Messy Philly Cheesesteak Buns

Welcome to a delicious twist on two American comfort food classics! These Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes reimagine the iconic Philadelphia sandwich into an incredibly easy, flavorful, and family-friendly meal. Combining succulent ground beef, rich provolone cheese, and vibrant vegetables, this recipe delivers a hearty “sammie” perfect for your next family dinner, a lively game day gathering, or any occasion craving satisfying flavor.

Overhead photo of a skillet filled with rich, cheesy Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes mixture, ready to be served

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Zoup! Good, Really Good®. As always, all opinions expressed here are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that enable The Beach House Kitchen to bring you more delicious recipes.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes: Your New Go-To Comfort Food Recipe

Are you a fan of classic sloppy joes, craving that nostalgic, messy-goodness, but also harbor a deep love for the savory, cheesy perfection of a Philly Cheesesteak? Then get ready, because these Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are about to become your new favorite obsession. They’re not just a meal; they’re an experience, marrying the best elements of both beloved sandwiches into one unforgettable bite. Perfect for busy weeknights, casual family dinners, or as the star attraction at your next game day party!

A perfectly prepared Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe served on a bun on a plate, garnished and ready to eat

This exceptional recipe was crafted with the culinary excellence of Zoup! Good, Really Good®, specifically utilizing their remarkable Culinary Concentrate™ Beef Base with Bone Broth. The depth of flavor it imparts is truly transformative, elevating a simple sloppy joe to gourmet status. Believe me, folks, once you taste this savory creation, you’ll be adding it to your regular rotation!

Beyond their incredible taste, these sloppy joes are incredibly simple to prepare, bursting with zesty flavor, and guaranteed to be a hit with everyone at the table. They offer a delightful blend of textures and tastes, making them a truly irresistible crowd-pleaser for any occasion.

Close-up of the delicious Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe mixture simmering in a skillet, showcasing the rich sauce and tender ingredients

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe Recipe

If the mere mention of a classic Philadelphia Cheesesteak makes your mouth water, then prepare to be utterly smitten by this innovative sloppy joe rendition. We’ve taken all the iconic flavors – the savory beef, the sweet onions and peppers, the creamy provolone – and made them even more accessible and fun.

  • Unbeatable Flavor Fusion: This recipe masterfully blends the rich, beefy essence of a cheesesteak with the comforting, saucy nature of a sloppy joe. It’s a harmonious marriage of two beloved comfort foods, creating a unique profile that’s both familiar and exciting.
  • Effortless Preparation: Say goodbye to complicated recipes! Sloppy joes are renowned for their simplicity, and this version is no exception. With minimal steps – essentially browning your meat and veggies, then simmering with the sauce – you can have a gourmet-tasting meal on the table in under an hour. It’s the ultimate solution for those busy weeknights when time is precious but flavor is non-negotiable.
  • Versatile for Any Occasion: Whether you’re planning a cozy family dinner, hosting a lively game day feast, or need a crowd-pleasing dish for a potluck, these sloppy joes fit the bill perfectly. They’re universally loved, easy to serve, and always disappear quickly, making them ideal for gatherings of any size.
  • Hearty & Satisfying: Loaded with savory ground beef, tender vegetables, and melted cheese, these sloppy joes are incredibly filling and satisfying. They provide that comforting, stick-to-your-ribs goodness that everyone craves, ensuring no one leaves the table hungry.
  • A Unique Culinary Spin: Move beyond the traditional sloppy joe! This recipe offers a creative take on a classic, introducing the robust flavors of a Philly cheesesteak in an exciting new format that will impress both young and old.

Overhead shot showcasing all the fresh, vibrant ingredients laid out for making Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, including ground beef, vegetables, cheese, and Zoup! Beef Base

Essential Ingredients for Your Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Crafting the perfect Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe starts with quality ingredients that come together to create a symphony of flavors. Here’s what you’ll need to gather from your pantry and fridge:

  • Zoup! Culinary Concentrate™ Beef Base with Bone Broth: This is the cornerstone of our flavor profile, delivering a deep, rich, and authentic beef essence that truly sets this recipe apart from standard sloppy joes.
  • Butter: Essential for sautéing our aromatic vegetables, adding a luscious richness that enhances the overall taste.
  • Ground Beef: We highly recommend using 80/20 ground beef. This specific lean-to-fat ratio ensures a juicy, flavorful base without making the final dish overly greasy.
  • Green Bell Pepper: Finely chopped, it provides that signature crispness and subtly sweet, earthy flavor crucial to the cheesesteak experience.
  • Yellow Onion: Diced and caramelized during cooking, yellow onion adds a wonderful sweetness and depth that perfectly balances the savory beef.
  • Garlic Powder: An indispensable aromatic, garlic powder infuses the mixture with a warm, pungent kick that complements both the beef and vegetables beautifully.
  • Montreal Steak Seasoning: This robust blend of coarse salt, black pepper, garlic, and other spices provides an incredible depth of flavor, reminiscent of a perfectly seasoned steak.
  • Light Brown Sugar: A modest amount of brown sugar helps to balance the acidity from the tomatoes and mustard, adding a touch of sweetness that rounds out the sauce.
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Known for its umami-rich profile, Worcestershire sauce enhances the savory notes of the beef, adding complexity and a touch of tang.
  • Ketchup: Forms the classic sweet and tangy backbone of any great sloppy joe sauce, binding all the flavors together.
  • Spicy Brown Mustard: Don’t skip this! Spicy brown mustard introduces a subtle tang and a mild, pleasant heat that adds a layer of sophistication to the sauce without overwhelming it.
  • Mild Provolone Cheese: Shredded and stirred in at the end, provolone melts into a creamy, gooey perfection, offering its signature mild, nutty flavor that is utterly essential for any cheesesteak-inspired dish. It creates that irresistible cheesy pull.

A close-up photo of a Zoup! Good, Really Good® Culinary Concentrate Beef Base with Bone Broth jar, highlighting its premium quality, placed on a red and white checkered napkin

Discover the Zoup! Difference: Culinary Concentrate™ Beef Base with Bone Broth

A significant reason for the incredible depth of flavor in this recipe is the exceptional Zoup! Culinary Concentrate™ Beef Base with Bone Broth. Unlike many other broth products found on store shelves, Zoup! prides itself on crafting its concentrates in small batches, guaranteeing a consistently rich, authentic, and homemade taste that genuinely elevates any culinary creation. What truly sets this product apart and makes it a must-have in your kitchen are its impressive, health-conscious qualities:

  • No Added Sugar: This is a crucial detail for health-conscious cooks, ensuring that you’re getting pure, unadulterated flavor without unnecessary sweeteners.
  • No Artificial Flavors or Preservatives: You can trust that you’re using a clean, wholesome ingredient that aligns with a natural approach to cooking.
  • Paleo and Keto-Friendly: Its clean ingredient list means it fits seamlessly into various popular dietary lifestyles, making it versatile for many households.
  • Gluten-Free: An important consideration, ensuring it is safe for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.
  • Lower in Sodium, Higher in Protein: This represents a superior nutritional profile compared to many competitors, offering a healthier foundation for your meals without compromising on taste.

This beef base doesn’t just add flavor; it enriches the entire dish, deepening the savory notes of our sloppy joes and contributing a robust body that brings an authentic, long-simmered quality to the sauce. The result is an incredibly satisfying and complex flavor in every single bite.

Three elegant glass jars of Zoup! Good, Really Good® bone broth culinary concentrates, showcasing the variety within their product line

The Zoup! Culinary Concentrate™ line is impressively diverse, offering not just this fantastic beef base, but also rich chicken and savory vegan bases, catering to a wide range of culinary needs and dietary preferences. Beyond their concentrates, Zoup! also provides a delightful selection of delicious, shelf-stable soups, including comforting classics like Chicken Potpie and the seasonal favorite, Butternut Squash with Brown Butter and Sage. They also offer their renowned traditional broths and versatile bone broths. A commitment to sustainability is evident in their packaging, as all Zoup! products are thoughtfully contained in recyclable and reusable glass jars.

Finding Zoup! products is easy and convenient. You can locate them at select retailers nationwide, or for ultimate ease, purchase them through Instacart. For direct shopping and to explore their full range, visit ZoupBroth.com or find them readily available on Amazon.com. Don’t miss out on a special offer: use code 20BEACHHOUSE for 20% off your first Zoup! purchase on Amazon (valid until 2/14/24). To learn even more about their full range of products, culinary inspiration, and upcoming news, visit ZoupBroth.com and connect with them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.

