Instant Pot Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteaks

This Instant Pot Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak recipe is quick to make so sandwiches are ready in minutes. This meaty sandwich recipe is on repeat on our menu and works well in a meal prep system!

We love the combination of meat and vegetables covered with cheese that even our picky eaters enjoy.  Making this ground beef recipe idea in the Instant Pot or skillet is so convenient!

This post is sponsored by the Glass Barn and brought to you by Indiana Soybean Farmers, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Recipe

Like classic Sloppy Joe Sandwiches with more veggies and Italian cheese, simple ingredients make a flavorful meat sandwich.

I crave more vegetables in my meals and I want my kids to eat more vegetables too.  The meaty flavor is prominent in this easy twist of sloppy joes, but the sandwich is about half vegetables. Chopped green peppers, onions and mushrooms help stretch the meat and add more nutrients to the hamburger.

The finishing touch that makes this meal deli or restaurant quality is taking a Brioche bun and adding a layer of butter. Set that buttered bun in a skillet over medium heat until the butter lightly browns. This extra flavor is amazing and takes a regular sandwich to a whole new level!

While we typically use a full size bun we have a variation of Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe Sliders that are a little easier for the kids to eat and make great party food! These meaty sandwiches taste great served with French Fries or Air Fryer Baby Potatoes.

Everyone in our family prefers a different amount of cheese on their sandwich, so we use shredded cheese so sandwiches can be customized.  I’m not a traditional sloppy joe lover and I LOVE these Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joe Sandwiches!

Electric Pressure Cooker Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

My friend Amy, in western Ohio, shared this recipe with me.  She is a teacher and she helps out on her family’s dairy farm too.  One day the farmers were working in the field and needed food.  She looked around the kitchen and found ground beef, a green pepper, onions, and a packet of mushroom gravy mix.  After mixing them all together, making sandwiches, sprinkling cheese on top and wrapping them in foil to deliver to the field she reported this is a winning meal!

Leftovers reheat well and freeze well too. Just prepare the meat and vegetable mixture. Wait to add the cheese until after reheating.

How to Make Instant Pot Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

1. Set Instant Pot to sauté and brown ground beef until there is no longer any pink.
2. Carefully drain excess fat from Instant Pot insert and return ground beef to Instant Pot.
3. Mix packet of gravy mix with 3/4 cup water and pour over ground beef.  Stir well-ensuring meat is not sticking to the pot.
4. Layer chopped green peppers, onions and mushrooms over meat.
5. Seal Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 2 minutes.
6. Natural release for 7 minutes.  Stir well.
7. Serve meat on sandwiches and sprinkle Italian blend cheese over top.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Brown ground beef in a pressure cooker on the sauté setting. Use a meat masher to help separate and crumble the hamburger. Meat is cooked when there is no longer any pink visible.

Use tongs and a hot pad to remove the insert from the Instant Pot and carefully drain the fat. Wipe down edges if necessary.

Return pot to the Instant Pot. Measure water and stir in dry gravy mix. Pour over cooked ground beef.

Stir gravy mixture into the ground beef and ensure no meat is stuck to the bottom of the pot. An inability to circulate liquid could cause an error on the Instant Pot and keep the pot from pressurizing.

Add vegetables in layers. Begin by sprinkling chopped green peppers over the meat.

Next add chopped white, yellow or sweet onions in an even layer.

Finally sprinkle chopped white mushrooms over the top. Set the lid in place and turn to seal. Pressurize Instapot and cook on high pressure for 2 minutes.

Once finished cooking allow to natural release for 5 to 7 minutes.

While cooking we really like to butter and brown inside of buns in a warm skillet.

Using a slotted spoon to help drain any excess liquid, spoon onto an open bun and sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately.

Skillet Option

We like to use an electric pressure cooker, but these ground beef Philly cheesesteak sloppy joes can also be made in a skillet fairly easily. 

Brown the ground beef and set aside on a plate. Then soften the vegetables in butter.  Return the ground beef to the skillet, add the gravy packet and water and allow to simmer until the water reduces by about half.

Spoon onto buns and sprinkle cheese on top. Enjoy!

Ingredients Needed to Make Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

• Ground beef
• Packet of gravy mix, we prefer mushroom or onion gravy
• Water
• Green pepper
• Onion
• Mushrooms (optional)
• Italian cheese
• Buns, we prefer a sweet bun like a Brioche that is buttered, warmed and browned

Tips for Making Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

• Stir well-ensuring meat is not sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• If meat is sticking to the pot the pressure cooker may display a burn warning and not cook.
• Chop vegetables evenly in size so they can pressure cook evenly.
• A packet of gravy mix contains salt and additional flavorings, so no additional salt is needed for our family’s taste preference.
• We have tested this recipe with onion gravy, mushroom gravy and brown gravy and did not notice a significant difference in taste.
• After testing multiple gravy packets we like to use whatever cheap gravy packet we have on hand.

Freezing Instructions

Cooked meat and vegetable mixture can be cooled and placed in an airtight, self-sealing container or bag. We like to store in individual sized portions for a quick meal. Wait to add cheese until after reheating.

Cheesesteak mixture can be refrigerated for 3 – 4 days and frozen for up to three months.

Other Easy Instant Pot Meal Ideas:

• Easy Instant Pot Country Style Ribs Recipe
• Instant Pot Mac and Cheese with Velveeta
• Instant Pot Chicken and Bacon Carbonara
• Old Fashioned Sausage, Potatoes and Green Beans in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apple Cranberry Sauce
• Instant Pot Pork Chops Sauerkraut, Apples & Bacon

More Delicious Recipes with Beef:

Steak Tips in Mushroom Gravy takes sirloin steak cut into small pieces and mixed with baby bella mushrooms in a skillet meal that is delicious!

Cocktail Meatballs are one of my mom’s classic party snacks.

Cream Cheese and Beef Stuffed Shells is a hearty and creamy meal with meat and pasta that all ages enjoy!

Printable Instant Pot Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Recipe

Originally published July 5, 2019 with pictures and notes updated on January 31, 2022.