This quick and easy Philly Cheesesteak is the ultimate hunger cure. A soft, toasted hoagie roll, loaded with tender steak, caramelized onions, and vibrant peppers, this is one meal that everyone will love. And with minimal preparation and a simple ingredient list, you will love to make it!
Ready in just 12 minutes, this delicious Philly cheesesteak is as easy to make as it is to devour. With this recipe and its easy-to-follow instructions, you'll master the art of sandwich making with a specialization in the Philly cheesesteak.
Table of Contents
Recipe Video
Why This Recipe Works
You will love this Philly Cheesesteak recipe for several reasons. First, it's a quick and easy recipe to prepare, making it accessible to cooks of all levels. With just a few key ingredients and minimal prep work, it comes together quickly, making these cheesesteak sandwiches an ideal weeknight dinner option.
Despite its simplicity, the resulting sandwich is incredibly fulfilling, boasting tender slices of steak, gooey melted cheese, and perfectly caramelized onions, all nestled within a soft hoagie roll. Its versatility is another reason to love it. From vegetarian options with portobello mushrooms to creative twists with different cheese blends and toppings, this Philly Cheesesteak recipe never fails to satisfy.
Ingredients
Hoagie:
The hoagie roll is a crucial component of an authentic Philly Cheesesteak, providing the perfect vessel for the savory filling. Ideally, the roll should be a fresh, soft hoagie or Amoroso roll, which is traditional in Philadelphia. These rolls have a slightly crisp exterior and a soft, chewy interior that can absorb the juices from the steak and melted cheese without becoming soggy.
To prepare, lightly toast the hoagie roll on a griddle or skillet to add a slight crunch and help it hold up better against the juicy meat and vegetables. This step also enhances the roll's flavor and texture, making the sandwich more enjoyable to eat.
Onion:
Carmelized onions are a key component of the perfect cheesesteak. They add a sweet flavor that complements the savory steak and melted cheese. Typically, yellow or white onions are used, providing the right balance of sweetness and pungency.
Bell Peppers:
Bell peppers offer a vibrant burst of color and flavor to an authentic Philly Cheesesteak, adding a crisp, sweet contrast to the savory steak and melted cheese. Typically, green bell peppers are used for their slightly bitter edge, but red, yellow, or orange peppers can also be included for a sweeter taste and visual appeal.
Steak:
The steak is the star of the show in this quick and easy Philly Cheesesteak, providing the hearty, savory base for this iconic sandwich. A high-quality sirloin, flank, or ribeye steak is the traditional choice, prized for its rich flavor and tender texture.
Seasonings:
This delicious cheesesteak is already packed with flavor, so it's important to keep the seasonings simple so as not to overpower the dish. While this recipe used mustard powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder, you can also experiment with seasonings such as onion powder, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, Italian seasoning, hot sauce, and steak seasoning.
Provolone Slices:
A Philly cheesesteak just doesn't taste the same unless it has a melty cheese finish. You can use slices of provolone, mozzarella, American, Swiss, Pepper Jack, cheddar, or a combination of your favorites.
Philly Cheesesteak Sauce:
Using a jar of Cheese Whiz, you can make a deliciously easy Philly cheesesteak sauce at home.
How to Make This Easy Cheesesteak
Step One:
Slice your hoagie rolls down the center and spread them with butter. Set aside.
Step Two:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Step Three:
Add the onions and peppers to the skillet and cook until softened and caramelized. Remove from the pan and set aside.
Step Four:
Add your sirloin steak strips to the skillet and cook the meat on high heat to quickly brown and caramelize the outside while keeping it juicy inside.
Step Five:
Once browned, season your steak with mustard powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Step Six:
Add the onions and peppers back into the skillet and cook until heated.
Step Seven:
Remove the skillet from the heat, and place a layer of provolone cheese directly on the meat mixture. Cover the skillet with a lid, allowing the cheese to melt.
Step Eight:
Spoon an even amount of the steak, onions, and peppers into each of the hoagies, careful not to overfill.
Step Nine:
Top with our favorite Philly cheesesteak sauce, serve, and enjoy!
Tips
- To toast your hoagies, you can put them in the oven for 5-8 minutes at 350F, or if your skillet is large enough, you can also toast them that way.
What to Serve With an Authentic Philly Cheesesteak
An authentic Philly Cheesesteak pairs wonderfully with classic sides like crispy French fries, providing a satisfying crunch to complement the sandwich's savory flavors. A tangy dill pickle spear adds a refreshing contrast, while a simple coleslaw or a mixed green salad offers a light, crisp balance. However, if those options aren't screaming out to you, check out this collection of more recipes to serve with Philly cheesesteak
FAQs
Can I add any other vegetables to my Philly cheesesteak?
A traditional Philly cheesesteak is typically only served with onions, peppers, mushrooms, and maybe some banana peppers. However, you can experiment with other veggies such as jalapenos, arugula, spinach, avocado, and tomatoes.
Can I make a vegetarian or vegan Philly cheesesteak?
You absolutely can. Start by replacing the sirloin with portobello mushrooms, seitan, or tempeh as the main filling. These options provide a meaty texture. For the cheese, you can use vegan or cashew cheese, and then simply replace the roll and butter with your favorite vegan option.
For how long can leftover Philly cheesesteak be kept fresh?
Leftover Philly Cheesesteak can be kept fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best quality, store all the ingredients separately, as opposed to storing an assembled sandwich, which could get soggy.
Can I make it in the Instant Pot?
Sure! For full recipe check out Instant Pot Philly Cheesesteak
More Sandwich Recipes
There's nothing more deliciously fulfilling than a sandwich when you are hungry. To help inspire your next creation, check out this collection of some of our favorite sandwich recipes.
Philly Cheesesteak
Ingredients
- 2 hoagie rolls
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 white onion sliced
- 1 cup red bell pepper sliced
- 1 cup green bell pepper sliced
- 2 pounds sirloin steak strips
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Slice your hoagie rolls down the center and spread them with butter. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add onions and peppers. Cook until softened, then remove from the pan.
- Add your sirloin steak strips to the skillet and brown evenly on all sides.
- Season the steak with mustard powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Add the onions and peppers back into the skillet and cook until heated.
- Remove from heat, top the mixture with a layer of provolone cheese, and cover with a lid until melted.
- Spoon some of the mixture into each hoagie.
- Top with some Philly cheesesteak sauce, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
Video
Notes
- To toast your hoagies, you can put them in the oven for 5-8 minutes at 350F, or if your skillet is large enough, you can also toast them that way.
- Slice the beef while it's partially frozen; it makes it easier to get thin slices.
- Cook the veggies until they're soft but not mushy; they should still have some bite.
Ribeye is the only steak worthy of a true Philly cheesesteak. A great Italian hoagie roll from liscio's or a similar Philly bakery is next in importance. Onions are mandatory, and anytime you see peppers, other than hot on a cheese steak you know your steak has no flavor to begin with. American cheese provides both the tang and creaminess needed to bind this sandwich together, while sauce is another nice option to balance the sandwich out. It should also be noted that wrapping this sandwich tightly in foil or parchment paper for 5 minutes or so will marry all the flavors together for the best cheesesteak you could possibly have.