground chicken and sauté until cooked through. Add in ketchup and mix to combine.
- Serve on a toasted bun and enjoy immediately. Leftover sloppy joe mix will keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @theheartylife on Instagram and hashtag it #theheartylife.