Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes with peppers, onions, and provolone will make you forget canned sauce and make you LOVE sloppy joes again!
Sloppy Joes are such and easy Sandwich Recipe that always make the perfect family meal. I love this Philly Cheese Steak version as well as some of my other popular variations like Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes and Pot Roast Sloppy Joes!
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
My Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joe recipe came together almost accidentally. I already had Philly Cheese Steak Grilled Cheese sandwiches in my weeknight dinner rotation for years, and one day I’d made a skillet of the meat filling but didn’t have sandwich bread. With just a few adjustments to make the mixture extra gooey and “sloppy,” I created this sloppy joe version, which may be even more of a crowd-pleaser. It’s a reliable meal that you can whip together and serve in hamburger buns any night!
EDITED: You guys are amazing! In just 7 16 30 days my readers loved this recipe so much it was re-pinned over 125,000 175,000 520,000 times. If you want to read some reviews from people who have already made the recipe, check out the “tried it” responses on this pin (then re-pin it to keep this magic going!).
What You’ll Need
- Cast Iron Skillet: This is my most used pan in my kitchen, heavy, keeps heat well and gives the best sear ever.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Do not leave this out or sub it for anything else, this is a main flavor component in the savory sandwich recipe.
- Provolone Cheese: I originally made this recipe with 8 ounces of cheese, or two cups, and it was super cheesy which we love. But I would suggest starting with 1 cup, then adding a bit at a time until it’s where you like it so you don’t overdo it.
- Cheez Whiz: I know what you are thinking, Cheez Whiz? This isn’t even in the ingredients. Yes, I know…because it is a secret guilty pleasure. I add it to the top of my sloppy joes even with the Provolone mixed in. I won’t lie, it isn’t high end, but it is DARN good.
How To Make
Time needed: 30 minutes
- Brown beef
Add the ground beef to a hot skillet. Once it starts to brown, break the beef apart and stir until a deep crust appears on about half the meat.
- Cook vegetables
Remove the beef from the pan, and add the butter, onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Let brown for 1-2 minutes, then stir. Leave it for another 2 minutes, and stir again. Then add the beef back into the pan
- Add sauce ingredients
Mix beef broth and cornstarch together. Then, add it to the pan with the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3-5 minutes so the liquid reduces.
- Serve
Turn off the heat. Then, add the provolone cheese, and serve the cheesesteak mixture over toasted brioche buns.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion , diced
- 1 small green bell pepper , diced
- 8 ounces brown mushrooms , minced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup beef broth
- 8 ounces Provolone Cheese Slices , chopped (use 6oz if you don't want it very cheesy)
- 6 brioche hamburger buns
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large cast iron skillet (this browns very well) and brown until a deep brown crust appears before breaking the beef apart.
- Stir the ground beef and brown until a deep crust appears on about 50 or so percent of the beef.
- Remove the beef (you can leave the fat) and add the butter and the onions and bell peppers and mushrooms.
- Let brown for 1-2 minutes before stirring, then let brown for another 1-2 minutes before stirring again.
- Add the beef back into the pan.
- In a small cup mix the beef broth and cornstarch together
- Add the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, beef broth/cornstarch mixture into the pan.
- Cook until the mixture is only slightly liquidy (about 75% of the mixture is above liquid), 3-5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, add in the provolone cheese. Start with half the cheese and then add a bit more at a time until it's as cheesy as you like it.
- Served on toasted brioche buns.
Nutrition
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Alternate Serving Idea
This Hamburger Helper version is the second variation of this that I ended up making a week after preparing these sloppy joes for the first time. I posted a recipe for this too, but here is a quick summary:
- Cook exactly as described except double the broth (leave the cornstarch the same).
- Do not rinse your macaroni, the starch will keep the sauce thickened.
- At the step where you’d add the cheese, instead add the macaroni.
- Stir it well together and cook for 30 seconds or until thickened.
- Add in the Provolone Cheese and stir for just a couple of seconds, and serve immediately.
