Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Take the best of two classic sandwiches—sloppy joes and Philly cheesesteaks—to make these cheesy, meaty, and saucy cheesesteak sloppy joes!

By
Nick Evans
Nick Evans
Nick Evans

Nick has been creating recipes for home cooks for almost 15 years. He is the author of Love Your Leftovers and has contributed to Simply Recipes since 2017.

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Updated May 20, 2022
Nick Evans
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Nick Evans / Simply Recipes

Turns out that combining seared beef, caramelized onions, bell peppers, and melty cheese is delicious! Just take a look at this Philly Cheesesteak recipe. Then there are saucy and meaty sloppy joes. One day I was inspired to mash the two together to create these cheesesteak sloppy joes—magic stuffed between toasted buns. It's delicious and I hope you try it!

Brown lean ground beef, chopped onions, and bell peppers and create a quick sauce with ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and a little beef stock. Fold in pieces of provolone into the warm sauce creating a gooey, cheesy, meaty concoction loved by all. Add a slice of provolone to toasted brioche buns, top with the Philly cheesesteak sloppy joe mixture, and you’ve got a quick tasty dinner on your hands. 

Tips for Making Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Here are some tips to nail this recipe:

  • Be sure to break up the ground beef into small pieces as it cooks. I use the side of a wooden spoon to break them apart.
  • When simmering the sloppy joe mixture make sure your heat is on low, so it doesn’t burn. It will thicken up as it cooks. 
  • Add the provolone cheese into the mixture right before serving. It will melt and get super cheesy. Then, add a slice of provolone cheese on a toasted bun and pile the sloppy joe mixture on top of it. This slice of cheese adds an extra layer of melty goodness and more importantly, it helps prevent the bottom bun from getting soggy.
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Nick Evans / Simply Recipes

Delicious Flavor Boosters To Try

Want to switch up this recipe? Here are some ideas:

  • Add sliced mushrooms.
  • Add diced jalapeños for a spicy version.
  • Add coleslaw for a textural contrast.
  • You could add a drizzle of Cheez Whiz to the sloppy joe. I prefer them with just the provolone. That said, you do you! 

How To Serve Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

As I see it, there are tons of options for what to serve with these sloppy joes. If you are in a hurry, bagged chips and jarred pickles on the side are perfect. If you have time to fix up something on the side, consider these:

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Nick Evans / Simply Recipes

Sandwiches for Dinner, Yes Please! 

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Servings 6 servings
Yield 6 sandwiches

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 small white onion, chopped

  • 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

  • 1 pound lean beef, 90/10 blend

  • 1/2 cup beef stock

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 12 slices provolone cheese, divided

  • 6 bun brioche buns store-bought or homemade

Method

  1. Cook the vegetables:

    In a large skillet set over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions and bell peppers. Cook until soften, 6 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently. The vegetables shouldn’t brown at this point, just soften.

    Vegetables Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes
  2. Cook the beef:  

    Add the ground beef and use a wooden spoon to break it up into small pieces as it cooks. Cook until the meat is browned, 5 to 6 minutes.

    Meat on Top of Vegetables Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes
  3. Make it saucy:

    Stir in the stock, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until the mixture thickens.

    Stack 6 slices provolone cheese on a cutting board and use a chef’s knife to cut them into 1/2-inch pieces. Right before serving, stir in the cut cheese.

    Cooked Meat and Vegetables + Sauce Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes
    Meat + Cheese for Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes
    Melted Cheese and Meat for Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes
  4. Assemble the sloppy joes: 

    Toast the brioche buns in a toaster oven or toaster. Lay the remaining 6 slices provolone cheese on each brioche bun half. Top the cheese with heaping spoonfuls of the sloppy joe mixture and the top bun. Serve warm.

    If you have leftover sloppy joe mixture, good news! It keeps beautifully in the fridge for 4 to 5 days and reheats well in the microwave or in a skillet with a splash of water or stock. 

    You can freeze the mixture in freezer-safe container for 3 months. Thaw it before reheating. If you need to thaw it quickly, you can do so in the microwave.

    Did you love this recipe? Give us some stars below!

    Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

    Nick Evans / Simply Recipes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
746 Calories
43g Fat
45g Carbs
44g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 746
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 43g 55%
Saturated Fat 24g 121%
Cholesterol 232mg 77%
Sodium 1190mg 52%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 16mg 79%
Calcium 483mg 37%
Iron 5mg 30%
Potassium 669mg 14%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.