Best Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the disclosure policy.
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are the best sloppy joes you will ever have! This easy recipe combines your favorite Philly cheese steak and homemade sloppy joes into one amazing meal!
Philly cheese steak sloppy joes are essentially Philly cheese steak recipe with ground beef, served on toasted hamburger buns instead of hoagie or sub rolls. There is something special about combining steak and cheese: mouthwatering cheesy, sweet and savory flavor in each bite. You cannot resist it!
These Philly Steak Sloppy Joes are quick and easy to make, and popular with both adults and kids. It’s one of my favorite dinner ideas, along with Steak Sandwich, Slow Cooker Cubed Beef, Chicken Sliders, and Fried Mac n Cheese Burger.
HOW TO MAKE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES
This recipe combines two classics into one dish: the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich and Sloppy Joes! It’s easy to make and will be on your dinner table in less than 30 minutes.
Key ingredients include ground beef, onions, green pepper, provolone, homemade cheesesteak sauce and hamburger buns.
- Start with browning the ground beef and vegetables. Drain off any fat that accumulates.
- Add in the beef broth, ketchup, Worchester sauce, salt and pepper. Then add cornstarch and water mixture. Cook for a few minutes until the mixture is thick enough to start forming mounds.
- Remove your skillet from heat, add cheese and slowly stir it in. The hot mixture will melt your cheese very nicely. I find provolone is a great option for this cheese steak recipe.
- Butter and toast your buns, and scoop the beef mixture on top of each bottom buns and cover with the remaining bun halves. Serve and enjoy!
You can also scroll down for a video tutorial showing each step.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLOPPY JOES
- If you use regular ground beef (fatter than 90% lean beef), it’s best to strain out the fat after you brown the beef.
- After you add all the sauce ingredients to the meat mixture, a quick taste-test would give you the best flavor that just tailors for your family. Adjust the seasoning according to your preference.
- Don’t dry out the sauce. The best sloppy joes should have a thick but moist consistency.
- You don’t have to mix the cheese into the beef. You can top your sloppy joes with your favorite cheese and bake them all in the oven.
- To make it ahead, you can cook all ingredients except the cheese and buns. Let the mixture cool down and store it in the fridge. When you are ready, just heat the mixture up and follow the rest of the steps.
CAN I MAKE PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES IN A SLOW COOKER?
Yes, you can make this recipe in a crockpot. Just add all ingredients except cheese and buns. Cook on low for about 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
PHILLY CHEESE STEAK SLOPPY JOES RECIPE VIDEO:
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced or in chunks
- 8 hamburger buns
- 1 tbsp butter, optional
Instructions
- Place a large nonstick pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Coat the pan with oil, and add the ground beef.
- Stir for 3-5 minutes until the beef is mostly browned. Strain out most of the fat that accumulates.
- Add in the onions and bell peppers, and stir for 2-3 minutes until the onions are translucent.
- Add in the beef broth followed by the ketchup, Worchester sauce, salt and pepper.
- Mix cornstarch with a tablespoon of water in a cup, and add to the pan, stirring constantly as it will start thickening quickly.
- Within a few minutes, the mixture should be thick enough to start forming mounds.
- Remove from heat, add cheese and slowly stir it in. Meanwhile, start toasting the buns.
- Once cheese is fully melted, spoon onto buns. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Use a large skillet to brown your ground beef so it’s not too crowded. If your skillet is not big enough, you can brown the meat in two batches. To get the maximum flavor, it’s better to cook the beef until it forms a deep brown crust.
- Make sure NOT to dry out all the sauce. The best sloppy joes have a thick but moist consistency. So cook your mixture until it still has about 10% to 15% liquid.
- You can toast your buns under broiler or bake the assembled buns for a few minutes. The toasting and baking process will prevent your buns from getting too soggy. Another tip is to add butter to your buns and it will give your sloppy joes extra delicious flavor.
Please read our nutrition disclaimer.
Editor Note: Post updated 6/9/2019 with additional information.
More Ground Beef Recipes You’ll Love:
View All Ground Beef Recipes
© TIPBUZZ. Images and text on this website are copyright protected. Please do not post or republish without permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please link back to this post. This post may contain affiliate links. Read the disclosure policy here.