Overhead photo of a skillet containing perfectly browned ground beef, softened onions, and green peppers, showcasing the initial cooking stage before adding the sauce

Step-By-Step Guide: Crafting Your Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Getting these incredible sloppy joes from your kitchen to your plate is a straightforward process, promising delicious results with minimal fuss. Follow these simple steps for a truly exceptional meal:

  1. Sauté the Aromatics and Beef: Begin by adding your butter to a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven and cook over medium-high heat until it’s completely melted and shimmering. Introduce the ground beef, along with your roughly chopped green bell peppers and yellow onion, to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the ground beef with a sturdy spoon or spatula, until the meat is thoroughly browned and no longer pink. Concurrently, the vegetables should soften to a tender-crisp texture, infusing the beef with their sweet aromas. Once cooked, carefully drain any excess fat from the skillet to ensure a perfectly textured sloppy joe mixture.
  2. Overhead photo of a skillet with partially cooked hamburger meat, onions, and green peppers, still cooking and developing flavor

  3. Drain and Simmer the Sauce: After draining the fat, it’s time to build our signature sauce. Stir in the water, the remarkable Zoup! Beef Base with Bone Broth, garlic powder, Montreal steak seasoning, light brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and spicy brown mustard. Mix everything thoroughly and consistently until all ingredients are perfectly combined, and the ground beef and vegetables are evenly coated in the rich, savory sauce. Bring the entire mixture to a gentle simmer. Allow it to cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid has visibly reduced, and the sauce has thickened to that perfect, spoonable sloppy joe consistency. Ensure it’s thoroughly heated through, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
  4. Overhead photo of cooked hamburger meat mixed with ketchup and spices in a skillet, showcasing the rich, savory sauce before the addition of cheese

  5. Melt the Provolone Perfection: For the grand finale, sprinkle your generous cup of shredded mild provolone cheese evenly over the simmering sloppy joe mixture. Stir gently but continuously until the cheese has completely melted and become wonderfully smooth and creamy, perfectly coating the beef and vegetables. This crucial step truly brings the “cheesesteak” element to life, creating an irresistible, gooey texture.
  6. Serve and Enjoy: Once the cheese is melted and fully incorporated, your Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are ready to be devoured! Spoon the hot, cheesy mixture generously onto your favorite toasted buns. You can serve them as is, or personalize them with additional toppings like a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley, a dash of hot sauce for extra kick, or some thinly sliced pickled jalapeños for tang.

I’ve been a devoted fan of sloppy joes since childhood, and the memory of them still brings a smile to my face. I vividly recall those evenings when Mom, after a particularly long day, needed a recipe that was quick to prepare yet guaranteed to bring smiles and satisfied tummies to our faces. Those were always sloppy joe nights, filled with comforting flavors and easy-going family time around the dinner table.

The next time you find yourself with a busy schedule and a hungry crew looking for something both exciting and easy, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this incredibly tasty and wonderfully simple recipe a try. It’s a beloved classic, elevated with a delightful Philly twist that you and your family are absolutely going to adore!

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience if you make this recipe. I love hearing from you and seeing your culinary creations! And if any questions arise during your cooking adventure, feel free to drop a comment below. Happy cooking, and enjoy every flavorful bite!

Overhead photo of a skillet overflowing with savory, cheesy Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes, garnished and ready to be served on fresh buns

Expert Cook’s Notes & Tips for Perfect Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

To ensure your Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are nothing short of spectacular, keep these helpful tips and notes in mind:

