Philly Cheesesteak Recipe, The Glorious Pride of Philadelphia

Philly Cheesesteak is a sandwich filled with perfectly seasoned beef, gooey cheese, and optional sweet caramelised onions with sautéed mushrooms. It's the classic example of American comfort food, now a staple in many restaurants across the States.

Our recipe will make a great dinner or hefty lunch for two in under 40 minutes. We'll also show you our easy home hack for recreating the famous Cheez Whiz.

Meat lovers will enjoy the Philadelphia cheesesteak traditionally stuffed with meat. However, vegetarians shouldn't fret; our recipe teaches you how this sandwich can easily be modified to accommodate veggie lovers. If you're feeling adventurous and want to create your twist, we'll also show you some substitute ingredients we add to ours.

From being a convenient snack for cab drivers when first invented in Philadelphia, this dish has now spread worldwide and can be eaten practically anywhere.

Jump to:

• What Is A Philly Cheesesteak?
• Ingredients
• How To Make Cheez Whiz for Philly Cheesesteak
• Traditional Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
• Cooking Tips
• Popular variations
• Authentic or not?
• What to serve with?

What Is A Philly Cheesesteak?

This wholesome comfort food consists of grilled steak, caramelised onions, and melted cheese stuffed in a buttered hoagie roll. It is the pride of Philadelphia, the state where it originated and is known as "cheesesteak." 

Ingredients

Traditional Philly Cheesesteak ingredients include rib eye beef, cheese and a sub or long Italian roll. 

Substitute any of these ingredients, and Philadelphia locals and loyal fans will deem your Philly cheesesteak inauthentic. Toppings such as sautéed onions and sautéed mushrooms are acceptable, but the jury is still out on green bell peppers. Condiments such as ketchup and mayo are also acceptable. So, let's break it down even further.

Rib eye beef

The go-to Philly cheesesteak meat is ribeye steak, precisely thinly sliced. When cooked, it is not only tender but also incredibly juicy. The melt-in-your-mouth texture already has us salivating as we're typing this out!

Now we understand that ribeye steak is a bit on the pricier side. Not everyone can afford it. Sirloin and flank steak are good alternatives if you make this at home and on a budget.

Flank and sirloin are leaner cuts of meat than ribeye. In other words, they contain less fat. We still prefer ribeye over sirloin and flank steak, as ribeye has a higher fat content that adds to the juiciness of the cheesesteak. However, flank and sirloin are more affordable and acceptable substitutes. You'll still get a delicious sandwich without the price tag.

They will cook faster when using sirloin or flank, so be careful not to overcook them as they will dry out quicker than ribeye.

Chicken is also a great alternative to beef in our recipe. Chicken takes on marination very well and is a healthier option, too. We recommend using chicken thighs as they are juicier than chicken breast.

Many cheesesteak shops across the US serve chicken (such as Ishkabibble in Philadelphia) to cater to a broader market. We've even seen shops offering extra meats such as pepperoni or salami, so it's up to you.

On days when you want to splurge or if budget permits, we suggest still getting the ribeye steak for a taste of the traditional Philly cheesesteak.

Cheese

Cheez Whiz is the cheese in a classic sandwich because it melts nicely (think gooey) on top of the meat. 

Two other types of cheese that have won the public's approval are provolone and American cheese. Either of these two types makes it easier to achieve the oozing, melted cheese consistency of Cheez Whiz.

If you've previously followed a Philly cheesesteak sandwich recipe at home and are already in the mood to experiment, you can see whether other types of cheese would work.

We've seen friends try it with Swiss cheese and liked the result. Some places will use a mixture of cheeses. Generally, you want to use neutral-flavoured and gooey cheese to add a cream-like texture to the cheesesteak. Avoid flaky cheeses like feta cheese or strong-flavoured ones like mature cheddar or blue cheese.

Don't be afraid to experiment—after all, it's a matter of personal preference, right? Based on our experience, we'd stick with the top three—Cheez Whiz, provolone, and American cheese, in that order.

Bread

Philly locals and loyal fans firmly believe that only Hoagie rolls or Italian long rolls can be used as the base of a Philly cheesesteak. Anything else is considered inauthentic.

Hoagie rolls are long with a soft, chewy interior and a harder exterior that holds well even after being stuffed full of dripping meat juice, oozing melted cheese, and other ingredients. They also have the perfect texture when toasted.

If you have a knack for baking bread, you can also bake hoagie rolls at home. We use a jumbo hot dog roll, which is very similar. It is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a creamy flavour.

Toppings and Condiments

You can order your traditional Philly cheesesteak in many shops with a generous topping of caramelised (sautéed) onions. Another option for toppings is sautéed mushrooms. That's about it.

Hot peppers are sometimes an option, and we've also seen variations that add green bell peppers. Again, some fans say such ingredients result in inauthentic sandwiches.

The sandwich is sometimes drizzled with melted cheese sauce, like how celebrity chef Bobby Flay does his version. To make a thick sauce, he melts provolone cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and other ingredients like butter, flour, and milk. We've also seen ketchup or mayo used as condiments.

How To Make Cheez Whiz for Philly Cheesesteak

Cheez Whiz is a rare pantry item for many people, but you can also make your own at home. Use our copycat homemade cheez whiz recipe below to make 2-3 servings.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
•  ½ teaspoon garlic granules
• ½ teaspoon onion granules
• ½ teaspoon light brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder(optional, mainly for colour)
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) cream cheese
• ½ cup (120 grams) Cheddar cheese
• ½ cup (120 ml) full-fat milk

Method

1. Mix all the dry ingredients, including cornstarch, garlic and onion granules, light brown sugar, black pepper, salt, and turmeric powder, and add them to a pot.