Best sloppy Joe’s ever. Will make them again soon.
Hi Randy, Amazing to hear that and so glad you liked them. Thanks for your comment too!
Loved this recipe! It was easy to make, although a bit hectic at the end when you toast the buns and mix the cheese in… But, so worth it! My husband really liked it too! He added Tabasco to his. Bought Hawaiian hamb buns by mistake but they were perfect toasted! Thank you!
Hi Bernie, Great to hear and thanks for all your feedback!
Awesome! Maybe a touch less worchestershire sauce but really flavorful and gooey! very glad it didn’t have mushrooms!
I’ve made this recipe many times… but not for 4 or 6 months. I load it this time and find it changed…It use to include mushrooms. this goes to show that you need to print or copy recipes when you find and like them. never can guarantee continuity.
Made this tonight for me and my husband according the recipe, and there were no leftovers! Turned out great and the only thing we did differently was eat them on gluten free buns instead of regular ones since I am gluten intolerant. 🙂 Will definitely be making this again!
Hi Kaitlin, Thanks so much for your feedback and glad it worked out. Good note about gluten-free buns too!
Great variation on traditional Sloppy Joes. Fast, easy, and delicious.
This was a quick and easy meal to make. I put ours on the sweet Hawaiian rolls and they tasted pretty yummy that way. My son who is a very picky eater even at them and went back for seconds. Will be making this again.
Hi Arline, Wow I am so happy to hear that and nothing like satisfying a picky eater, right? Thank you!
I’m 62 tired of the same foods and I’m no cook, wanted something different and saw your recipe tried it and totally enjoyed it, thank you
Amazing
Hi Kathy, Awesome – thanks!
Just made this again for the 3rd time. Soooo goooood.
Hi Lavaughn, So great to heat that and thanks for letting me know 🙂
This was so good just made this Yummy!
Hi Foster, Great to hear and thanks for your comment!
It wasn’t great. Kinda disappointing really. It wasn’t inedible but I wouldn’t make it again.
I made these for the 1st time last night. They were a big hit with my husband, so much that he made sure there were leftovers. The recipe made much more than the 2 of us could eat. Dinner for another night.
Hi SanDee, Thanks for letting me know. Great to hear that!
Doubled the recipe. Didn’t have beef broth so I used chicken broth and packaged beef gravy mix. Heated buttered bolillo rolls in the oven with the cheese on them so I didn’t over do the cheese on hubby’s sandwich
DELICIOUS!! The only thing I will do differently next time is add the cheese to the meat mixture. Great recipe!
OMG that sounds amazing!! Congrats on your culinary creativity and thanks so much for your feedback 🙂
I made this for the 4th because we were expecting thunderstorms. I doubled the recipe except for the beef broth and the corn starch. I used the amounts for a single recipe for those 2 items. Everyone loved them!! Will make them again!
Hi Cynthia, That’s amazing, so honored to be part of your 4th! Thanks for your review too 🙂
Hi! Going to make this for dinner tonight but I don’t have any beef broth. Could I just leave it out or what can I sub it with?
Hi Suheil, Thanks for your question. You can sub any other broth like chicken or vegetable, or just use water as a last resort. Enjoy! 🙂
Skipped the veg oil. Other than that AMAZING
Hi Alana, Amazing to hear that – woohoo! Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Can I cook now to have for supper? It is 1:3 PM
Hi Susan, Thanks and yes absolutely you can cook it last minute for a delicous dinner! 🙂
Loved it. Used toasted bulky rolls for my husband. I have celiac so had it without bun but still loved it so much with French fries and chopped tomatoes. A keeper.
Hi Lisa, Sounds delicious the way you made it! Thanks so much for your comment and hope you’ll try more TipBuzz recipes:)
So I made this tonight and it was terrible! I followed the recipe to a t and it reminded me of a poor version of hamburger helper!! Will definitely not be making this again… not even if I find myself (God forbid) homeless!
Just a simple,”didn’t like it” probably gets the idea across.
Agreed.
Decided to make this for lunch.
My family ACTUALLY liked it and they are super picky.
