Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes with Lentils
Hearty sloppy joes inspired by Philly cheesesteaks, combining ground beef, sautéed mushrooms and onions, green lentils, and melted provolone cheese. Beef broth and Worcestershire sauce create a savory base that simmers briefly before serving on slider buns topped with additional cheese.
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped fine
- 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, diced
- ¾ lb lean ground beef
- 2 cups beef broth, divided
- 1 tablespoon flour
- ½ cup green lentils
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 teaspoons steak seasoning, like Montrealsmoked paprika + garlic powder0.5 teaspoon eachseasoning
removes some complexity
- 8 slices provolone cheese, divided
- 6 buns, slider bunsstandard hamburger bunsnullcarb
larger portion size
- salt, to taste(optional)
- pepper, to taste(optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring one cup of beef broth to a light boil in a small saucepan with a lid. Stir in lentils, reduce heat, and cook until very tender, about 22-25 minutes.
- 2
While lentils cook, sauté mushrooms and onions in olive oil until mushrooms are reduced by about half. Season lightly with salt and pepper, add a few splashes of Worcestershire sauce.
- 3
Add ground beef to the skillet and cook until well browned.
- 4
Sprinkle beef with steak seasoning, garlic salt, and pepper.
- 5
Sprinkle flour over beef and stir until coated.
- 6
Add cooked lentils to the skillet with beef.
- 7
Stir in remaining beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer on low for 2-3 minutes.
- 8
Cut two slices of provolone into small pieces and stir into beef until cheese melts completely.
- 9
Spoon mixture onto buns and top each with an additional slice of provolone cheese.
Tips
Cook lentils until very tender to ensure they break down slightly and thicken the mixture.
Mushrooms release liquid as they cook; allow them to reduce significantly for deeper flavor.
Stir cheese into hot beef mixture off heat to prevent scorching.
Good to Know
Refrigerate in airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat gently on stovetop, adding beef broth to loosen if needed.
Prepare beef and lentil mixture up to 2 days ahead. Warm through before serving, add cheese and assemble on buns.
Serve immediately on toasted buns with melted provolone cheese on top. Pair with pickles, coleslaw, or potato chips.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip the flour coating step to avoid watery filling
Do not overcook lentils in initial boil; they break down further when added to beef
Do not melt cheese over high heat to avoid separation or scorching
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
larger portion size
removes some complexity