Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes + Philly Cheesesteaks = Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes?!?! Yes, that’s exactly what they are… loose meat sandwiches with provolone cheese & sauteed onions and peppers piled high on soft, delicious hamburger buns and broiled until melty & gooey.

These sandwiches will be football season friends, guaranteed.

The Backstory on This One

Sloppy Joes are one of those recipes I’ve had forever & forever. My mom made them from a recipe that took about 15 minutes & required only TWO ingredients…one of them being Campbell’s chicken gumbo soup.

Those are the Sloppy Joe’s I grew up on. When it came time for ME to make Sloppy Joe’s for my family, I wanted to pay homage to my family recipe while upgrading it…but not upgrade it SO much it required scratch cooking, though I’m working on that.

Enter these beauties.

These have become a regular in our house because they’re so dang easy to throw together with only 20 minutes of active cooking time, taste incredible, & the kids LOVE them. This makes enough to serve 6-8 sandwiches depending on how much filling you use.

Why Worcestershire and Taco Seasoning Is the Actual Secret

Traditional Philly cheesesteaks have a lot of savory, delicious flavor thanks in part to the umami of seared steak & sometimes the addition of beef broth. Worcestershire sauce is the secret to bringing that same flavor to these sandwiches…trust me on this one.

Two tablespoons dispersed over the entire recipe is the perfect amount.

Likewise, a couple teaspoons of taco seasoning won’t make these overly taco-y but will bring out a savory, almost ‘cheesesteak shop’ type flavor…believe me here too. Taco seasoning is nothing more than cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika & chili powder.

You can’t go wrong.

NOTE: I sauté the peppers & onions before adding them back into the skillet with the cooked meat mixture. This takes an extra 5 minutes to do BUT half of my kiddos LOVE vegetables & half of them will DIE before they eat vegetables…so you can always add the veggies with the meat & cook them together to save a few minutes if that’s not an issue in your house.

Mix the cornstarch into 1/2 cup of low sodium chicken broth*. Set aside.

When ready to add to skillet, make sure cornstarch and broth are well whisked together and simmer meat mixture another 6-7 minutes until beef and vegetable mixture is nice and thickened.

*this is a KEY STEP in making these. Do not skimp, I promise you it makes such a difference.

The cornstarch mixture thickens the sauteed beef mixture so that when scooped onto a bun, it won’t drip all over your hands, and will hold together well so you can really pile it on. Also, make sure you use low sodium chicken broth as Worcestershire and taco seasoning add plenty of salt, you do not need additional.

*IMPORTANT: you must add cornstarch to the COLD chicken broth first, mix, then add broth mixture to skillet. Do not add cornstarch directly into skillet, you WILL have lumps.

What You Need for This Recipe

Ground beef – recipe calls for 1.5 lbs of LEAN ground beef. I personally like 80/20, which is the best in my opinion, most flavorful, and has that heavenly browning smell, however 90/10 is great as well.

You can use ground turkey or ground chicken, just add about 1 tsp of beef bouillon to give it a little more oomph.

Yellow onion – you’ll need about 1 cup of yellow onion, diced. Try to cut into somewhat uniform 1/4 inch pieces as these will only cook for a few minutes, you do not want large, crunchy, uncooked pieces of onion in your Sloppy Joes (ewwwwww).

Green bell pepper – Philly cheesesteaks traditionally use green bell pepper, however, feel free to use red or yellow. You’ll need 1 small pepper, diced.

Tip: make sure pepper is cut into the same size as onions so everything cooks evenly.

Ketchup – do NOT sub with tomato sauce. The ketchup adds some sweet, vinegar, seasoning, etc.

You NEED it.

Worcestershire sauce – another important ingredient that cannot be skipped or decreased. Adds tons of flavor.

Taco seasoning – I know what you’re thinking: taco seasoning?? In Sloppy Joes??

Trust me… It will NOT taste like tacos, I promise.

Adds another level of savory and cannot be skipped.

