Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes (30 Minute Recipe)

Name: Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 small yellow onion, diced; 1 small green bell pepper, diced; 1 cup sliced mushrooms; 1 cup beef broth; 1 Tablespoon cornstarch; 2 Tablespoons ketchup; 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese; 6 sesame seed bakery hamburger buns

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are the ultimate sandwich! Packed with beef, peppers, cheese, and a sweet-and-savory sauce, they’re totally irresistible!

close up image of a philly cheesesteak sloppy joe sandwich sitting on a wood cutting board.

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Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Recipe

I love creating recipes that combine my classic favorite foods. In the past, I’ve combined chocolate chip cookies and brownies to make incredible brookies. I made pizza for breakfast. I even turned s’mores into a dip.

However, nothing compares to the marriage of sloppy joes and Philly cheesesteak. It’s a rare and exciting match made in heaven. You absolutely have to try it.

So what exactly is so great about this recipe? For starters, it’s very easy to make.

It’s much easier to cook ground beef than to perfectly cook thinly sliced steak for a classic Philly cheesesteak. Filets of steak are trickier than ground beef. I love the fact that I can get Philly cheesesteak flavor without the hassle of the whole steak.

I also love how juicy the meat is after it simmers in the beef broth. The broth helps get the taste of the sautéed peppers into the meat. So, every single bite of the easy sandwich is loaded with delicious flavors.

The ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and ground beef make the sandwich have a sloppy joe feel. However, the peppers, onions, and cheese make it more like a Philly cheesesteak.

This Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe sandwich really is the best of both worlds! The ultimate comfort food, it’s ready in just 30 minutes. It will definitely become one of your go-to lunch and dinner recipes!

close up image of a pan of philly cheesesteak sloppy joe.

Ingredients for Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

To print: see recipe card below.

ingredients to make philly cheesesteak sloppy joes.

1 pound ground beef – I like to use lean ground beef labeled 85/15 or leaner. Fattier beef makes the meat juicier.
1 small yellow onion – White onion or Vidalia onion will also work perfectly.
1 small green bell pepper – Green bell pepper has a strong, almost bitter taste that is delicious in this Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe sandwich. Red bell peppers will also work well and be a little bit sweeter.
1 cup sliced mushrooms – I like to buy pre-sliced mushrooms from the grocery store to save prep time in the kitchen. Simple white mushrooms work great. but baby bellas will also be delicious.
1 cup beef broth – Beef broth gives a hearty, savory taste. I like to use low-sodium beef broth.
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce is essential to giving the sandwich its signature flavor. It is sweet, savory, and has a tangy, vinegar taste that is unmatched.
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – You can use American cheese, provolone cheese, or even Cheese Whiz in place of shredded mozzarella.
6 hamburger buns – I like to use sesame seed buns. However, any kind of soft hamburger buns such as Brioche buns will work! You can also use long French bread or hot dog buns.

Variations

Use ground chicken or ground turkey in place of ground beef for a lighter version of this Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe sandwich.
Rather than serving the juicy meat on burger buns, try scooping it on top of a baked potato. This makes a very filling, hearty meal.
Use Cheese Whiz to top the sandwich rather than mozzarella for a classic cheesesteak addition.
Skip the peppers in the recipe and just double up on the onions.

step 1 to make Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, ground beef in a pan.

step 2 to make Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, add veggies to ground beef in the pan.

Directions for How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Brown the beef: Start by cooking the ground beef in a large skillet. Break up the meat with a spatula as it cooks to make small pieces. Strain the grease from the pan once all the meat is brown. Discard the grease.
Add the veggies: Add the chopped onions, peppers, and mushrooms to the cast iron skillet with the beef. Cook everything together until the veggies are soft.
Make the sauce: Whisk the beef broth and cornstarch together in a separate bowl. Then, pour the mixture into the skillet. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir. Let the liquid simmer for about five minutes, adding lots of flavor to the beef as it cooks.
Add the cheese: Remove the skillet from the heat, and sprinkle the cheese over the top of the whole pan. Then, let it melt over the beef.
Serve the sandwiches: Use a spatula or slotted spoon to scoop the meat and cheese onto the hamburger buns, and enjoy warm!

Serving Suggestions

I love serving these Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes with a side of air fryer French fries. The fries get nice and crispy in the air fryer as the sloppy joes cook on the stovetop. The sandwiches are also great with a side of potato salad or some crispy fried zucchini.

a plate with a philly cheesesteak sloppy joe sandwich sitting on a white round plate.

How to Store Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Store the leftover beef mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days.
Reheat it in the microwave in 30-second increments. Then, scoop the mixture on a fresh hamburger bun, and enjoy!

Quick Tip

Try scooping the cooked beef onto the burger buns before adding the cheese. The shredded cheese should still melt from the heat on the meat when on the sandwich. This will ensure every sandwich has a lot of cheese! It’s also a good idea to scoop the beef on top of the bread if you are using Cheese Whiz instead of mozzarella and making the sandwich more like a traditional Philly cheesesteak.

FAQs

What is the secret to a good Philly cheesesteak?

I think the sauce is the key to a good Philly cheesesteak. My recipe cooks the meat in a blend of savory beef broth, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce. This makes every bit of the sandwich moist and tender. No need to worry about the beef being dry when you use this recipe!

What sauce goes with Philly cheesesteak?

While I think this sandwich is perfect without a sauce (it is already so juicy and flavorful!), you can add some garlic butter to the hamburger buns before you make it. This will boost the flavor of your sloppy joe sandwich perfectly! Dip it into a creamy horseradish sauce if you want even more spice.

What is traditionally on a Philly cheesesteak?

Philly cheesesteak sandwiches are usually made with sliced ribeye beef, cheese, and a hoagie roll. This simplified version may be the traditional way to make a Philly cheesesteak. However, these days, it is often made with sliced peppers, onions, and mushrooms. This sloppy joe version also adds a ketchup-based sauce and uses ground beef in place of sliced ribeye steak.