Craving a quick, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying weeknight meal? These Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are your answer! Get ready to transform dinner in 30 minutes or less with this delicious mashup that the whole family will adore.
As a passionate home cook and recipe developer, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of discovering a brand-new dish that not only tantalizes the taste buds but also simplifies the dinnertime dilemma. While our tried-and-true family favorites hold a special place in our hearts and on our weekly meal plans, the thought of eating the same rotation of meals indefinitely can, quite frankly, make me a little grumpy!
The culinary landscape is constantly evolving, and food blogging is no exception. It’s true that many bloggers, myself included at times (like with this beloved sour cream banana bread), delve into the archives to refresh and re-share timeless recipes with new photography or updated insights. However, my deep-seated love for creating and sharing innovative, exciting new recipes will never fade.
I recently had a conversation that sparked an interesting debate. Someone expressed feeling utterly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new recipes flooding their social feeds, Google searches, and screens daily. They wished food bloggers would halt the creation of new content and instead focus solely on refining and updating existing recipes – essentially a “stick with what you know” approach. While I appreciate the sentiment of minimizing digital clutter, my immediate reaction (admittedly, a slightly dramatic one!) was to jokingly consider unfriending them! We clearly inhabit different culinary planets when it comes to the appeal of fresh, exciting dishes versus revisited classics.
This candid conversation made me genuinely curious: **what’s your take?** Do you eagerly anticipate brand new recipe creations, or do you align with my friend who prefers to see tried-and-true archived recipes highlighted over sparkly new ones? Perhaps you enjoy a harmonious blend of both? It’s perfectly fine if you don’t have a strong opinion, but for those of you who do, I’d love to **hear your preferences in the comments below.** Your feedback truly helps shape the content I bring to this space.
Introducing a Delicious New Creation: Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes!
Yes, you heard that right! These Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are a brand NEW recipe, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share them with you. Yahoo for new recipes! Seriously, I absolutely adore developing and sharing them.
Now, I understand that by using the term “Philly,” I might be inviting a bit of good-natured criticism from purists, and I want to address that head-on. Let me assure you, I am absolutely NOT claiming these Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are an exact replica of an authentic Philly cheesesteak sandwich. They are not. You are highly unlikely to find this exact creation in Philadelphia or any traditional cheesesteak establishment.
I promise, my intention is not to offend a single soul with this title. With those disclaimers firmly in place, let me tell you what they *are*: they are a remarkably delicious and innovative mashup of classic Philly cheesesteak flavors, reimagined into the comforting, easy-to-eat format of a sloppy joe. Picture tender, seasoned meat and savory vegetables, all nestled inside a soft bun and generously smothered with gooey, melted provolone cheese. The result is pure, unadulterated comfort food bliss.
Unbeatable Flavor, Unbelievable Speed
And let me tell you, they are truly, exceptionally delicious. But the best part? These delectable Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes can be on your dinner table in an astonishing 30 minutes or even less. If you’re on your A-game in the kitchen, you might even shave that down to a speedy 20 minutes! This makes them an absolute lifesaver for busy weeknights when you need a hearty, homemade meal without spending hours over the stove.
It took me a considerable amount of time to fully embrace the sloppy joe concept. I have distinct, shall we say, “traumatic” memories of the often-bland and uninspiring sloppy joes of my youth. Honestly, a few therapy sessions might have been needed to fully process those culinary experiences! However, once this classic (and crazy tasty) sloppy joe recipe entered my life, it completely transformed my perspective. Since then, I’ve lived a little on the edge, experimenting with various sloppy joe flavor combinations, always seeking that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and satisfying.
Take, for instance, these turkey and Swiss sloppy joes. At first glance, the combination might seem a little, well, unconventional. Who dares to throw those flavors into a sloppy joe? Some of you even expressed a healthy dose of skepticism (which is always allowed here!), but if you read through the recent comments on that post, you’ll quickly discover that turkey and Swiss were, in fact, destined to be sloppy joe flavors. Many of you have absolutely fallen in love with that recipe! The same delightful surprise applies to Philly cheesesteak flavors. They just *work* beautifully in a sloppy joe format, creating an unexpected but utterly harmonious taste experience.
