Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes came about when I went to make our regular sloppy joes recipe and was missing some ingredients. It is meaty, flavor-packed, and cheesy all on a toasted brioche bun.
One day my mom was telling me how she only uses my sloppy joes recipe now instead of her old recipe. It totally made me crave them so when I went to make them I realized I was lacking ingredients so we made a Philly version and have been sold ever since! I love that it’s an even easier version!
Besides this being insanely delicious and comfort food at it’s finest, the best news is that the ingredients are simple and likely ones you already have on hand.
Make this Philly version and thank me later!
How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes start the same way regular sloppy joes do by browning the beef. We like to use either 80% or 85% lean ground beef for maximum flavor. Brown the beef over medium high heat in a skillet by placing the beef into the pan and allowing a brown crust to form on the meat before breaking the meat up. This helps heighten the flavor. When the meat is browned, remove the meat from the pan leaving the grease in the pan.
Add a tablespoon of butter and then add the pepper and onions. Let the vegetables sit and brown before stirring. Then let them sit and brown for a couple minutes again before stirring. Remove any excess grease that may be still in the pan and then add the beef back into the pan.
Meanwhile, add the beef broth and cornstarch to a measuring cup and mix them together. This will be a thickening agent for the Philly cheesesteak mixture.
Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper to the vegetables and meat and give it a good stir. Then add the beef broth and cornstarch mixture and stir everything together. Let everything simmer in the pan until it thickens and is no longer watery. It will take about 3-5 minutes. Add the mozzarella cheese to the meat and let is sit for a few minutes to melt.
As the meat simmers, butter the brioche buns and toast them in the broiler until they are golden brown. Serve the Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes on the toasted brioche buns and eat while hot. See FAQ section below for other options for the buns.
Can Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Be Made in the Instant Pot?
These sloppy joes can definitely be made in the Instant Pot. Brown the meat and then the peppers and onions in the Instant Pot in “Saute” mode. Remove the grease and then add all the remaining ingredients except the cheese.
Cook the mixture on “Manual” for 5 minutes and then do a quick release. Open the lid and the cheese to the top of the meat mixture. Place the lid back on and let it sit for a couple of minutes to let the cheese melt. Then it is ready to serve up on the toasted buns.
Can Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Be Made in the Slow Cooker?
I suppose it could, but I don’t see a reason to make it in a slow cooker. Everything would have to be cooked ahead of time. And finishing the Philly cheesesteak mixture only takes a few minutes on the stove top, so I wouldn’t see a benefit to doing it in the slow cooker.
What to Eat with Philly Cheesesteak?
Many things go great with Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes. It all depends on what you are in the mood for, what season it is, and how light or heavy you want your meal to be. Here are a few ideas to cover all your bases:
- Mexican Street Corn – Elote
- Roasted Garlic Veggies
- Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan French Fries
- Grilled Lemon Pepper Asparagus
- Roasted Root Veggies
FAQ
What is the Best Meat for Cheesesteak?
If you’re making a traditional Philly cheesesteak, you’ll want to get thinly sliced ribeye steak. That can get a little pricey, so a top sirloin is also a good choice. If you’re making these sloppy joes, all you need is some good ground beef (80% or 85% lean).
What is a Sloppy Joe?
A sloppy joe is a type of sandwich that is made with ground beef or pork and onions with the addition of tomato sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and other simple seasonings like salt and pepper. They are served on a hamburger bun. This is a United States original dish.
What Could You Substitute for Brioche Buns?
Any good quality hamburger bun would be a great substitute for brioche buns in this recipe. Since they are sloppy joes, you want to avoid the cheap hamburger buns. They won’t hold up to the sloppiness.
Is Philly Cheesesteak a Hoagie?
Yes! Traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwiches are served on hoagie rolls making them hoagie sandwiches.
Can You Eat Philly Cheesesteak Cold?
Whhhhhyyyyy? Philly cheesesteaks should be hot with gooey melty cheese. They would be safe to eat cold if they had been fully cooked previously, but I would definitely recommend eating them hot!
Sometimes missing some ingredients results in deliciously happy accidents! Cook up these Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, and I promise they are going to be a new family favorite!
More Philly Cheesesteak Recipes:
- Philly Cheesesteaks
- Philly Cheesesteak Nachos
- Easy Philly Cheesesteak Bread
- Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
- Philly Cheesesteak Soup
More Sloppy Joes Recipes:
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Description
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef, 80% or 85% lean
- 1 Tablespoon Butter
- 1 Onion, Small, 1/2 diced, 1/2 minced
- 1 Bell Pepper, Green, diced
- 2 Tablespoons Ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper, fresh ground
- 1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
- 1 Cup Beef Broth
- 8 oz. Cheddar Cheese, or Mozzarella
- 6 Buns, brioche hamburger
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
- Add the ground beef and brown until a deep brown crust appears before breaking the beef apart.
- Remove the beef (you can leave the fat) and add the butter and the onions and bell peppers. Let brown for 1-2 minutes before stirring, then let brown for another 1-2 minutes before stirring again.
- Remove any excess grease. Add the beef back into the pan.
- In a small measuring cup mix the beef broth and cornstarch together.
- Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, and whisk then pour the beef broth/cornstarch mixture into the pan.
- Cook until the mixture is mostly soaked up so it’s not as watery, about 3-5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add in the cheese.
- In a pan, heat a little more butter over medium high heat and toast the buns then remove to a plate. Serve meat on toasted brioche buns.
Notes
Nutrition
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Russ
This is fantastic. I think I will make this my {go too} Sloppy Joe recipe. This is so easy to make and the flavor is spot on with the Philly- Cheesesteak.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Thank you so much Russ! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Lindsey
Have you tried freezing this? Our family loves this recipe and I was thinking about making it ahead of time for a quick postpartum meal, but didn’t know how it would hold up.
Sweet Basil
Yes, it freezes great! It can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Danielle
Greetings from Calgary, Alberta!
Made these tonight (with a few substitutions; equal parts ketchup and barbecue sauce, habenero cheese, red pepper flakes, and added some garlic) and they were a hit! I’ll be keeping this recipe on hand, and make into sliders for get togethers.
Thank for for another fantastic recipe!
Sweet Basil
Sliders is a great idea! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment Danielle and for the support!
Yvonne Eugenio
So easy and so tasty. Will definitely make again. Next time I’ll make sliders and use Hawaiian sweet rolls.
Sweet Basil
Yummm! Great idea! Thank you so much Yvonne!
Emily H
I don’t know why this recipe doesn’t have more reviews! This is sooooo yummy. I used better than buillion for my beef broth and that may have helped some but this had such a wonderful beefy umami flavor. It’s also simple to make! For anyone on the fence, you need to make this!!! It’s going on my rotation 😉
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Emily!! We love this recipe too!
Jenn
This was easy and delicious! It would have been better as written, but I just had 97 percent lean beef so I used that. It worked just fine and the onions, peppers, sauce and (extra) cheese kept it from being dry.
Thanks for another great recipe!
Sweet Basil
Thank you for the feedback Jenn! So glad you enjoyed it!
Thea Stone
This was freaking delicious!! Definitely will be making these again!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Thea!
Megan M.
Sooooo yummy! As I’m feeding just myself, this definitely will feed me for a few days and that makes me happy! I’m allergic to fresh onions so I just left those out and used onion powder it was still great.
Glenna
We made this yesterday for lunch–delicious! Thank you!
Sweet Basil
Now that’s a good lunch! So glad you enjoyed it!