I’ve been enjoying these old fashioned chicken gumbo sloppy joes since I was a little girl, but over the years I have updated the recipe to make it even better!
They are so easy to make, and have a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavor. A perfect ground beef recipe for busy weeknights.

SLOPPY JOE WITH CHICKEN GUMBO
Sloppy Joes sometimes get a bad rap, but I think they are nostalgic comfort food for some of us. Myself included. I remember helping my mom squirt in the ketchup when I was just tiny.
And yes, this homemade sloppy joe recipe contains canned soup. Don’t freak out on me. I don’t used canned soups in many recipes, but this is one that just isn’t the same without the Campbell’s chicken gumbo soup.
So if you can’t find chicken gumbo soup, you are probably better off just finding another recipe for sloppy joes.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST SLOPPY JOE’S
- Don’t let the meat mixture simmer uncovered for too long, or it will dry out. If this happens, add a bit of water before serving.
- For me, when it comes to sloppy joes, the bun is just as important as the filling. I make my own hamburger buns when I have the time.
- If you don’t have the time or desire to make your own, I recommend buying rolls from the bakery section of the grocery store. Even those are infinitely better than the big brand packaged hamburger buns. Trust me on this one!
- No matter what type of bun you use, to take your sloppy joes to the next level, you want to TOAST THEM. I spread both sides of the inside of buns with butter, then broil them in the oven just until they are lightly browned. You can also brown them in a skillet if you prefer.
HOW TO MAKE SLOPPY JOES WITH CHICKEN GUMBO SOUP
Dinner doesn’t get much easier than this! Really the only prep work you have to do is dicing an onion.
- Start by browning a couple pounds of ground beef in a large skillet with a diced onion.
- After the meat is completely browned and the onions are translucent, stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Serve hot with hamburger buns or sliced rolls.

SLOPPY JOE VARIATIONS:
- Add a slice of cheese for some melty goodness. We like cheddar, but you can use any cheese you like.
- For an extra tang, add some mustard. You can use regular yellow mustard or dijon mustard.
- For a kick, add some red pepper flakes or even chopped jalapeno pepper.
- Feel free to sneak some veggies into the ground beef mixture. Shredded carrots, diced celery, and diced green peppers all work well.
What to serve with sloppy joes?
- You can’t go wrong with potato chips, crispy oven baked fries, or tater tots.
- A veggie tray with ranch dip.
- Any savory salad. We like tossed salad, macaroni salad, Miracle Whip potato salad, and cold broccoli salad.
- Fresh fruit or fruit salad. We love this creamy grape salad with cream cheese.

MORE EASY GROUND BEEF RECIPES:
- Beef Taquito Recipe
- Korean Ground Beef
- Keto Egg Roll in a Bowl
- Hamburger Green Bean Casserole
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
- Tater Tot Casserole with Corn

Sloppy Joes with Chicken Gumbo Soup
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 10.5 ounce can condensed chicken gumbo soup
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a skillet with the diced onion. Drain off any fat.
- Stir in condensed gumbo soup, ketchup, worcestershire, pepper, curry powder, and brown sugar. Simmer over low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add more ketchup or a little water if you want them more saucy.
Nutrition
So tell me, are you a home made sloppy joe fan or foe?


Made these for dinner and they were perfect! So yummy and delicious, I can’t wait to make them again!
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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment Eden! I’m so glad you loved them!
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