Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Cheesy and crispy ground beef loaded with peppers, onions, and mushrooms piled high on a buttery, toasty bun. Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes have every bit as much flavor that a sandwich from Philadelphia has but with way less effort.

I'm a huge fan of a classic Philly cheesesteak, and I've luckily been able to try the real thing in the city of brotherly love. There are many ways to make a cheesesteak, and most of them are delicious. However, there's something special about a cheesesteak straight from Philadelphia, PA. Whether you're on team "Pat's," "Geno's," or, another local joint, we can all agree that cheesesteaks are one of the best bites to enjoy.

Sloppy joes are one of my favorite comfort meals, and I love how easy and simple they are to throw together. Philly cheesesteaks are another comfort meal that I crave especially in the cooler months. Although, some nights, I just don't have the time to throw together everything for a full-on cheesesteak. So, these sloppy joes are such a great shortcut to skimp on time but not on flavor.

I was dreaming up what to make for supper one night and thought about my classic sloppy joes. You can find that delicious recipe HERE. However, I wanted to change it up a bit. So, immediately the thought of Philly Cheesesteak sloppy joes came to mind. All you have to do is tweak a few ingredients, and boom. I thought my idea was so unique and genius. Then, I did the silly thing of googling it - turns out, I wasn’t the first to think of this idea, unfortunately. Oh, well.

So, away I went, down into the google rabbit hole of exploring other bloggers’ recipes for this idea. Overall, a lot were similar to what I had imagined I’d do. So, here we are. Here’s my version. and, I hope you love it.

Ingredients for Quick Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

- Ground Beef: I use a grass-fed 85/15

- Oil: I use avocado oil, but canola also works

- Bell Pepper

- Onion, finely diced

- Mushrooms, finely diced

- Garlic Cloves

- Ketchup

- Dijon Mustard

- Worcestershire Sauce

- Dried Oregano and Parsley

- Red Pepper Flakes

- Salt and Black Pepper

- Beef Broth: I use reduced sodium beef bone broth

- Cornstarch

- Provolone Cheese or Cheese Wiz

- Hamburger Buns, sliced, buttered, and toasted

How to Make a Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe

1. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add the ground beef. Let cook until a dark brown crust appears on the beef before starting to break it apart. This helps the ground beef from looking gray and adds more flavor.

2. Stir and brown the remaining beef until cooked and half of the beef has a dark crust on it. Remove the beef from the pan onto a plate and set aside. Drain any excess fat.

3. Add the oil, onions, peppers, and mushrooms to the same pan on medium high heat. Saute until tender and the moisture from the mushrooms has evaporated, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute, until fragrant. 

4. Add the beef back into the pan, stirring to combine. In a small cup, mix the beef broth with the cornstarch and add into the pan with the meat and vegetables.

5. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer and allow the mixture to reduce until thickened, about 3-4 minutes. 

6. Remove the pan from the heat and add the provolone cheese slices, allowing it to melt. Stir to combine. Alternatively, you can spoon the meat mixture onto each toasted bun and place a slice of cheese on each bun.

7. Toast your hamburger buns and spoon some sloppy joe on each bottom bun, add the slice of cheese (if adding now,) and add the top bun. Enjoy.

Refrigerate any leftover filling in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze in a ziploc bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. Make sure to label your bag or container with the contents and the date that it was made for easy identification.

Other Ways to Eat Sloppy Joes

I love to eat this mixture straight out of the pan, but sometimes, I try to act a little more civilized and eat it on a hamburger bun. Although, I won't judge how you prefer to enjoy this. (Note: My favorite buns are the gluten free hamburger buns from Trader Joe's.)

There are so many other ways to enjoy a Sloppy Joe other than just on a hamburger bun. Here are some examples:

- Spoon it over a baked potato

- Top crispy French fries with a spoonful of this goodness

- Turn it into a quesadilla

- Make an open-faced toast

- Add it to a grilled cheese

- Make it into a calzone

- Serve it over rice

- Stir it into mac & cheese

- Add it to your next burger as a topping

- Make a burrito or taco about of it

- Scoop some of this into a piece of lettuce for a lettuce wrap

- Make stuffed bell peppers - yum!

And, I am sure there are many other options. However, these are a few of my favorite ideas. If you have another way to eat these, let me know by leaving a comment or shooting me a DM on Instagram, Facebook, or Tik Tok.

No-Fuss Weeknight Meal Ideas

Looking for something to make to change up the routine? South African Babotie is delicious, healthy, and flavorful. It's just ground beef, tender onions, warm spices, a little bit of scrambled egg, and green peas - all served over rice. It is so warm and comforting, and it's not too exotic for those picky eaters. Give it a try.

Love Chinese Take-Out but you want something quicker, healthier, and much cheaper? This Honey Sesame Stir Fry with Chicken will be a new go-to recipe for you. It's so quick, delicious, and will satisfy all those cravings. It's packed with veggies and protein, plus you can make it with whatever fresh OR frozen veggies you have on hand. 

Needing something to feed those kids? These Classic Sloppy Joes are the perfect recipe for you, and they'll be such a hit for your little ones and big ones, too. Even though they have bell peppers and onions, they're hidden and no one would suspect a thing. It's sweet, savory, and so perfectly classic. You can't go wrong.

Are you a Mexican food lover like me? Well, this Jalapeño Corn Salsa is perfect when paired with these Stuffed Poblano Chicken Enchiladas that are packed with roasted green chiles, shredded chicken, cheese, and tons of delicious flavor.

A cozy, fall night calls for a cozy, hearty, and warm meal. These Grits and Greens Bowls with Blistered Tomatoes are the perfect recipe to add to your next meal plan. A filling bowl topped with goat cheese, crispy bacon, and a fried egg. Yum, and yum. Plus, it’s pretty fast to pull together, but also nutritious.

made the recipe?

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