Slow Cooker Version
- To make this recipe in the slow cooker, add the Ingredients (minus the cheese and buns) to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Use half the amount of beef broth.
- If the sauce is not thick add in another 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon room temperature water. Cook for an additional 30 minutes on low.
Looking for more Cheese Steak recipes?
The following images have been used in previous versions of this post:
This was great! Everyone really enjoyed it. I did add garlic to mine because we are garlic lovers, and topped with jalapenos based on reviews. It did seem like it was missing a little something, so when I reheated it (reheats super well), I added a little A-1 to it and stirred it up. Just added a little more something to it. But it was great without at well.
You are a whiz in the kitchen aren’t you! Thanks so much for trying our Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes and if you’d like here’a link to some of our other Sloppy Joe recipes: https://dinnerthendessert.com/?s=sloppy+joe. You’ll see we are HUGE fans of Sloppy Joes at our house! Thank you for 5 star review Ali!
Love PS sandwiches and this recipe is delicious! I made for a football party and used the King’s Hawaiian rolls. Will definitely try on my favorite, the onion roll!
I made this tonight. I followed the recipe with three minor changes. I added 2 jalapeños (unfortunately they weren’t spicy), used Cooper sharp American cheese, and served on a toasted hoagie bun. This was absolutely amazing! I didn’t feel that is was like a sloppy joe but more of an awesome cheesesteak hoagie. Thanks for the great recipe. It was quick to make too?. Wish I could post a pic.
I made this tonight. I followed the recipe with three minor changes. I added 2 jalapeños (unfortunately they weren’t spicy), used Cooper sharp American cheese, and served on a toasted hoagie bun. This was absolutely amazing! I didn’t feel that is was like a sloppy joe but more of an awesome cheesesteak hoagie. Thanks for the great recipe. It was quick to make too?. Wish I could post a pic.
My husband and I totally enjoyed this version of sloppy Joe’s. I did add a little bit of Dijon mustard, and some red pepper flakes for a little bit of a kick. I will be making this again!
This is seriously one of my favorites!!! Feeds the family w/leftovers which is a plus. I usually add a little extra cheese and sometimes if I’m feeling spicy, I add a little jalapeño with the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms.
Love it
Thank you Kathy and thank you for the 5 stars!
Made this today for a family gathering on Labor Day. Incredible aroma and so simple. Tasted and it’s delicious.Plan on serving in old fashioned plastic restaurant baskets with chips, fruit, and brownies. Easy, no laboring on the last summer holiday.
Glad you’re not laboring on Labor Day and that the recipe turned out for you all!
Followed the recipe almost to a T. Loved how the cast iron skillet carmelized the meat for flavor. Only change was to add a little minced garlic and some pepperoni I as a other reviewer suggested. My husband loved it!
Ahhhmazing
This was excellent and a huge hit! My kiddo hates onions and peppers but I left them in and just cooked them longer to avoid the crunch. I only received positive feedback and not one comment about the onions or peppers. Will definitely add to the rotation. Thank you!
I make this recipe all the time. Delicious!! In fact, any recipe you offer named Philly Cheesesteak is a hit here. Thank you!
A new family favorite!
Fabulous recipe!!! Made it and was super delicious! Used this recipe for camping, cooked ahead of time without the cheese, froze it, and reheated on a camping stove and added the cheese at that point and it was a huge hit!!! Everyone was asking for the recipe! Make this, you won’t regret it
A camping stove?!! Wow! That’s great. Thanks so much for your five star rating!
Fabulous recipe, and way delicious!!! We took this camping. I made ahead (minus the cheese) froze and put in a cooler then reheating on a camping stove with the cheese and man did that make for happy campers, everyone thought it was awesome and will definitely be making again! This would also be great for a pot luck/picnic of sorts! Highly recommend
I love this recipe so much! It’s definitely one of my family staples. I will serve it with a side salad or steamed broccoli, kettle potato chips and the chips are so nice for getting up all that extra sloppy Joe. I also add quite a bit more green pepper for added nutrition. Sneak in veggies where I can!
