Chicken Hearts Sloppy Joes (Easy, Healthy Recipe)

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Let me start with a confession: I serve organ meats to my family (kids included) almost every week — and they actually eat them. Happily. Especially chicken hearts. Along with beef tongue, chicken hearts are one of their favorite organ meats because they simply taste good.

If you want to start serving organ meats to your family but aren’t sure where to begin — or you’re doubtful your picky kids will ever eat them — these chicken hearts sloppy joes are a great place to start. They’re made with 30% chicken hearts and 70% ground beef, and honestly, they taste just like really good classic sloppy joes. The flavor of the chicken hearts blends seamlessly into the beef, so you can’t taste them at all.

Let me show you how to make these chicken hearts sloppy joes in just 3 easy steps so you can start serving nourishing organ meats to your family with confidence.

Chicken hearts sloppy joes on wooden board

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Rich, savory, and perfectly balanced — just like classic comfort food should be
A great beginner-friendly recipe if you’re new to organ meats or have kids who are hesitant to try them
Ready in just 20 minutes (always a win on busy days!)
Freezer-friendly and perfect for easy meal prep
AND they taste even better the next day!

Tips For The Best Chicken Hearts Sloppy Joes

The secret to really good chicken hearts sloppy joes is getting the balance just right: rich, savory meat flavors with a touch of sweetness and a little tang. Here are my best tips for making your sloppy joes truly delicious:

Brown the meat first in good-quality butter to build deep, rich flavor.
Use a rich tomato sauce with a little tomato paste added in, then let it simmer until thick and flavorful.
Add both honey and vinegar for the best balance of sweetness and tang — without them, sloppy joes can taste a little flat.
Serve your chicken hearts sloppy joes on lightly toasted homemade buns sturdy enough to hold the sauce. I especially love using my sourdough discard burger buns.
Taste and adjust the salt at the very end, once the sauce has simmered down and the flavors have concentrated.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ground meat: I use a mix of 70% ground beef and 30% chicken hearts for these chicken hearts sloppy joes. If your family already enjoys organ meats, you can increase the chicken hearts to up to 50% of the meat mixture. If you’re new to cooking hearts, check out my tutorial on how to prepare chicken hearts for cooking.
Butter: Used for browning the meat and building flavor. You can also use tallow, ghee, or a mild olive oil instead.
Tomato sauce: I use plain homemade tomato sauce here. If you don’t have any on hand, blend a few fresh tomatoes with a couple tablespoons of tomato paste for a quick substitute.
Cider vinegar: Adds brightness and balances the richness of the meat and sauce.
Honey: Gives the sauce a subtle sweetness that kids especially love. Brown sugar works well too.
Seasonings: I keep it simple with garlic powder, mild paprika, and plenty of good-quality unrefined salt.
Cheese: Optional, but highly recommended. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or provolone all melt beautifully on these chicken hearts sloppy joes.

You can find the full list of ingredients and exact measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Chicken Hearts Sloppy Joes Step By Step

Browning ground beef and ground chicken hearts in skillet

Step 1: Heat the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes, until soft and lightly golden. Add the ground beef and chicken hearts mixture, then cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until lightly browned. Season well with salt and pepper.

Adding tomato sauce and seasonings to ground meat in skillet

Step 2: Stir in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, honey, vinegar, and spices. Let the mixture simmer gently for about 10 minutes, until it becomes thick, rich, and flavorful. Taste and adjust as needed — add a little more honey if you prefer it sweeter, or a small splash more vinegar if you like a tangier finish.

Step 3: Spoon the chicken hearts sloppy joes onto warm burger buns and top with cheese. Serve immediately with simple sides like sliced cucumbers, sauerkraut, or homemade chips for an easy, comforting meal.

Serving Suggestions

I usually serve these chicken hearts sloppy joes on homemade burger buns, but there are plenty of other delicious ways to enjoy them too:

Pile the sloppy joe mixture onto toasted brioche buns, then top with melted cheddar and crunchy dill pickles.
Spoon over baked potatoes or mashed potatoes.
Tuck into lettuce wraps with shredded carrots and fermented pickles.
Top with grated cheese and broil open-faced on sourdough toast.
Turn leftovers into nachos by spooning over tortilla chips with cheese and baked beans.

Storage Tips

Store leftover chicken hearts sloppy joe filling in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavor actually gets even better the next day.
Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce if needed.
These chicken hearts sloppy joes also freeze beautifully for quick future meals. Freeze portions for up to 3 months. I like using silicone molds for easy meal-prep portions.
You can also freeze the filling flat in freezer bags so it stacks neatly and thaws more quickly. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Chicken hearts sloppy joe in burger bun and with melted cheese on top

Recipe FAQ

Yes—chicken hearts are very nutrient-dense. They are also one of the most approachable organ meats for families because they taste so good. They’re rich in protein, iron, zinc, selenium, B vitamins (especially B12), and CoQ10, which supports energy production and heart health.

Chicken hearts have a mild, meaty flavor that tastes more like dark chicken meat than “organ meat.” They’re slightly rich and savory with a firm, tender-chewy texture when cooked properly.

Chicken hearts cook quickly—usually 5–10 minutes on the stovetop or grill once cleaned and trimmed. For softer, more tender hearts, you can simmer or braise them for 45–60 minutes.

The secret to a great sloppy joe is balancing rich meatiness with a sauce that is slightly sweet, tangy, and savory. Browning the meat well, simmering the sauce until thick, and adding enough salt at the end makes the flavor deep and comforting.

Are chicken hearts good for you?

Yes—chicken hearts are very nutrient-dense and are one of the most approachable organ meats for families. They’re rich in protein, iron, zinc, selenium, B vitamins (especially B12), and CoQ10, which supports energy production and heart health.

What do chicken hearts taste like?

Chicken hearts have a mild, meaty flavor that tastes more like dark chicken meat than “organ meat.” They’re slightly rich and savory with a firm, tender-chewy texture when cooked properly.

How long do you need to cook chicken hearts?

Chicken hearts cook quickly—usually 5–10 minutes on the stovetop or grill once cleaned and trimmed. For softer, more tender hearts, you can simmer or braise them for 45–60 minutes.

What is the secret to a good sloppy joe?

Final Thoughts

I hope this post encourages you to start serving organ meats in simple, family-friendly ways. Don’t overthink it — easy, quick-to-make recipes are often the best way to introduce new foods, especially offal.

For many people, the hardest part about chicken hearts is simply that they look like hearts. But once you get past that, you’ll discover they have a mild, delicious flavor that blends beautifully into everyday meals like these chicken hearts sloppy joes.

You can do this! And if you’d like more nutrient-dense meal ideas and down-to-earth homemaking inspiration, be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter.

More Family Friendly Organ Meat Recipes

Beef Tongue Tacos

Polish Style Gizzard Soup

Crispy Chicken Hearts Hash