  • Choosing Your Ground Beef: For the best balance of rich flavor and satisfying juiciness, I consistently use 80/20 ground beef in this recipe. This particular fat content renders enough delicious flavor without making the dish overly greasy, especially after the crucial draining step. If you opt for a leaner ground beef, you might consider adding a bit more butter or a touch of olive oil during the initial sauté to ensure the vegetables cook properly and to maintain a good texture.
  • Cheese Variations: While mild provolone cheese is my absolute go-to for its classic Philly cheesesteak authenticity and wonderfully creamy melt, feel completely free to experiment with other cheeses! Sharp provolone will offer a bolder, tangier flavor profile that cheese lovers will appreciate. For a different but equally delicious twist, I’ve also successfully made these sloppy joes using shredded cheddar cheese, which provides a familiar, sharp, and comforting flavor that many enjoy. A blend of mozzarella and provolone could also be a delightful option, offering both stretch and flavor.
  • Yield & Adjusting Servings: This recipe is thoughtfully designed to yield approximately 8 generous servings, making it an ideal choice for a satisfying family meal or a small gathering with friends. If you’re cooking for a smaller crowd or simply want fewer leftovers, simply halve all the ingredients for a perfect batch. The beauty of sloppy joes lies in how easily adaptable the recipe is to different portion sizes.
  • Serving Suggestions: While classic hamburger buns are always a fantastic choice, don’t limit yourself! Consider serving these savory sloppy joes over toasted hoagie rolls for a more traditional “cheesesteak” feel, or even on warm, crusty garlic bread for an extra layer of flavor. For those seeking a low-carb alternative, the sloppy joe mixture is incredibly delicious served over roasted bell pepper halves, crisp lettuce wraps, or even a bed of cauliflower rice. A side of crispy seasoned fries, a fresh green salad, or some creamy coleslaw would complete this hearty meal perfectly.
  • Make Ahead & Storage: The prepared sloppy joe mixture is excellent for meal prepping. It can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. When ready to serve, gently reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or extra broth if the mixture seems too thick. Stir in the shredded cheese just before serving to ensure maximum meltiness and creaminess. Leftovers also make for fantastic and easy next-day lunches!

More Delicious Recipes for Your Family Dinner or Game Day

Are you looking for more crowd-pleasing meals that are perfect for a cozy family dinner or an exciting game day gathering? Explore these other fantastic and highly-rated recipes from The Beach House Kitchen to expand your culinary repertoire:

  • Buffalo Sloppy Joes: A fiery and flavorful twist on the classic, perfect for those who love a bit of heat!
  • Cuban Sliders: Miniature versions of the iconic Cuban sandwich, packed with savory pork, ham, and cheese, ideal for sharing.
  • Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders: A delicious and elegant take on the open-faced hot brown sandwich, transforming it into irresistible bite-sized treats.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Author: MaryAnn Dwyer

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Yields: 8 servings

These Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are a creative spin on the classic Philadelphia sandwich. A tasty combination of ground beef, provolone cheese and veggies make for the perfect sammie for your family dinner or game day feast!

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 lb. ground beef, (I use 80/20)
  • 1 cup green bell pepper, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup yellow onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Zoup! Culinary Concentrate™ Beef Base with Bone Broth
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 2 tsp. Montreal steak seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. spicy brown mustard
  • 1 cup shredded mild provolone cheese

Instructions

  1. Add your butter to a large deep skillet and cook over medium-high heat until melted. Add the ground beef, chopped green bell peppers, and onion to the skillet and cook until the meat is no longer pink and the veggies are softened. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Stir in your water, Zoup! Beef Bone Broth Base, garlic powder, Montreal steak seasoning, light brown sugar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and spicy brown mustard until well combined. Cook until the liquid is reduced, stirring occasionally, and the mixture is heated through to a thick, saucy consistency.
  3. Add your shredded provolone cheese and mix until melted and smooth. Serve immediately with buns.

Notes

  • I use 80/20 ground beef for this recipe for optimal flavor and texture.
  • The cheese I use for today’s recipe is mild provolone, but you could substitute sharp provolone for a bolder taste, or even cheddar cheese for a different flavor profile.
  • This recipe makes roughly 8 servings. If you’re serving less, simply halve the recipe.

Nutrition Information (Approximate Per Serving)

  • Calories: 418 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 11g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Fat: 30g
  • Saturated Fat: 14g
  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g
  • Monounsaturated Fat: 12g
  • Trans Fat: 2g
  • Cholesterol: 100mg
  • Sodium: 650mg
  • Potassium: 488mg
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sugar: 7g
  • Vitamin A: 420 IU
  • Vitamin C: 18mg
  • Calcium: 176mg
  • Iron: 3mg

Keywords: Comfort Food, Ground Beef, Philly Cheesesteak, Zoup!, Easy Dinner, Game Day Food, Sloppy Joes, Family Meal

Cuisine: American

Course: Main Dish

Before your first bite, snap a photo and share! If you make this delicious recipe, I’d absolutely love to see your creation! Be sure to follow and tag @thebeachhousekitchen or use the hashtag #thebeachhousekitchen on Instagram!