Philly Cheesesteak with tender ribeye steak, melted gooey provolone, and caramelized onions hugged by a toasted garlic butter hoagie roll. This is the classic way to make a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich!
We love re-creating restaurant-quality sandwiches like French Dip and Burgers! This Cheesesteak recipe is easier than you think. Watch the video tutorial below and you’ll know why everyone is talking about it.
What is a Philly Cheesesteak?
Philly Cheesesteak is a sandwich made with super thinly sliced ribeye steak, caramelized onion, and provolone cheese. That simple combination is the original classic as made popular on the East Coast. The Philly Cheesesteak has been modified on the West Coast to include bell peppers and mushrooms but a true “Philly” only has steak, onion and cheese served over a roll.
Which Cut of Beef Should I Use?
Ribeye is the steak of choice for Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. It is well-marbled and tender when cooked. Another cut that we have used with great results is flank steak which is lean but very tender when cut against the grain. You will need a little extra oil on your cooking surface if using flank steak.
The Best Cheese for Philly Cheesesteak:
The most popular cheese is mild provolone. We have tested a variety of provolone brands and the only one we didn’t enjoy was “aged” provolone from Costco. The flavor of aged provolone cheese was overpowering. Another popular option is white American cheese. Some restaurants in Philadelphia add a Velveeta-like cheese but we like provolone best.
Pro-Tips for Thinly Slicing Beef:
The key to a great cheesesteak is super thinly sliced pieces of beef. For easier slicing, cover and freeze your steak for 30-40 minutes (freeze a thicker steak for 40 minutes and a thinner steak for 30 minutes). Cut away any excess fat and silver skin (if present) then use a sharp knife to thinly slice against the grain. Watch Natasha demonstrate this in the video tutorial below.
Time Saving Tip: Ask your butcher to super thinly slice your beef. If you pre-plan this, they could place the steak in the freezer while you do your shopping to achieve those paper-thin slices.
How to Make Philly Cheesesteak:
This is one of our easiest sandwich recipes with quick prep and even faster cooking. It is a 30-minute meal. You can cook this on the stove-top, flat cooktop or griddle.
- Butter hoagie rolls, dice onion and thinly slice beef
- Sautee onions and remove
- Sautee beef until cooked through and add back onions
- Divide into 4 portions, top each with 2 slices cheese
- Cover with buns and scrape into buns with a spatula
Creative Ways to Serve Philly Cheesesteak:
If you’re craving that beefy cheesy filling and want to skip the bun, there are so many fun ways to serve this mix including some fantastic keto (low carb) Philly Cheese Steak ideas!
- Over Cooked Pasta or stuffed into Shell Pasta
- Philly Cheesesteak Sliders
- (Low Carb) Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Bell Peppers
- (Low Carb) Stuffed into Portobello Mushrooms