Next time I will use less broth bit overall it has great flavor. I diced up some pepperochinis with garlic and it added a nice kick. Will definitely make again.
Great idea to add pepperochinis! Thanks Jeremy
Forgot to leave a review the first time I made this. So, this is my second time making it and it was requested. Have to say love your recipe because I don’t get requests to make something a second time. Thanks
Thanks Sandra for the kind words. Means a lot!
Made this several times and have to double it!! Grown kids find out I am making it they show up with their families and my 2 neighbors usually show up when I make this!! Everyone loves it! I have made 2 changes that we like better. Instead of provolone cheese I use pepper jack and instead of brioche buns I use onion Hawaiian buns. But this is definitely a dinner game changer! Also it’s great to eat without bread or with tortilla chips or on flour tortillas!!! Thank you!!
Thanks Shelly! You’re super generous to feed everyone. They’re lucky to have you.
Now I’m sad I didn’t see this comment before I went to the store. Hawaiian rolls sound PERFECT ? TYSM for the idea!
Can you use sharp cheddar cheese instead of provolone?
Sure. Enjoy.
We’ve made this recipe countless times. It’s a winner!! We love to smother it in cheese whiz or velveeta instead of provolone. Thanks Sabrina for another awesome recipe!!
Sounds tasty!
This recipe is amazing, it’s so good. My husband loved it. Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome! We love it too!
A friend sent this recipe to me and we love it!! It is amazing!!
I tried this Philly Sloppy Joe’s today and it’s a wonderful recipe – thanks!
Made this ! It was not to my liking. It smelled very bad! I think it was the provolone cheese. Will never make again. Threw it out.
oh no, that sounds awful.
You could try without the provolone, it doesn’t HAVE to be added. Just a thought.
There was nothing awful about it, unless you dislike some of the ingredients which doesn’t make it awful if you don’t like the ingredients!
Yummy! So good
These were such a hit my son would like this served at his graduation party. Have you made in large quantities ahead of time and warmed up in an electric roaster?
I haven’t but I think it would be totally doable. Good luck!
I would make it without the cheese and add that as its warming up.
My husband loved this! I followed the recipe mostly as written. Used ground beef, red and white onion. Orange bell pepper (I don’t like green pepper) and mushrooms. I used the amount of cheese listed and it was very cheesy. the cheese was very stringy though. Wondering if I missed something or if it’s supposed to be like that? Still tasted very good
This was good but I didn’t put ketchup in mine. It was delicious
These were so good! I did have to add a little more seasoning and also added jalapeños. They were a hit with the whole family and I’ll definitely be making them again! Thanks for the great recipe.
Oooh, yes, I like that (adding jalapenos). I live in New Mexico, and it’s common to add green chiles to just about everything here, lol. So I may add some jalapeno along with my green chile to the recipe when I make it later this week.
Made this over weekend to serve to company. Divided it onto 1/2 as written and 1/2 with jalapeños. The winner was with the peppers. Comments were the as written half was lacking something. But differently a keeper with jalapeños added. Thank you.
Just made this last night! Absolutely fantastic! I added a little bit of diced fresh jalapeños (I’ll just slice them next time because they got lost in the flavor).
I also didn’t have provolone on hand so I used cheddar-jack with a lil mozzarella. (Was delish! But I’ll be sure to use provolone for that truly authentic taste going forward).
Totally forgot the black pepper on accident but these turned out DELISH! I used regular buns. The whole night I kept going back for little spoonfuls. Even cold it stayed creamy, melty, and so so good.
This is now a regular thing in our house!
Made this over weekend to serve to company. Divided it onto 1/2 as written and 1/2 with jalapeños. The winner was with the peppers. Comments were the as written half was lacking something. But differently a keeper with jalapeños added. Thank you.
