Homemade Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich
No need to travel to Philadelphia to get a homemade Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich! This deliciously tender beef sandwich is easy to make and tastes better than one you’d find in a restaurant! With only a few simple ingredients, you’ll definitely feel like you’re in The City of Brotherly Love!
One of the best Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches I”ve had was at The Foggy Rock in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Man oh man, their steak sandwich is rockin-good! After I got home, I had to make my own and I must say, it turned out delicious!
By the way, nobody in Philly calls it a “Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich”–they just say “cheesesteak “…who knew?
Why you’ll love this cheesesteak recipe
This recipe makes a gravy-like sauce that you can drizzle over the sandwich filling. Traditional cheesesteak sandwiches typically don’t have a sauce, but I wanted something a little messy, kinda like a Sloppy Joe.
- Stove top or slow-cooker…your choice
- Filling– savory meat, onions and peppers on a soft bun
- Affordable– sliced beef goes a long way! Perfect for big groups!
In Philly, this beef sammy is served with Herr’s Potato Chips, but if you want a little variety, try a side of Maple Baked Beans or Eggplant Fries!
Here’s what you’ll need
The ingredients are pretty simple: thinly sliced beef, yellow or white onions, green bell peppers, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Provolone cheese and submarine or “hero” buns. The seasonings include a dash of Worcestershire sauce and a package of Lipton’s Beefy Onion Soup Mix – this has all the garlic powder and onion powder already in it, which is super convenient, and I use a little beef broth to nestle the beef strips and veggies in-just to give it a little added flavor.
What cut of beef to use
Most Philly cheesesteak sandwiches use one of the following thinly sliced meats. Cut it into thin slices first.
- rib-eye
- sirloin
- skirt or flank steak
Since the meat will cook in beef broth, you can use just about any cut of beef because the braising method of cooking the beef strips will tenderize them naturally.
How do I make a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich?
You can make Philly cheesesteak on the stove top or in a slow cooker (the method I prefer in the summer!) Basically, you’ll simmer the beef slices, onions and peppers in a seasoned braising liquid, then assemble the sandwich. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
Stove Top Method
I usually make the Philly Cheesesteak filling on the stovetop. The tender slices of beef, onions and green bell peppers don’t take long to cook, so there’s no reason you need to use a slow cooker or Dutch oven unless you don’t have time to stand over the stove.
Add sliced peppers, onions and Worcestershire sauce; simmer until vegetables are tender; place on warm hoagie buns, top with cheese, broil and serve!
Slow cooker method
If you don’t have time to make the homemade Philly cheesesteak sandwich on the stove, by all. means throw the beefy cheesesteak sandwich ingredients in the crockpot and free yourself from the kitchen!
Just add the beef, vegetables, broth and seasonings to a slow cooker …
…toss in a little Worcestershire sauce, put the lid on the you’re off! Cook 3-5 hours, depending upon your crockpot
When sandwich filling is done, you can heat the buns in foil if you like; assemble the sandwich, wrap it in foil and heat it or, you can just pop it under the broiler for a few seconds if you like a crispier bread.
Best bread
According to my Philly friends, the choice of bread is critical to a delicious Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. The bread must be fresh, white, and warm.
Crusty or toasted breads simply don’t suffice, as authentic Philly sandwiches use soft bread-not toasted, however, if you want to toast your bread then by all means, do so!
A hoagie bun is the traditional choice of bread, but you can use any thick, white bread.
Submarine, or “hero” rolls also work great for a delicious homemade Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
Slice the buns and wrap in foil; heat them at 350ºF for about 15-minutes.
Best cheese for Philly cheesesteak
Traditional cheesesteak sandwiches use a processed yellow cheese, like CheezWhiz® or American cheese; however, if you prefer a more natural cheese, Provolone works equally well and complements the flavors of the beef, peppers and onions.
Who invented the Philly Cheesesteak?
The cheesesteak sandwich accidentally popped up in the 1930’s in South Philadelphia when hot dog vendor Pat Oliverie decided to grill some beef and slap it on a small loaf of Italian bread with some onions.
A cab driver passing by caught a whiff of the delicious aroma and…the rest is history. Today, you can still get the original cheesesteak at Pat’s King of Steaks…they’re open 24/7!
Nobody in Philadelphia calls it a “Philly Cheesesteak,” they just call it a “Cheesesteak.”
This warm, beef sandwich is a favorite at our house and I hope it will be at yours, too! Enjoy!
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If you make this recipe, please scroll down and leave a comment and rating! I love to hear from you!
Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
Ingredients
- 1⅓ lbs sirloin cut into strips
- ½ pkg. Beefy Onion Soup Mix dry mix
- 2 cups water or beef broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 large yellow onion cut into thin strips
- 1 medium green bell pepper cut into thin strips
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- 2 Hoagie sandwich buns
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat oil on medium heat; add beef strips and cook till lightly browned2 tablespoons olive oil, 1⅓ lbs sirloin
- Add enough broth or water to cover meat; (about 2 cups); reduce heat to medium-low;2 cups water or beef broth
- Add beefy onion soup dry mix and Worcestershire sauce; cook on low till beef is tender½ pkg. Beefy Onion Soup Mix, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- Add sliced onions and peppers; cover and allow to cook until vegetables are tender1 large yellow onion, 1 medium green bell pepper
- Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the beef, peppers and onions and set aside
Sandwich Assembly and Cheese
- Preheat oven to 350ºF
- Place hoagie buns in foil and bake for 10 minutes--until soft and warm2 Hoagie sandwich buns
- Remove buns from oven
- Turn oven to broil
- Slice hoagie buns lengthwise leaving one side uncut; place meat, then onions, then bell peppers. Place cheese on top.6 slices provolone cheese
- Place sandwiches under broiler just until cheese melts.
- Remove from oven and enjoy!
Notes
- Philly cheesesteak can also be made in a crock pot; just put all the ingredients (except for the oil) in a slow cooker; Cook on low for about 3 hours.
Nutrition Estimate
Philly cheese steak is one of my favorite things. I can’t wait to try your recipe!
Thank you! I make it in the slow cooker during the summer!:)