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Two amazing meals rolled into one messy sandwich! This creamy ground chicken paired with a quick homemade Alfredo creates a mouthwatering dinner that's super easy to whip up.
My kids can't get enough of these saucy sandwiches – they rank right up there with our other family faves , , , and .
Tasty Chicken Alfredo Sloppy Joes
Everyone at my house goes crazy for these messy sandwiches, and I really like using ground chicken in them. Ground chicken isn't just cheaper than beef - it's also got less fat, more health benefits, and works as a blank canvas that soaks up all the flavors you add to it.
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For this twist on sloppy joes, we start by cooking seasoned ground chicken in one pan. Then you'll make a simple Alfredo sauce separately before mixing everything together. The result? A creamy, savory sandwich filling that combines ground chicken with rich Alfredo goodness.
What You'll Need
- Olive Oil: This adds moisture when cooking the lean chicken meat. I grab the light-tasting extra-virgin kind, but any cooking oil works fine.
- Sweet Onion: These give a milder, sweeter flavor than regular onions. Chop it up really small. White or yellow onions work too if that's what you've got.
- Garlic: You'll need about 3 cloves minced up, or the equivalent in paste or pre-chopped jarred garlic.
- Ground Chicken
- Italian Seasoning
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
- Butter
- Heavy Cream: This makes the Alfredo sauce rich and thick. Don't swap it for low-fat milk as you need the fat content for proper sauce consistency.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: The convenient pre-grated stuff works okay, but grating a chunk yourself gives way better flavor.
- Garlic Powder
- Sliced Provolone Cheese: You can also use mozzarella slices or skip the cheese altogether.
- Buns
Making Creamy Chicken Alfredo Sandwiches (Printable Recipe Card)
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- In a large skillet pan:
- Pour oil and add your finely chopped onion over medium heat. Cook them until they turn clear and smell good, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the garlic cloves:
- Let them cook just 30 seconds.
- Add the ground chicken:
- Mix in Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and black pepper. Break up the chicken while cooking until it's all brown with no pink spots. Pour off any extra liquid from the pan.
- In a separate small saucepan:
- Melt butter over medium heat. Add heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. Keep stirring non-stop for around 3-5 minutes until your Alfredo sauce gets thick.
- Pour the Alfredo sauce:
- Right onto your cooked chicken mixture. Mix it all together so every bit of chicken gets coated with creamy sauce.
- Simmer:
- Let it bubble gently for 10 minutes while the sauce gets thicker.
- Serve:
- Scoop this creamy chicken mixture onto your bottom bun, top with cheese if you want, and enjoy your messy sandwich!
Storing What's Left
Got extras? Pop your leftover chicken Alfredo mix in a sealed container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you want more, warm single portions in the microwave or heat a bigger amount in a pan on the stove. The sauce might thicken while sitting in the fridge, so just add a splash of milk if needed.
Can I Prep This Earlier?
You can definitely get a head start on this meal. Make both the chicken mixture and Alfredo sauce up to 2 days before you need them. Just keep them in separate containers in your fridge. When you're ready to eat, just combine them in a skillet, heat everything through, and let it thicken up.
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Commonly Asked Questions
- → Can I swap ground turkey for chicken?
- Absolutely! Ground turkey fits perfectly in this dish without changing anything else in the recipe.
- → How can I stop my sauce from breaking apart?
- Keep your burner on medium-low and don't stop stirring. Grabbing a block of parmesan and grating it yourself works way better than the pre-shredded stuff.
- → Can I cook this before I need it?
- You can make the meat mix up to 2 days early and pop it in the fridge. When you're ready, warm it slowly and add a splash of cream if it looks too thick.
- → What goes well on the side?
- Some good matches are crispy garlic fries, a basic green salad, oven-roasted veggies, or a cool pasta salad to round out your meal.
- → Will freezing work for extras?
- Sauces with cream tend to get weird and separate when frozen then thawed. This dish tastes best fresh or kept in the fridge for no more than 2-3 days.