It was quick and easy! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Tammy, Awesome to hear and thanks so much for your review! 🙂
Philly Burger,LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT!!!.
🙂 🙂 Thanks Moriano!
“It is a keeper” is what my family said. It was easy and delish and definitely not to soupy. Perfect week night meal.
Thanks Shawn, music to my ears! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Just made this tonight I agree maybe double the cornstarch but I did half of pound of cheese as I love cheese and it thickened it.
Hi Lazaro, Sounds so good!! Thanks for your review and glad you enjoyed 🙂
My fiance and i loved this. It came out a little “sloppy”. Lol. Yes. So next time i will lessen the broth or use 2:2 ratio on cornstarch. Plenty of leftovers for drowning some fries with. I also only used 3 pieces of cheese! Amazing. Added to my recipe book!
Hi Nikki, Thanks for your review, and SO HAPPY to hear how well it turned out! 🙂
I liked these! By the way, is it possible to substitute this recipe with ground turkey?
(I am trying to cut down on red meat)
Hi Elijah, Thanks and happy to hear that. Ground turkey should be fine although I haven’t tried it yet. Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Made this and the family loved it I made my own beef broth and I doubled every thing I was concerned it mighty effect the flavor but if It did we didn’t notice ! Defiantly more of a sloppy joe flavor which is not what I had hoped this recipe would be initially but it turned out well and I would defiently do it again. I didn’t have to adjust the corn starch once it started to cool it thickened right up.
Thanks Tenesa and so glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
I made this tonight for dinner and the fam loved it thanks for sharing your recipe
Awesome Leah thanks for your feedback and glad you enjoyed 🙂
I ended up using a 2:2 ratio. Two(2) tbsp. Cornstarch to two(2)tbsp water.
Delish! Making again tonight, this time without the ketchup, WS, & cutting broth in half. Family loved it!
I made this for dinner tonight and my family ate the whole thing! Not one bite left! I thought it was very good as well. I had to do 3 table spoons of corn starch instead of one but nonetheless it was amazing!
I made this plant based!! Instead of using ground beef, I used Bova veggie crumbles. Instead of provolone cheese, I used Vegan/dairy-free cheese. I added mushrooms and instead of any oil, I used a little vegetable broth to sauté the vegetables. No need to add any additional broth or cornstarch. It was amazing!! Will definitely make again!! ???
Wondering if I can make ahead and then freeze. Should I add cheese when I make it or add later when heated? Thanks
Did you ever find out if you could freeze this?
The original Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches are made with shaved beef, onions, salt, pepper and white American cheese and sometimes a little marinara sauce on request. That is all! No peppers or anything else.
Go to South Street in Phi lly and check it out.
We made these tonight but I added sliced mushrooms to make it a “Real” Philly cheese steak,they turned out really well!!! My very picky 12 year old even liked them minus the mushrooms. Lol
5☆ Recipe
Definitely a go to recipe for now on!!!
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing and congrats on satisfying your 12-yr-old 🙂 🙂
This was delicious!! Big hit, even with my very picky husband!! I didn’t have beef broth, but I had some beef au jous in a jar and it worked great!
Trying it tonight but I’m using ground chicken like philly chicken sandwiches. I find subbing the ground meats with turkey or chicken ground make little difference if that’s what you’re used to. Go Eagles!
I made this and it was so good. I did cheddar cheese, mayo and pickles on toast. Yummy
\MADE IT WAS GREAT
I have made this many times.
I have used Provolone.
And I have used Cheeses Wiz Like the do on real Philly steak in Philly.
Great Recipe thank you so much for sharing.
Could this be done with ground turkey instead of beef?
Haven’t tried it but should be fine… Great idea! 🙂
I am trying this tonight for supper, but I don’t understand why you need to oil at the beginning, and I don’t understand why there needs to be a cup of beef broth that you then have to take it. I am going to try mostly leaving that out.
I made this for supper tonight. My husband and I loved it! We served with white cheddar Mac & cheese and French fries
Sounds delicious Shannon and so glad you enjoyed 🙂
Is there a substitute for ketchup for those allergic to tomatoes?
Hey Ashley, sure you can use a mild steak sauce instead of ketchup… enjoy 🙂
Made this tonight. Added I T more if cornstarch was just right.
