Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes are the ultimate sandwich! It’s packed with beef, peppers, cheese, and a sweet-and-savory sauce that makes it totally irresistible!
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Pin RecipeI love creating recipes that combine my classic favorite foods. In the past, I’ve put together 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.
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Recipe
So what exactly is so great about this recipe? To begin, it’s very easy to make. It’s much easier to cook ground beef than to perfectly cook 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 steak.
I also love how juicy the meat is after it simmers in the beef broth. The broth also helps get the taste of the sautéed peppers into the meat so every single bite of the sandwich is loaded with delicious flavors. The ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and ground beef make the sandwich have a sloppy joe feel, but 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!
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Ingredients for Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Ground beef – I like to use ground beef that is labeled as 85% lean/15% fat. Fattier beef makes the meat juicier.
- Yellow onion
- Green 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.
- 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.
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce – Worcestershire sauce is essential to giving the sandwich its signature flavor. It is sweet, savory, and has a tangy, vinegar flavor that is unmatched.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cornstarch
- Beef broth
- Mozzarella – American cheese, provolone, and even cheese whiz can also be used in place of mozzarella.
- Hamburger buns – I like to use sesame seed buns, however any kind of soft hamburger buns will work!
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.
How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
- Cook 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.
- Add the veggies: Add the chopped onions, peppers, and mushrooms to the skillet with the beef and cook everything together for about 5 minutes until the veggies are soft.
- Make the sauce: Whisk the cornstarch and beef broth together in a separate bowl, then pour the mixture into the skillet. Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, then stir. Let the liquid simmer for about 5 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 to scoop the meat and cheese onto the hamburger buns 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.
What to Serve with Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
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 potato salad or some crispy fried zucchini.
How to Store Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
If you happen to have leftovers, store the cheesy ground beef in an airtight container in the fridge. The sloppy joes will stay fresh for 3-4 days. When you are ready to eat it again, simply pop the ground beef in the microwave and reheat it in 30-second increments until hot. Scoop the reheated beef onto a fresh hamburger bun and enjoy!
FAQs
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!
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 in a perfect way! Dip it into a creamy horseradish sauce if you want even more spice.
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, but 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.
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Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 sesame seed bakery hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef and cook while breaking apart until no longer pink. Drain grease.
- Add onions, green peppers, and mushrooms to the skillet. Cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes, or until onions are tender.
- In a small separate bowl, combine beef broth and cornstarch. Whisk until no lumps remain. Pour broth over meat and stir well.
- Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Let cook until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and add cheese to top of the beef. Stir slightly to melt.
- Serve meat and cheese mixture on sesame seed hamburger buns.
