I have a thing for saucy, meaty sandwiches. Bread, meat and sauce.
Since I made these BBQ Beef and Lentil Sloppy Joes, I’ve been a little disappointed with their lack of popularity.
Maybe that sounds totally selfish, but it’s not that. It’s just because I know how absolutely, incredibly delicious they are, and I feel like people are really missing out.
For the last month or so I’ve really been thinking about doing a chicken and quinoa version.
I am just as inexperienced with cooking quinoa as I was with cooking lentils, but I figured things couldn’t go too wrong if I knew the correct amount of liquid for the quinoa to cook in the slow cooker.
It turns out quinoa and lentils require the same amount of liquid to cook, so my job was pretty easy.
I made a couple other changes to try to make the recipe a bit healthier. I took out the brown sugar completely, but found that I had to increase the barbecue sauce a bit in its place. I halved the salt and used a shredded carrot instead of a zucchini.
If you want to make this even healthier, you could sub the ketchup for crushed tomatoes (keeping in mind you’ll lose some of the sweetness from the ketchup), and use a light barbecue sauce or one with less sugar.
We love this version just as much as the beef and lentil! You really wouldn’t believe how much healthy stuff you can sneak into some good old sloppy joes until you try.
{Slow Cooker} BBQ Chicken Quinoa Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 3/4 cup quinoa dry
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 medium-large carrot shredded
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 pinches crushed red pepper
Instructions
- In a medium pan, fry chicken over medium-high heat until cooked, stirring regularly. When chicken is browned, add onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until onion starts to soften. Add to the slow cooker.
- Add the dry quinoa to the pan and toast over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until toasted. Add to the slow cooker.
- Add water through crushed red pepper to the slow cooker (all remaining ingredients) and stir well. Scrape down the sides to make sure the quinoa is in the liquid.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 2-3 hours. Serve on buns or rolls of your choice.
Notes
Nutrition Information
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Katie @The Semisweet Sisters says
Oh my, that looks delicious! I seriously need to start using my crock-pot more often.
Ashley says
Thanks!
Annie @ ciaochowbambina says
Okay…I really need to get my slow cooker out! This looks so yummy good! I love quinoa – I’ll be trying this! Thanks!
Ashley says
Thanks Annie! LOVE my slow cooker ๐
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Ashley, oh my gawd, I love saucy, meaty sandwiches too. and I love that you put quinoa in your sloppy joe’s!!! this is brilliant!! and it’s a slow cooker recipe? love it!!
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Alice! The quinoa helps make up for all the sauce and meat, right? ๐
Lynn | The Road to Honey says
Awesome! Another way to cook up quinoa. I love working with ancient grains and am always on the lookout for new ways to dish them up. This is brilliant!
Ashley says
Thanks Lynn!
Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire says
Weeknight deliciousness here I come!! I’m on my way to the grocery store, so I’m glad I stopped by to your blog first cause I am SO making this for dinner tonight! It looks so flavorful and like you won’t even notice that it’s good for you. I can’t wait.
Ashley says
Thanks Amanda! I’d love to hear how you like it!
Christina @ Bake with Christina says
What yummy looking sloppy joes! And I love that they’re slow cooker, that’s always a plus ๐
Ashley says
Thanks Christina!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I try to add a slow cooker meal to my weeknight menu every week and these sloppy joes sound perfect! I love the addition of the quinoa!
Ashley says
Thanks Ashley! We love a good sloppy joe recipe! And slow cookers too ๐
Shashi at Runninsrilankan says
Quinoa in sloppy joes is simply a BRILLIANT idea! Btw, I also loved your Beef and Lentil Sloppy Joes idea too!
Ashley says
Haha, thanks Shashi! I feel like lentils are a little overlooked sometimes ๐
Amanda says
Adding quinoa is a fantastic idea, you’re so creative!!!
Ashley says
Thanks Amanda!
Tori@Gringalicious.com says
It’s been years since I had a sloppy Joe! Thanks for reminding me how yummy they are! These are perfect for football season!
Ashley says
Thanks Tori! They’re a staple when you have a toddler!
Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says
What a great idea! I wouldn’t have thought to add quinoa into sloppy joes, but I think you can probably sneak the quinoa in pretty easily, and it probably adds a nice little subtle flavor. Plus, I can always get behind a slow cooker recipe. I always need those in my life! ๐
Ashley says
It works really well Sarah — you don’t even notice it! Thanks ๐
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Beyond obsessed with your use of quinoa here! SO yum ๐
Ashley says
Thanks Medha!
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
I am loving the twist on classic sloppy joes! Looks so delicious and so easy too with the slow cooker! ๐ Pinned!
Ashley says
They are super easy Michelle! One of our favorites ๐
Esther says
My husband and I definitely loved the lentil and beef version! This one sounds delicious as well! Love your pictures and your blog!
Ashley says
Thanks so much Esther! We love both!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
I love this! Healthy sloppy joes – how awesome is that! This looks amazing Ashley, and in the slow cooker – can’t beat that! ๐
Ashley says
Right?? Love my slow cooker! Thanks Stacey!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
This is such an amazing idea! I love that you used quinoa in sloppy joes! That is so so creative and I can’t wait to try this – especially since you made them in the slow cooker!
Ashley says
Thanks Kelly! They turned out so well!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I love this idea of using quinoa in your sloppy joes! It looks amazing! And love that it’s made in a slow cooker. Beautiful pictures Ashley!
Ashley says
Thanks Natalie!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Love that you used quinoa in these sloppy joes, Ashley! So creative! This sounds like the perfect comfort food meal to me!
Ashley says
Thanks Gayle!
Shinee says
Wow, great dish. I love quinoa so much! Definitely trying this recipe one of these days!
Ashley says
Thanks Shinee!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
This is such a great idea! I love that you made this in the slow cooker!
Ashley says
Thanks Jocelyn! Can’t get enough slow cooker recipes ๐