Cajun Chicken Sloppy Joes Creamy Cheese (Printable)
Spicy Cajun chicken on toasted buns drizzled with rich homemade cheese sauce. A 40-minute comfort food classic.
# What you'll 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 make it:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper, sauté for 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add ground chicken, breaking apart with a spatula, and cook until no longer pink. Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce, mixing thoroughly. Simmer uncovered for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens.
02 - While 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 for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and stir in cheddar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until cheese melts completely and sauce is smooth.
03 - Spoon a generous portion of Cajun chicken mixture onto each toasted bun bottom. Drizzle with creamy cheese sauce. Sprinkle with green onions or parsley if desired. Cap with bun tops and serve warm.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The heat from the Cajun seasoning balances perfectly with that rich, velvety cheese sauce in a way that feels like it came from a restaurant kitchen
- Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want something impressive but do not have hours to spend cooking
02 -
- The cheese sauce will thicken as it cools, so make it right before serving and keep it warm if possible
- Ground chicken can release a lot of liquid as it cooks, so do not be alarmed if the pan looks watery at first—it will reduce down beautifully
03 -
- Make double the cheese sauce and save it for nachos or tacos later in the week
- If your Cajun seasoning is on the salty side, reduce the added salt in the recipe