The Best Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
Published March 18, 2020. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
It’s time to take a trip up to the Northeast with this Authentic Philly cheesesteak smothered in caramelized onions and served up in a toasted bun and topped off with a delicious homemade cheese sauce. This seriously may be the best sandwich of all time.
The cheesesteak is a super classic American dish that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 1930s by a man named Pat Olivieri. The creator was originally a hot dog vendor and decided to throw some meat on the grill one day and add it to a bun.
This sandwich attracted all sorts of customers, including cab drivers, and the word spread fast about this tasty steak sandwich. Pat’s is now one of the original and most famous cheesesteak restaurants in Philly.
It’s super simple to make consisting of only sliced ribeye that’s cooked with caramelized onions and served up on a bun with cheese. Right along with my Roast Beef Sandwich and Jibarito sandwich, this ones’ at the top of my favorites list.
It’s an awesome sandwich to serve to a crowd during a sporting event or it’s amazing when just eating it for lunch. You pick.
Philly Cheesesteak Cheese
The classic cheesesteak cheese used is cheese whiz, believe it or not. If that grosses you out as much as it does for me, then let’s just make our own homemade version. Here is what you need?
- Shredded Cheddar – Buy a ½ pound block of extra sharp cheddar from the cheese department and grate it up.
- Shredded American Cheese – You can ask for a chunk from the deli department it grates perfectly. American cheese has sodium citrate in it which will help keep the sauce smooth.
- Cornstarch – I use this to ensure my sauce is thick for spreading.
- Garlic Powder – I like to use the coarser ground garlic granules.
- Dry Ground Mustard – This is going to add some great flavor to the sauce.
- Sea Salt – You will use less sea salt, plus it’s better for you and tastes better.
- Evaporated Milk – A canned milk that is more flavorful and will help thicken the sauce.
What Kind of Steak to Use
The most traditional cut of meat to use in a Philly cheesesteak recipe is ribeye. It’s a well-marbled cut of beef that, when sliced thin and cooked, chews very easily when eaten. If for some reason you are wanting a leaner cut of beef, then check out these options:
- Filet Mignon
- Top Sirloin
- Strip Sirloin
- Flank Steak
Does It Have to Have Onions?
My personal opinion is that some caramelized onions need to be cooked in with the thinly sliced ribeye because it will greatly enhance its flavor. Caramelized onions are commonly served as an additional topping to the steak sandwich and you tell the guy at the counter making it, “wid” or “widout.”
Cheesesteak Topping Options
Here are the most common toppings you can add to the top or cook into the sandwich:
- Caramelized Onions
- Cheese Sauce
- Provolone
- Pizza Sauce
- Mushrooms
- Peppers
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can caramelize the onions and meat 2-3 hours ahead of serving. Simply keep them warm in a crockpot or in a pan over low heat. The meat is thin enough that it will stay tender.
How to Reheat the Steak: Add the desired amount of steak and onions to a small frying pan over low heat and cook until hot. You can also heat in a microwave-safe bowl until hot.
How to Reheat the Sauce: Add the desired amount to a small saucepan and heat over low heat while occasionally stirring until hot.
How to Store: Keep the cooked meat and onions separate from the buns and sauce and cover in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce will keep for up to 5 days covered in the fridge.
How to Freeze: Keep the cooked meat and onions separate from the buns and sauce and cover in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw for 1 day in the refrigerator before reheating.
chef notes + tips
- Tools Needed: You can use a flat top pan or a regular large frying pan. You will also need a metal spatula.
More Amazing Sandwich Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Meatball Sandwich
- Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwich
- Ribeye Steak Sandwich
- Grilled Cheese
- Chicken Club
Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, and Pinterest, and if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!
Video
The Best Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded American cheese
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 teaspoon ground dry mustard
- 12 ounces evaporated milk
- sea salt to taste
For the Sandwich:
- 3 tablespoons clarified butter, ghee
- 2 peeled and sliced yellow onions
- 2 pounds thinly sliced ribeye steak
- 4 8 ” buns
- sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- For the Sauce: Add all of the ingredients to a medium-size pot and cook over low heat stirring often until hot and thick. Keep warm.
- Add 1 ½ tablespoons of clarified butter to a large frying pan or flattop over medium-high heat and cook the onions until lightly browned and soft, about 10 minutes. Set to the side.
- Add the remaining 1 ½ tablespoons of clarified butter to the pan and add in the sliced steak.
- Cook for 2-4 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked throughout.
- Add ½ of the cooked onions to the top of the beef, season with salt and pepper and mix together until combined.
- To Serve: Add the sliced buns cut side down onto the other side of the pan or flat top to heat up and lightly toast.
- Evenly divide the sliced cooked steak between the lightly toasted buns and top off with the remaining caramelized onions and cheese sauce.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- Make-Ahead: You can caramelize the onions and meat 2-3 hours ahead of serving. Simply keep them warm in a crockpot or in a pan over low heat. The meat is thin enough that it will stay tender.
- How to Reheat the Steak: Add the desired amount of steak and onions to a small frying pan over low heat and cook until hot. You can also heat in a microwave-safe bowl until hot.
- How to Reheat the Sauce: Add the desired amount to a small saucepan and heat over low heat while occasionally stirring until hot.
- How to Store: Keep the cooked meat and onions separate from the buns and sauce and cover in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce will keep for up to 5 days covered in the fridge.
- How to Freeze: Keep the cooked meat and onions separate from the buns and sauce and cover in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw for 1 day in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Tools Needed: You can use a flat top pan or a regular large frying pan. You will also need a metal spatula.
Nutrition
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Fireeeeee!!! I substituted pepper-jack for the sharp cheddar! Still good!
Wow!! Hands down, the best Philly Cheesesteak that I every had! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This is one of our family favorites! They would eat it every week if possible. You could put that cheese sauce on cardboard and it would still be delish!
Hi Billy! Why do you use ghee as opposed to an oil or butter in this recipe?
ghee can go hotter than butter without burning and has more flavor than oil. Plus it’s what would be used in a classic Philly cheesesteak recipe.
Hey Chef! What can I sub for American cheese? i am not in America 🙂
I would use all cheddar
Made these for Sunday Football. Couldn’t have been easier! Added some fine chopped Jimmy Nordello peppers to the cheese sauce. Wish I could add a picture. I’d like to see a take on the “sleeper” Philly classic, pork and broccoli rabe.