These Sloppy Joes with Chicken Gumbo Soup live up to their name! They make a delicious & hearty meal that comes together in 20 minutes or less making them perfect for a busy weeknight or potluck.
I lived much of my childhood believing this was the only kind of sloppy joes that existed, as this is the only way my family has ever made them. I had to write this recipe out when I was getting ready to share it with you because one didn't exist. A can of chicken gumbo soup, a squirt or 2 of ketchup and mustard and some celery & onion added to a pound of hamburger was the only recipe I've ever known. This recipe is pretty hard to mess up, but regardless, I have everything measured out for you to make it foolproof.
As far as my sheltered sloppy joe life goes, I was in for a rude awakening when I met my husband. His family has a different sloppy joe recipe and they serve it at everything from weeknight meals to graduation parties. While it is also delicious, I now find myself contending between two solid sloppy joe options. The Sloppy Joe with Chicken Gumbo Soup recipe from my side of the family has a special place in my heart, making it my go-to recipe. Marriage is all about compromise, right?
What You'll Need
This recipe requires only a handful of basic ingredients making it perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
- Ground beef - any kind will do as you will drain any excess grease that cooks out. You could also substitute ground turkey to make turkey joes! I love to do this when I see ground turkey on sale.
- Salt & pepper
- Chicken Gumbo Soup - I've only seen the Campbell's brand of Chicken Gumbo Soup in grocery stores. When the pandemic hit, there ended up being a shortage of it. Let me tell you, it was a family tragedy. I remember my aunt calling me a few months later saying she managed to swipe a 2 can limit once it came back in stock. Chicken gumbo soup includes diced chicken, rice and a blend of peppers, celery & okra in chicken stock. I've never had the soup on it's own but I love the flavor and texture it gives these sloppy joes.
- Celery
- Onion
- Ketchup
- Yellow mustard
How to Make Sloppy Joes with Chicken Gumbo Soup
Set your timer, I promise you can have these Sloppy Joes ready in 20 minutes or less. First, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season with salt & pepper. When the meat is no longer pink, drain any excess grease, then add in the chopped celery and onion. Sauté this mixture for 3-4 minutes until the veggies are tender.
To the skillet, add the can of Chicken Gumbo Soup (no water!), ketchup and mustard. The ketchup gives the Sloppy Joes their classic tomato flavor and the mustard provides a hint of tang. Let this mixture start to bubble then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 8-10 minutes.
What to Serve with Sloppy Joes
To serve the Sloppy Joes, place a hearty scoop of the mixture on the bottom half of a fresh hamburger bun. My husband's family always puts a slice of American cheese on their sloppy joes, and I must say, it is a idea I can get behind. Add cheese, if desired, and top with the other half of the bun. I've also seen Sloppy Joes served open-faced, which can be a more filling option.
Serve these Sloppy Joes with:
- potato chips
- potato salad
- coleslaw
- fresh fruit
- baked beans
- pickles
- pasta salad
These Sloppy Joes also make a great party food. The recipe is easy to scale up to feed a big crowd, and the filling goes a long way. I have memories of my sister-in-law's graduation party with a turkey roaster filled with Sloppy Joe meat. Sloppy Joes for 200 people, anyone? On a smaller scale, you can make these Sloppy Joes on the stove and then place the mixture in your slow cooker and keep them on low or warm for 2-3 hours. Got leftovers? The mixture also freezes well for another time.
There's no going wrong with this easy and delicious Sloppy Joe recipe made with Chicken Gumbo Soup!
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Sloppy Joes with Chicken Gumbo Soup
Ingredients
- 1 # ground beef
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. black pepper
- ½ cup celery chopped
- ½ cup white onion chopped
- 10.5 oz. can condensed chicken gumbo soup
- ½ cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp. yellow mustard
Instructions
- In a large skillet, season ground beef with salt & pepper. Cook over medium-high heat while breaking into small pieces. When beef is almost no longer pink, add in chopped onion & celery. Sauté 3-4 minutes until celery & onion are tender.
- Add in chicken gumbo soup, ketchup & mustard. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 4-5 minutes.
- To serve, place a scoop of sloppy joe mixture on a fresh hamburger bun. Add sliced cheese or pickles, if desired.
Helpful Equipment & Ingredient Links
Notes
- Sloppy joes make a great party food. This recipe can easily be scaled to feed a large crowd.
- To keep warm, place cooked Sloppy Joe mixture in a slow cooker on low or warm setting for 2-3 hours.
- Make turkey joes by substituting ground beef for turkey!
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