Very good but next time I’d do 3 or 4 slices of cheese not 6 way to much cheese.
Is there such a thing as too much cheese??? ?
Can I make this in a crock pot instead? I am making it for a family get together.
Can this be made in a crock pot instead? I am making it for a family get together.
Hi Melinda, Haven’t tried it but it should work especially if you’re making a lot! LMK 🙂
Brown the hamburger before putting in the crockpot.
Made it and it was delicious.
Glad to hear Ann 🙂
Made this last night while I’m away from my home. Didn’t have cornstarch or flour. Used a packet of Mcormac’s brown gravy mix . Didn’t have to use any thickening and it was perfect and easy. Will definitely make again.
Awesome Mary – so glad to hear and love your creative improvisation 🙂
Is the nutrition facts including the bun?
Yes bun included
Mmmmmm! Just made this now, for the first time, and it was good! Husband also enjoyed it. I drained ALL of the fat from the oil and meat, {wondering why the oil was called for in the recipe} and I didn’t have a problem with it being too watery…. I added a slice or 2 more of provolone…I personally am not a “sloppy Joe, or Philly cheese steak” kind of person, but made it for the Hubs. We both enjoyed it! Never ever, in my 52 years had Worcestershire in the house! LOL! Now I have to find more recipes that call for it! I WILL make this again! 🙂
You can use worchestersire in chip beef gravy over toast(awesome) I also use it on my steak, love the taste?
I use Worcestershire sauce in my meatloaf; I can’t imagine it without it.
What can you substitute for the cornstarch – I don’t have it on hand?
Hi Mickie, All-purpose flour is the best substitute. If you premix it 1:1 with water using a fork or whisk, you won’t have any lumps. Hope that helps!
Made it an was very good. Will make again. Omitted cornstarch an I didn’t drain skimmed off grease an left juice. Also omitted beef broth.
What substitute can you use in place of Worcestershire sauce
Hi Sheree, half soy sauce and half white vinegar is the easiest with a teaspoon of molasses if you have some. Any reason you want to avoid it? There are more elaborate substitutions, but generally easier to buy the Worchestershire sauce 🙂
I was wondering the same thing. For me, the need for a sub is because I’m allergic to fish, and most Worcestershire sauce uses sardines or anchovies as a flavoring additive.
An easy fish-free substitute for Worcestershire sauce is equal parts soy sauce and rice vinegar (or white vinegar) with *optional* pinches of brown sugar, ginger powder, onion powder, garlic powder for extra flavor. Good luck 🙂
You may want to try tamarind vinegar and soy to get the full flavor. I use tamarind paste alot.
Hi Jackie, Great suggestion! Thanks 🙂
Made this for supper last night. It was delicious even though I forgot to add in the cornstarch.
So glad to hear that 🙂 🙂
As I don’t eat store bought meat would ground deer or bear work
I made this last night and they were delicious, only problem was it was too watery. I followed the directions and would make again, but next time use 1/2 the amount of beef broth.
I had the same issue. Used more cornstarch but it was still too runny. Ended up adding another pound of browned hamburger to it. Probably should have added more ketchup and Worcestershire sauce.
Whipped this up tonight and we really liked it a lot. I did use closer to 2tbsp of cornstarch to thicken. I also put a slice of swiss on my Sammich, and loved the flavor. Probably going to 1/2 provolone 1/2 swiss next time. ??????????
I haven’t made this, but was thinking I would use tomato paste to thicken instead of corn starch.
Hi Margaret, I haven’t tried it but should work if you don’t mind the change in flavor – more Sloppy Joe than Philly Cheesesteak 🙂
I made this tonight! Aside from not even tasting the ketchup and W sauce (not very sloppy joe-ish) and needing to add a bit more corn starch to finish thickening, it was pretty tasty! A great go-to for a quick meal.
Thanks for your feedback and glad it worked out ?
I’m glad I read this. I needed to add corn starch also. Otherwise it was fine and tasted good.
Agreed. Had to add more cornstarch. But I could smell the worcestershire sauce as soon as I added it.
This sounds yummy! I always keep shredded beef on hand made from cooking chuck roast & dry onion soup mix in the crock pot.