2. Pour the milk over the dry ingredients and mix well. Then, add the Dijon mustard, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese.

3. Turn on the stove to medium-low heat and stir all the ingredients to combine them thoroughly. Once the cheeses have melted and become a consistent cheese sauce, your homemade Cheez Whiz is ready.

Cooking Tips

Here are some cooking tips which will be helpful for beginners.

How to thinly slice the meat

You must slice the ribeye steak thinly to achieve the best results. One way to do this is to freeze the steak for about 30 minutes before cutting it.

This is the easiest way to slice through the steak as thinly as possible. Of course, you'll also need a sharp knife that can do the hard work for you.

Most butcher shops or grocery stores can slice the meat for your Philly cheesesteak. Our local butchers do this for us at no extra cost, so make sure you ask.

Tough meat

The most important tip is not to overcook the meat. It is quintessential that the dish be served with tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef.

To avoid tough meat, heat the pan first before cooking the meat. Only use medium or medium-low heat to prevent burning or overcooking. Lastly, remember to keep stirring the meat in the pan.

Following the tips above, you'll keep your Philly cheesesteak meat tender and juicy.

Toasting bread

Lightly toasted hoagies or long Italian rolls add a crunchy bite of deliciousness to the Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich. Slice the rolls in half to open them up, but do not slice too deep to separate them.

To do this, spread butter or garlic butter on the insides and pop them in the oven to toast them. We usually choose to omit this step. We find that the hoagie rolls are usually creamy enough without the butter. Alternatively, you could also lightly toast them in the pan. Be careful not to burn them, though.

Melting other types of cheese

Cheez Whiz already has a gooey, sauce-like consistency, making the perfect Philly cheesesteak sauce. To use it, you only need to pour it on the meat and toppings as a final step.

If you're using other types, such as provolone or American cheese, add the slices to the meat once it's almost cooked in the pan. Essentially, you're covering the meat with cheese slices so that the cheese melts on top.

Popular variations

The recipe we've shared above doesn't contain other toppings like mushrooms or condiments like ketchup or mayo. It's a traditional recipe that only uses the classic ingredients in a traditional Philly cheesesteak.

People sometimes say that "less is more," and that's the case for Philly cheesesteak. We recommend adding only a few different types of toppings, as the main combination of steak, cheese, and caramelised onions is simple yet beautiful. 

If we do want to add anything extra, it's usually mushrooms. They help increase the cheesesteak's 'meatiness,' so they're great when you're looking for volume. The flavour of the sauteed mushrooms is relatively neutral, allowing the original flavour combination to shine through.

You can try adding other things, but we don't recommend it. If you insist on more ingredients like bell peppers, tomatoes, and jalapenos, it's best to serve it as a side dish or vegetable.

For other meat alternatives, try chicken, salami, or sausages. You could also swap out the meat with mushrooms for a vegetarian option. Portobello or king oyster mushrooms are perfect substitutes.

Authentic or not?

Once you're outside the state, you'll see names such as Philadelphia cheesesteak or authentic Philly cheesesteak.

Funnily enough, online forums caution against restaurants using the word "authentic". Suppose you see that on the menu, run away, as it will likely be far from the real thing. You've been warned.

Now for the origin story. As you'll see on the official Visit Philadelphia page, the story goes like this. One day in the 1930s, a hot dog vendor named Pat Olivieri was looking for something new to eat, different from his usual hot dog. 

He decided to go to his local butcher shop and get beef. He grilled the meat and made a sandwich. A cab driver passing by got a whiff and asked for one, too. The Philly cheesesteak soon became a delicious treat for cab drivers. The rest, as they say, is history.

It's incredible that this delightful treat was invented in the 1930s and is still popular and loved today. Pat's King of Steaks, which Pat Olivieri opened over ninety years ago, is still completely family-owned and operated. 

There are so many reasons why people rave about this sandwich. What's not to like? Protein — check. Dairy — check. Carbs — check. If it contains onions or mushrooms, you'll also have vegetables (or fungi) — check.

What to serve with?

The Philly Cheesesteak is already good and filling by itself. But if you're like us and need side dishes to go with your main dish, here's the ones we suggest:

• French Fries
• Coleslaw
• Milkshake
• Coke or Root Beer

Have you noticed how burgers are usually eaten with a side of French Fries? It's a classic pairing because they complement each other. Crispy and salty French fries are delicious, not just with burgers but also with this Philly cheesesteak sandwich. 

Conversely, coleslaw works well as a side dish because it's light and refreshing.

We recommend a milkshake that's heavy and creamy for maximum satisfaction. This is the ultimate cheat meal, as this combination will set you back more than 1000 calories. But who's counting, right?

We recommend Coke or root beer for a lighter but equally satisfying drink. Add ice cream to your root beer, and you instantly have a root beer float.

There are other side dishes you can choose to pair with the Philly Cheesesteak. For example, you could also have cheese sticks, onion rings, or potato wedges. The list goes on.

The bottom line is that there are many ways to enjoy this fantastic comfort food. Enjoy it solo, or pair it with delicious side dishes; it's up to you. After reading about this tasty comfort food and the pride of Philadelphia, we hope we've piqued your interest. 

What else are you waiting for if you haven't tried this before? When you're in a country where you can already eat out at restaurants, find the nearest Philly cheesesteak restaurant and order one. Otherwise, give our recipe a try at home. We hope you like our recipe as much as we do. If you tried making it at home, share your photos with us. Tag and follow us on Instagram @honestfoodtalks, and we might even feature your photo.