Turkey Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes – a Fusion of Two Sandwiches

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Discover a mouthwatering twist on traditional sloppy joes with this unique turkey cheesesteak version. Packed with flavor and gooey melted cheese, this recipe is sure to become a new family favorite. Learn how to whip up this delicious meal in no time!

 

I know I’ve made some Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes before. That was more of a recipe review. The original recipe is in the beginning of the post. While they were tasty, I wanted the creaminess of the Cheez Whiz/Provolone that you can get on a cheesesteak. So, I invented by own Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes recipe.

 

Trust me. It’s just as messy as a cheesesteak. And it’s just as tasty as a cheesesteak. There’s the tasty ground turkey, the sweet peppers and onions, the hearty mushrooms all mixed into a creamy cheese sauce. Then it’s all topped with provolone cheese! Who doesn’t love more cheese??

 

 

What Are Sloppy Joes and Who Invented Them?

 

Sloppy joe sandwiches are a classic American sandwich typically made with ground beef in a tangy.  The beef is simmered in a tomato-based sauce.  They are often served on a soft hamburger bun but in the case of my potsticker sloppy joes those went on top of scallion waffles. The name “sloppy joe” comes from the messy, “sloppy” nature of the sandwich.  The origins of sloppy joes are somewhat murky.  On theory is that they were invented in the 1930s by a cook named Joe in Sioux City, Iowa.  He added tomato sauce to loose meat sandwiches. Another theory is that their roots come from the “loose meat” sandwiches popular in diners across the Midwest.

 

What Ingredients Are in a Classic Sloppy Joe Sandwich?

 

A classic sloppy joe is simple yet satisfying because they’re made with simple and satisfying ingredients.  Typically, sloppy joes are made with ground meat, onions, bell peppers, tomato sauce and/or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, salt and pepper, and whatever seasonings your family enjoys.  This makes for a sweet and savory sandwich kids love.

 

 

What Is a Cheesesteak and Who Invented It?

 

The cheesesteak, also known as the Philly cheesesteak, is a sandwich made with thinly sliced steak and melted cheese (or Cheez Whiz) in a long hoagie roll. It was invented in Philadelphia, in the early 1930s by a hot dog vender named Pat Olivieri.  The theory is that Olivieri threw some steak on his grill one day.  The resulting sandwich attracted so much attention that it became a culinary phenomenon.

 

A classic cheesesteak has thinly sliced stead like ribeye.  Next it has cheese like provolone or Cheez Whiz.  Then there’s the veggies like grilled onions, peppers, and maybe mushrooms.  All of this is combined and stuffed into a hoagie roll. 

 

 

What Are the Health Benefits of Ground Turkey Over Ground Beef or Pork?

 

Ground turkey is a leaner alternative to ground beef or pork, making it an excellent choice for health-conscious cooks. It has a lower fat content and lower in calories for the same amount of cooked meat.  Turkey boasts more high-quality protein than other ground meats.  It is a great source of vitamin B and contains zinc and selenium for overall healthy. You can use it to make anything you do with ground beef or pork including turkey meatballs.

 

Ingredients you’ll need to make these Turkey Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Pantry ingredients – onions, Worcestershire sauce, buns

Refrigerator ingredients – ground turkey, bell peppers, cream cheese, cream, provolone cheese

 

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions for this sloppy joe recipe

 

First, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and sauté the peppers and onions until they begin to soften.  This usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes.  Now you add the mushrooms and cook everything for an additional 4 minutes.  Crumble the turkey into the peppers and onions and sauté until the meat is cooked through.

 

 

Stir in the cream cheese, half and half, and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer until the sauce thickens.  While the sauce simmers, preheat the broiler.   Spoon the sloppy joe mixture evenly onto 4 hamburger buns. Top with slices of provolone cheese and broil until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

 

I used reduced fat ingredients in this recipe, but feel free to use whatever cream cheese and cream you want for your sloppy joes.  Or you can use Cheez Whiz with your turkey cheesesteak sloppy joes.  And make sure to add some herbs and spices.  I like to include some steak seasoning to elevate the steak flavor of the turkey.

 

 

Tips to elevate your turkey cheesesteak sloppy joes

 

Try melting different kinds of cheese on top of your sloppy joes.  While provolone is more traditional for a cheesesteak, who’s to say you can’t try some gouda, pepper jack, or even a sharp cheddar?  Another tip is to toast the buns.  This can serve two purposes.  It will bring some additional flavor and texture, but it will also keep the bun from getting too soggy with all that cheesesteak goodness.

 

You can change the veggies.  Skip the shrooms if you don’t like mushrooms.  Or add more if you love them.  Or try heartier mushrooms like a king trumpet or fancy mushrooms like oyster or maitake for a different flavor and texture.  Swap out the green bell peppers for sweet red or yellow peppers.  Or kick it up and try adding in some jalapeno to your sloppy joes.

 

 

Serving Suggestions for your sloppy joes

 

Typically, we do Easy Fries which are crispy microwave fries that take a few minutes to cook up.  But lately we’ve been making some air fryer fries.  I like shoestring fries because they get super crispy and delicious.  There’s also sweet potato fries which would be great with these.  The slightly sweet flavor will bring out the savory flavor of the cheese, meat, and veggies in this recipe.

 

I’ve also served them with an easy wedge salad.  Just a drizzle of some dressing and a sprinkling of bacon, tomato, and blue cheese.  Or some feta and balsamic dressing with some crushed pistachios on top.  Sometimes I serve a light spring greens salad with dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and slices of pear or apple.  Try some slaw!  It’s crunchy, easy to make, and comes in so many different varieties.  Finally, kick it old school and just add some chips and a pickle.

 

 

What do these turkey cheesesteak sloppy joes taste like?

 

See how the meat, the peppers, and the onions are coated in creamy goodness? It tastes exactly like a cheesesteak should taste. At least how *I* think a cheesesteak should taste.  When I was in Philly I had a cheesesteak, but not one of the famous ones.  Maybe I’ll make it back there and try one or both of theirs.

 

While it looks so creamy delicious, this is a healthy low fat and low calorie recipe that tastes crazy good!! The protein is lean, the veggies are plentiful, the cheese and it’s sauce are low in fat.  And the bun is WHOLE GRAIN! Yup, healthy. I bet you didn’t know healthy could taste like this, did you?

 

And did I mention that this comes together in about 30 to 40 minutes? Oh yeah! It’s healthy, hearty, and QUICK! You can make this turkey cheesesteak slopy joe recipe any night of the week.  And please even the pickiest of eaters! Add in some baked fries or the quick Easy Fries and you’ve got a kid pleasing meal for the little and big kids!

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