A Philly cheesesteak is a great sandwich. A sloppy joe is a great sandwich. So naturally, when you bring the two together they make an exceptionally great sandwich. With all the delicious mess of a sloppy joe and all the ooey-gooey meaty cheesiness of a Philly cheesesteak, it’s the perfect thing to put between a bun whether you’re looking for a quick-fix for dinner or trying to satisfy a comfort food craving. (Spoiler alert: it does both.)
I know there is plenty of debate out there surrounding what truly belongs in a Philly cheesesteak, but our sloppy joe version starts with green peppers and onions that are sauteed in butter until they’re soft and fragrant.
And of course there’s beef – it wouldn’t be a sloppy joe OR a Philly cheesesteak without it – but in this case it’s ground beef that cooks up quick in a saucy combination of Worcestershire, ketchup, garlic powder, and beef broth.
Cornstarch thickens that sauciness up a bit, but provolone cheese really brings it all together.
Oh boy, is it cheesy.
With this sandwich, you really get the best of both worlds. You get that signature savory meaty/cheesy combination from a cheesesteak but the messy glory of a sloppy joe, but a sloppy joe where all of that loose and saucy meat is held together by ooey-gooey cheesiness too. It’s a cheesy hearty mashup that’s totally family-friendly – it never disappoints!
Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 cup beef broth
- 8 oz provolone cheese slices
- 6 hamburger buns
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation
- Add ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, to a large skillet and cook until browned. Remove beef to a plate and set aside.
- Add butter, onions, and peppers to the skillet and brown until softened, 4-5 minutes.
- Return beef to skillet and stir in ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Mix cornstarch into a 2 tablespoons of the beef broth and add to pan. Stir in rest of beef broth.
- Let simmer until most liquid has absorbed and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Remove from heat, add provolone cheese and serve on toasted hamburger buns.
Recipe adapted from Dinner Then Dessert.