The Perfect Bun: Homemade or Store-Bought?
While good quality store-bought buns will absolutely get the job done (and work perfectly fine here!), if you happen to have a little extra time or are looking to elevate your meal, homemade buns are a game-changer. For recipes like this, my absolute go-to are these incredible French bread rolls or their equally fantastic fluffy whole wheat counterpart. They provide the perfect soft yet sturdy vessel for the flavorful sloppy joe filling.
The method for homemade buns is quite simple: I typically roll pieces of dough, each weighing about 3 ounces, into neat balls. Then, I gently flatten them slightly with the palm of my hand before letting them rise and baking them until golden brown. Just like that, you’ve created homemade buns that will truly rock your world and take these sloppy joes to the next level.
A little insider tip: I frequently bake these rolls in advance, cool them completely, and then freeze them. The buns you see pictured in this very post were, in fact, frozen, defrosted, and then lightly warmed just for these Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes. This simple trick makes getting a fantastic homemade meal on the table incredibly easy, even on your busiest days.
So, now it’s your turn to get your sloppy joe on! This Philly-inspired version is absolutely worth the throwback to the good old days of sloppy joes for dinner. It’s comfort food perfected, with a delightful twist that’s sure to become a new family favorite. I truly hope you love them as much as we do!
What to Serve With Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
These savory Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are a meal in themselves, but pairing them with a fresh side can complete the experience. Here are some fantastic options:
- A crisp green salad or this Amazing Romaine Salad provides a light and refreshing contrast.
- Classic American sides like Homemade Tater Tots or even some Baked Cheesy Zucchini Fritters make for a fun and satisfying accompaniment.
- A simple side of fresh fruit and/or steamed vegetables is always a great choice for a balanced meal.
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Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes
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Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef or ground turkey
- ½ cup chopped yellow or white onions, about 1 small-medium onion
- ½ to ¾ cup chopped green bell pepper, about 1 large or 2 small-medium peppers
- 8 ounces (227 g) white button or baby bella mushrooms, stemmed and finely minced (see note)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup (36 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce (see note), use a brand/recipe you love
- Provolone cheese slices, for serving (or other cheese of choice)
- Buns, for serving (see note for my go-to homemade recipe/method)
Instructions
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Heat a large, 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the ground meat (beef or turkey), chopped onions, bell pepper, finely minced mushrooms, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently to break the meat into small pieces, until the meat is thoroughly cooked through and the vegetables are tender, approximately 5-10 minutes. Carefully drain any excess grease from the skillet.
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Sprinkle the all-purpose flour evenly over the cooked meat and vegetable mixture. Stir well to combine, ensuring the flour coats everything. Continue to cook over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring often. This step helps to cook out the raw flour taste and will thicken the sauce later.
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In a separate bowl or a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the low-sodium beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and your favorite BBQ sauce until well combined.
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Gradually pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet with the meat and vegetables, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and continue to cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and has visibly thickened to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust with additional salt and pepper if needed.
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To serve, spoon the warm sloppy joe mixture generously onto your chosen buns. Top each serving with a slice of provolone cheese (or any other cheese you prefer). For an extra gooey, melted cheese experience, place the assembled sloppy joes in a 350°F (175°C) preheated oven for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy hot!
Notes
Mushrooms: While optional, the mushrooms are highly recommended as they add a fantastic depth of umami flavor and a pleasant texture to the sloppy joe filling. For those who are not keen on visible mushrooms, ensure they are very finely minced so they seamlessly meld into the meat mixture, often going unnoticed!
Buns: For a truly exceptional experience, consider using a homemade bun recipe. I often use this fluffy whole wheat bun recipe when time allows, and I typically keep a stash of baked and cooled rolls in the freezer for convenience. For shaping, I weigh out approximately 3 ounces of dough per bun, roll it into a ball, and then gently flatten it on the baking sheet to achieve a wider, less tall shape. Of course, good quality store-bought buns are a perfectly acceptable and quick alternative!
BBQ Sauce: Using a high-quality BBQ sauce is key to the flavor of this dish. Here is a link to my favorite homemade BBQ sauce recipe, if you’re looking for a scratch-made option.
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Recipe Source: Adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe