Philly Cheesesteak

Philly Cheesesteak is an American classic sandwich that everyone knows and loves! It’s a mouthwatering combination of flavorful thinly shaved steak, seared green bell peppers and onions, and melted provolone cheese on a deli fresh hoagie.

Don’t forget to add more classic sandwiches to your menu, like Meatball Sub, Cuban Sandwich, and making the best Burgers.

Craving something hearty, cheesy, and served on a hoagie roll? Look no further than a homemade Philly Cheesesteak! These cheesy, meaty sandwiches have withstood the tests of time. They were first made in the year 1930 and have only grown in popularity in the almost 100 years since then.

While I love a good Philly Cheesesteak from a restaurant or food truck, making one in my kitchen is always so much more satisfying. There’s something so rewarding over having total control over the ingredients that go into your sandwich.

When you want to treat family or friends to a classic homemade meal you know they’ll love, this is the sandwich recipe to turn to. It’s perfect for keeping things casual but still downright delicious. Make a batch of Philly Cheesesteaks for when you’re watching the big game, attending a block party, or any other time you want to impress and keep it classic!

What is a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich?

This is a famous Philadelphia sandwich that combines steak, onions, peppers, and cheese on a crusty hoagie roll. The steak is a flavorful, thinly sliced rib eye (or another tender steak of choice) that gets quickly seared on a grill or a griddle. The original Philly Cheesesteak was a simple combination of steak and onion on a hoagie. Overtime, cheese came into the picture and other veggie additions like bell peppers, mushrooms, and/or chili peppers.

The Origin Story:

The original Philly Cheesesteak came from, you guessed it, Philadelphia! The legend has it that Pat Olivieri created this sandwich in 1930 at his hot dog stand when he threw some thinly shaved beef on the grill, sautéed it with onions, and put it inside a hoagie roll.

A passing by cab smelled this concoction and asked for one as well. It wasn’t long before he had quite a following! Later on, Pat opened a Pat’s King of Steaks shop. At some point, he decided to start adding Cheese Whiz to his steak sandwich.

With time and regional interpretation, people started using provolone cheese rather than Cheese Whiz and started adding veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, and even spicy chili peppers. All these years later, Pat’s is still one of the best places to get a great Philly Cheesesteak. You can also check out their rival right across the street, Geno’s.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• Hoagie Rolls – I prefer to grab mine from the bakery section of my local grocery store rather than using the ones from the bread aisle. Bakery fresh hoagies are always crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.
• Onions – A large yellow onion lends a natural sweetness to the sandwich.
• Bell Pepper – Green bell pepper slices are optional, but highly recommended.
• Oil – Use a neutral cooking oil to cook the veggies and steak in.
• Butter – To avoid a salty sandwich, use unsalted butter.
• Provolone Cheese – Classic provolone is always the safest choice. If you feel a little adventurous, consider using smoked provolone.
• Steak – Use a ribeye if you have one available with great marbling and no large chunks of fat. If you need to find another steak, go with top round, sirloin, or another good quality steak with nice fat marbling throughout.
• Salt, Pepper, Worcestershire Sauce – This is all meant to flavor the steak for the best bite every time.

Cooking Instructions:

Par-freeze the steaks.

This will greatly simplify things for you! Before you start cooking, par-freeze the steaks so they’re easy to slice thinly. Do this about 30-45 minutes prior to cooking.

Remove the steaks from the package. Place them on a cutting board covered in parchment paper, then transfer the cutting board to the freezer.

Prepare the ingredients.

Once your steaks are partially frozen, slice them as thinly as you can. Use a sharp knife and go against the grain.

Slice the onions and bell peppers thinly as well. Slice the hoagie rolls about half way through the top.

Cook the ingredients.

Combine the sliced steak, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl.

Preheat a griddle or pan with oil over medium high heat.

Sauté the onions and peppers until softened and golden brown. Set them aside.

Warm the hoagie rolls on the griddle or another pan.

Add a little more oil and sear the steak. Toss it occasionally to cook through. Stir in the onions and peppers.

Assemble the sandwiches.

Separate the steak and veggies mixture into 4 mounds. Top each mound with cheese. Let the cheese melt, then transfer the mound onto the sliced and warmed hoagie roll. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions: