Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

These Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are made with ground beef, peppers, onion, a delicious sauce and (of course!) cheese! This is an easy meal that comes together quickly and puts a fancy spin on traditional sloppy joes! 

Yes, that’s right! Sloppy joes can be fancy! Looking for another Philly cheesesteak recipe? Try my instant pot Philly cheesesteak pasta.

Serve this easy dinner with air fryer waffle fries or zucchini fries (for a healthier option) and some buttered veggies.

Why This Recipe Works

• Tastes just like a Philly cheesesteak sandwich! I’m a huge fan of Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and I love this easy spin on the recipe because it tastes just like it, but it’s a cheaper way of making it since we use ground beef (for the sloppy joes vibe) instead of sliced steak. 
• 20-minute dinner recipe. Looking for an easy meal? These Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes are perfect if you want a delicious, creative and yet quick meal for dinner. Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated or take a long time with this easy recipe! 
• Food for the whole family. This recipe really caters to everyone in the family! My kids loved this (because what kid doesn’t like sloppy joes?!) and yet the Philly Cheesesteak element of the sloppy joes was an elevated way of serving sloppy joes that my husband and I both loved! 

Ingredient Notes

• Ground Beef: Traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwiches are made from sliced steak. Since we are doing a sloppy joes Philly cheesesteak, we’re using ground beef.
• Provolone Cheese: You can use the pre-sliced cheese or block cheese and grate or slice it yourself. Looking for a substitute? Although the flavor will be different, the closest substitutes for provolone cheese would be fontina cheese or Swiss cheese. 
• Green Bell Pepper: This is an iconic ingredient in the classic Philly cheesesteak sandwiches! 
• Worcestershire Sauce: This adds a nice saltiness to the sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef to a large skillet and cook over medium heat until browned, breaking it up into small pieces as you go. Once the beef is browned about halfway, stir in the onion and bell peppers. Finish cooking until the beef is fully browned.
2. Drain and properly discard any grease. 

3. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt and pepper. 
4. Make a cornstarch slurry. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and beef broth. Pour the mixture into the skillet with the beef and stir to combine. Cook until the mixture is only slightly liquidy, 4-5 minutes. 

5. Add the cheese. Remove the Philly cheesesteak mixture from the heat and add the provolone slices to the top and sit until melted. Then portion onto toasted buns and serve.

Recipe Tips

If you are looking to cut calories or make this dish healthier, cut the cheese amount in half (4 oz.). You’ll still have a decent amount of cheese. 

The bit of brown sugar helps round out the flavors. It won’t produce a sweet-flavored sauce. 

Want more vegetables? Use 2 green bell peppers instead of 1 and try adding chopped mushrooms to get more vegetables in each bite! 

The cornstarch slurry will help thicken the sloppy joe mixture. Make sure to mix the beef broth and cornstarch are well stirred together before adding the slurry to the mixture.

Buns: Toast the buns, this will prevent them from getting soggy while you’re eating your sloppy Joe. 

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

If making ahead of time, this sloppy Joe meat can last in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container. If you do plan on making it ahead of time, I would suggest stopping before adding the cheese and storing it in the fridge, then put the mixture back into the pan and add the cheese when you are about ready to eat.

Store the cheesesteak sloppy joes in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. I would recommend storing the mixture separately from being on the buns or else the buns will get soggy.

To freeze, store the mixture in an airtight container or plastic bag without the cheese. The sloppy joes mixture will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Remove from the freezer and thaw overnight in the fridge. When about ready to eat, warm the mixture on medium low et on the stove and then add the cheese.

FAQs

More Ground Beef Recipes

• Bacon Burgers
• Salmon Burgers
• Shepherd’s Pie
• Beef Taquitos