Cheesy Philly Sloppy Joes (Printable Version)
Ground beef, peppers, onions, and melted provolone on toasted buns—a Philly-Sloppy Joe mashup.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
03 - 1 small yellow onion, diced
04 - 3.5 oz mushrooms, sliced (optional)
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Sauces & Liquids
06 - ½ cup beef broth
07 - 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
08 - 2 tbsp ketchup
09 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
→ Spices & Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
11 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
12 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
13 - Pinch of chili flakes (optional)
→ Dairy
14 - 1½ cups shredded provolone cheese (or mozzarella/cheddar mix)
→ Bread
15 - 4 brioche buns or soft sandwich rolls, split and lightly toasted
→ Garnishes (optional)
16 - Chopped parsley
17 - Sliced jalapeños
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, until thoroughly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
02 - Add the diced onion, bell pepper, mushrooms (if using), and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, and chili flakes. Mix thoroughly to evenly coat the beef and vegetables.
04 - Pour in the beef broth and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, allowing the mixture to reduce and thicken slightly.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle the shredded provolone cheese evenly over the beef mixture. Cover the skillet and let stand until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.
06 - Stir the melted cheese into the beef mixture until well combined and creamy throughout.
07 - Spoon generous portions of the cheesy beef filling onto the toasted buns. Garnish with chopped parsley and sliced jalapeños if desired. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It takes everything sloppy about a Sloppy Joe and makes it wildly indulgent with melted provolone and sauteed peppers.
- The whole thing comes together in under forty minutes with ingredients you probably already have hanging around.
02 -
- Do not rush the simmer step or your filling will be watery and soak right through the bun.
- Covering the pan when melting the cheese makes all the difference between perfectly melted and clumpy spots.
03 -
- Let the beef get a real sear before you start breaking it apart, because that caramelization is where the deep flavor lives.
- A tiny splash of soy sauce added with the Worcestershire boosts the savory character without anyone knowing your secret.