As many of the people that made this have said, I didn’t have a few of the ingredients on hand so I used some substitutes. I only had regular 73/27 ground beef. This left a lot of fat so I had to drain it. While doing this I accidentally poured it all out. I didn’t have a green pepper but luckily found a poblano in the bottom of the fridge that had not gone bad yet. In my potato box I did find 1 yellow onion. This was one of 2 ingredients in the recipe I used other than salt and pepper. I mean who doesn’t have salt and pepper in their kitchen really. No broth or cornstarch but I did have just enough woostershire, wustershire, woustershire (oh whatever you know what I mean). I feel like that made the flavor match perfectly with how this was supposed to turn out. For cheese I had half a block of velveta and a little cream cheese so I used that. After a good stir this made for a cast iron skillet full of creamy deliciousness. I will definitely be using more of your recipes in the future!
One of our regular dinners! I only add extra provolone because we love cheese in our house. We all love it!
I didn’t have some of the ingredients like the pepper or mushrooms. I used paprika 1/2 tsp, Himalayan pink salt instead of the Kosher a few turns of the grinder. I also added dried chopped onions and dried chives 1 tsp each. I didn’t use all of the cheese but enough when it was gooey and coagulated.
We enjoyed it. I’m sure it will be even better with additional ingredients.
Sabrina I use so many of your recipes! Making this again tonight! Love the original recipe, but have tweaked a bit for our taste..we go a little lighter on the green pepper, and a bit less of the Worcestershire – our Super Bowl was the Daytona 500- made these & added some jalapeno’s..yum, yum, yum!!
Thanks for all the wonderful recipes that have become favorites of ours – I pass them on to our daughter as well as our 2 daughter-in-laws when they as what I’ve tried lately!
This recipe should be called “Sloppy Phil”, recipe was good!
I made these for Super Bowl Sunday. The only tweak I made is that I added Chili Sauce with the ketchup which gave it a different kick. I used Hoagie Buns and melted the provolone cheese on them under the broiler and then put the meat mixture on them and added some more provolone! Can’t wait for leftovers!
Chili Sauce! yum
We love this recipe! I am wanting to try it in the slow cooker, do I need to cook the meat before? Or can I put it in raw?
Yes, cook the meat as directed in the recipe first and after draining, add to your slow cooker. Reference our Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich recipe https://dinnerthendessert.com/slow-cooker-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/.
I have made this in a skillet and it is delicious!! Our favorite sloppy joes. I’m wanting to try it in the slow cooker.
Do I need to cook the meat before I put it in? Or can I put it in raw?
Yes, cook the meat as directed in the recipe first and after draining, add to your slow cooker. Reference our Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich recipe https://dinnerthendessert.com/slow-cooker-philly-cheese-steak-sandwiches/
So good (even though I skipped the veggies so I didn’t have to go to the store) and so fast! I browned some bahn mi buns instead of brioche but I will be making these for years to come. Thank you for the recipe.
Delicious! I used ground turkey instead of beef, skipped the mushrooms and added extra Worcestershire sauce to deepen the beef flavor since I used turkey.
I used shaved beef instead of ground and added garlic salt. Melted the cheese in the broiler after building the sandwiches and this was a big hit. It is now on our rotation of weekday meals. Thank you!
Thank you Jorge. Several have asked if they could sub out ground beef for shaved beef and I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the 5 star review!
My husband says these are his favorite!!!!!
Incredible recipe! Have made it several times and the whole family loved it. Some eat it with rice instead of the bun and it’s amazing for weekly lunch meal prep
Great recipe. I added some Dijon mustard and garlic for seasonings plus more ketchup and worcestershire. Also needed a good bit more salt and pepper. Will for sure make this again.
Made this tonight for myself and hubby (no veggies because he’s picky) for the 4th time. It’s a winner in our house.
Absolutely amazing!
This is awesome especially made with ground chuck and OMG ! Thus has ruined me for regular sloppy Joe’s now! Try this you will love it
These were amazingly good! Sloppy Joe has always been my favorite. Now I have another favorite sandwich.
Can this be made ahead of time and refrigerated for several days, even after adding cheese?
Loved it very simple and tasted great
Hi! I made this recipe and it was amazing. The only thing I regret is keeping the beef grease. I should have strained it because there was so much fat/oil leftover.
We made this super delicious! Wondering if this can be done to make a patty?