Cheese – I love provolone on these, it melts beautifully and has a smooth, mild flavor with a hint of sharp that won’t overpower the beef mixture, but enhances the seasoned flavors perfectly. White american would be a great option as well.

• You’ll need 6-8 slices of provolone cheese, one slice for each sandwich. You’ll also need hamburger buns, the kind that are sturdy but still on the softer side. If you’re feeling fancy, brioche buns make a nice upgrade.

Kid-friendly tip: Some children and adults will only eat sloppy joes if they’re made with plain old ground beef, no onions, peppers, etc. In this case, I recommend cooking the veggies in a separate skillet from the meat.

That way, when it’s time to assemble the sloppy joes, the veggies can be mixed into the meat for some sandwiches and not others.

How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes, or until onions and peppers have softened and onion is starting to get a little translucent. Add ground beef. Cook for around 5 minutes, breaking up any large chunks of beef with a wooden spoon as they cook. Once meat is cooked through, with no more pink in sight, use a slotted spoon to remove from skillet, placing on a plate or colander. Return meat to skillet once fat has been drained.
• Add ketchup, Worcestershire and taco seasoning to beef, stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute to bloom spices. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together cornstarch and chicken broth until cornstarch is completely dissolved. Pour cornstarch slurry into skillet, stirring to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, stirring often, for 6-7 minutes, or until filling is nice and thick and coats back of a spoon. Remove from heat.
• Lightly toast hamburger buns, if desired. This isn’t required but helps to keep buns from getting soggy. Place buns on a sheet pan, cut-side up. Turn oven broiler to high. Add filling to bottoms of toasted hamburger buns. Top with provolone cheese, replacing any crinkled edges. Broil for 2-4 minutes, keeping a close eye on sandwiches as they broil. Remove from oven just before cheese is burnt. Cheese should be bubbly and starting to toast in spots. Cap with tops of hamburger buns. Serve right away.

How It Keeps and Why Day Two Is Actually Better

Store any remaining sloppy Joe meat without the buns in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat, or in the microwave for 90 seconds.

It is even better the next day when all of the flavors meld together.

To freeze, transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat as directed.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes FAQ

What makes this cheesesteak Sloppy Joes recipe taste like a cheesesteak?

The original Philly cheesesteak sandwich is made with thinly sliced ribeye steak. This recipe includes all of the other classic cheesesteak flavors, including peppers, onions, provolone cheese, seasoned perfectly.

You won’t believe these come together in 25 minutes.

Can I use taco seasoning in Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes recipe?

Yes, this is a shortcut that adds tons of flavor. Taco seasoning will add cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and other spices to beef.

This recipe won’t even taste like tacos because we are skipping the lime and cilantro, and the worcestershire sauce really shines in this recipe.

Can I use ground turkey instead of beef in sloppy Joes recipe?

Yes, ground turkey is a healthy sloppy Joes recipe option. To ensure it doesn’t end up tasting bland, add an extra flavor booster, like 1 teaspoon of beef bouillon to turkey as you brown.

How can I melt the cheese if my oven doesn’t have a broiler?

Add cheese to the beef mixture right in the skillet, then cover and melt for about one minute.

How do I keep sloppy Joes from getting soggy?

Be sure to drain fat from meat. Lightly toast the bottom of the buns in your broiler for best results.

Assemble sandwiches and serve right away, and do not allow to sit.

Other Beef Sandwich Dinners Worth Making

Philly Cheese Steak Crock Pot Recipe in which thinly sliced beef is slow cooked with peppers, onions, and provolone then stuffed into hoagie rolls in this easy to make crock pot cheesesteak sandwich recipe.

• Philly Cheese Steak Sliders, little bites of Philly goodness
• Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches, french onion soup meets au jus with tender chuck roast.
• Crockpot Crack Chicken Sandwiches, slow-cooker chicken plus cream cheese plus ranch equals deliciousness.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

These Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are made with seasoned ground beef and provolone cheese served on toasted hamburger buns. These are sure to be a hit at your next cookout or a weeknight meal.