Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

If you don’t know what a sloppy joe is….prepare to be amazed. If you know – this one’s for you.

I’ve taken the classic nostalgic comfort food sloppy joe we all know and love and combined it with a fun twist, the famous Philly cheesesteak, to make an out of this world flavorful Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe the whole family will love. It’s as gooey, cheesy, and sloppy as you remember but made with healthy ingredients that all come together to make something legendary. If you’re looking for something to make for dinner tonight, the search is over, make this sloppy joe Philly cheesesteak recipe. 

But what’s in it?

The sloppy joes you’re used to probably came from a can filled with sodium and preservatives. Not this Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe! Ground beef, onions, bell pepper, and mushrooms make up the bulk of the meatiness. A simple mixture of ketchup, Worcestershire, a few spices, and beef broth is thickened with arrowroot or cornstarch to make a mouth-watering sauce. Mix it all together and there you have it! A twist on the traditional sloppy joe and the traditional cheesesteak. 

Can you use other meats besides beef?

Absolutely! The Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe can be made with ground turkey or chicken. If you opt for turkey I would add extra seasoning. Ground turkey has less flavor than beef and it might taste bland without it. Season the ground turkey with garlic, onion powder, salt and pepper to avoid this. I’d even toss in some smoked paprika or chili powder (which if you haven’t noticed by now are my two favorite seasonings to use). 

How can I serve this?

So many ways! The recipe calls for a brioche bun and provolone cheese for a more traditional Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe. I use Signature Select buns and thin sliced Lucerne provolone. Feel free to add hot sauce or jalapeños while the sauce is simmering for some extra heat! Go bunless if trying to avoid extra carbs and just melt the cheese over the meat and call it a day!

This also is so good as a Philly cheese steak salad! I make the mix and serve over a bed of greens. The mix is hearty enough to make a whole salad but I sometimes add extra onions, croutons or pepperoncini for a crunch and a drizzle of creamy ranch dressing. 

Another option? A philly cheesesteak burrito. Wrap it in a tortilla with some riced cauliflower and you’ve got a easy on the go lunch!

Is this gluten and dairy free?

The Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes are not gluten or dairy-free if you follow the recipe exactly as is. However, it’s so easy to make them so!

For dairy-free, do not add the cheese or add a dairy-free cheese option and make sure whatever bun or wrap you use is dairy-free. To make gluten-free omit the bun and use a gluten-free bread option. Also, make sure your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free as some are not. Lea and Perrins is a popular brand that happens to be gluten-free also!

What should I serve this with?

The Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes are hearty so I love to serve them with a simple side salad or some roasted veggies, French fries, roasted potatoes or air fryer potato chips. Try them with my farro summer salad or air fryer smashed potatoes. So good!

Ingredients and Substitutes:

These are the main ingredients and substitutions. See recipe card below for full ingredients list and instructions for these Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes.

Ground Beef: 1 lb. of 96/4% ground beef. Substitute with ground turkey or chicken. Use extra seasoning if using ground turkey. 

Veggies: yellow onion, green bell pepper, and mushrooms. You can substitute with any color bell peppers and white mushrooms or cremini mushrooms in place of brown. 

Spices: garlic, salt and pepper. Garlic powder can be used in place of fresh. 

Beef broth: Adds a beefy flavor. Substitute with vegetable or chicken broth. 

Ketchup and Worcestershire: makes the “sloppy joe” taste. Nutrition facts are for regular ketchup but you can substitute with a sugar free alternative. 

Arrowroot or cornstarch: thickens the sauce, do not omit. 

Cheese: Provolone for an authentic Philly cheesesteak flavor. Of course, use any cheese you love like mozzarella cheese or white American cheese!

Buns: Brioche buns are my favorite for these but you can use any bun or wrap you prefer or completely omit it altogether. 

How to make this Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes recipe:

Cook the beef and veggies

Heat a large skillet pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Break up the beef into small pieces as it cooks using a spatula.

Next, add the chopped onion, bell peppers, mushrooms and minced garlic to the skillet. Stir well and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Make the sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce and arrowroot powder and mix until no lumps remain.

Mix together and simmer

Pour the broth mixture over the beef and vegetables in the skillet. Stir well to combine.

Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the mixture simmer for about 20 minutes to thicken and reach maximum flavor. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The sloppy joe mixture should thicken up slightly.

Preheat broiler and pre the sandwiches

Preheat your oven’s broiler. Open the hamburger buns and place them on a baking sheet, cut side up.

When the beef mixture is done simmering, divide it evenly among the bottom halves of the toasted brioche bun. Top each with a slice of Provolone cheese.

Return the meat and cheese topped buns to the oven just until the cheese melts, about 2-3 minutes. Be careful not to let them burn.

Remove and enjoy!

Remove the buns from the oven when the cheese is nice and melted and top each with the other half of the bun.

Finally, serve the Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes hot!

Serving size and storing notes!

The Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe recipe has 4 servings with approximately 240g per serving. Each serving in the nutritional info includes one bun and one piece of cheese. You can easily double this recipe to serve more people. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

If you like this recipe be sure to check out some of our other easy recipes!

• Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowl
• Ground Chicken Stir Fry
• Taco Mac and Cheese
• Cracked Out Tater Tot Casserole
• Big Mac Casserole