We may earn a commission when you click on the affiliate links in this post.
No slicing steak, no special equipment – just deli roast beef, melty provolone, sautéed peppers and onions, and a little cream cheese that takes the whole thing over the top. Unlike a traditional ribeye cheesesteak, this Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe is built for busy nights without skimping on any of the flavor. This recipe is fast, flavorful, and tastes like something you’d actually order out.
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My family loved these! My husband isn’t typically a huge cheesesteak fan but he thought they were so good! He said best cheesesteak he’s ever had!! Thanks for the recipe.” – Hillary
“This was seriously so good. We LOVED every single bite. Thanks for such a good and easy recipe! LOVING your site and excited to try more things!“ – Mandy
“Probably the best sandwich I’ve ever had! The cream cheese really makes it extra delicious!” – Devon
A Hearty Meal Without the Fuss
These Philly cheesesteak sandwiches have become one of my go-to “busy night lifesavers.” They are ideal for when you don’t have a lot of time but are craving something hearty, filling, and flavorful. The tender roast beef soaks up all those savory juices, the peppers and onions get soft and sweet, and when everything melts together under a blanket of buttery cheese…well, it’s one of those dinners that makes the whole kitchen smell amazing.
When I make them for my crew, I always end up with a little assembly line going – sandwiches for the kids (minus the peppers and onions), and then a couple of extra-loaded ones for me and the hubby, with all the veggies piled sky-high. Paired with something simple like fries, chips, or veggies and dip, it turns into an easy meal everyone’s happy with. Honestly, these sandwiches are just as perfect for a weeknight as they are for game day or feeding a hungry crowd. They never disappoint!
🩷 Erica
Table of Contents
- 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- A Hearty Meal Without the Fuss
- Why This Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe Works
- Key Ingredients
- Best Meat for Philly Cheesesteaks
- What Cheese Is Best for Cheesesteaks?
- Easy Variations and Substitutions
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Tips for the Best Philly Cheesesteak at Home
- Storage, Freezing, and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Subs and Sandwiches
- Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
Why This Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe Works
- Deli roast beef = no prep work
No slicing or trimming required. It heats quickly and absorbs flavor from the broth and seasonings. - Cream cheese adds richness + prevents soggy bread
It melts right into the filling and also acts as a barrier on the roll so everything stays soft, not wet. - Simmering the beef makes it extra tender
Even pre-cooked beef gets more flavorful and juicy after a quick simmer. - Broiling at the end brings it all together
That quick blast of heat melts the cheese and lightly toasts the bread for the perfect texture.
Key Ingredients
- Beef broth – Tenderizes the beef and enhances the flavors.
- Onion soup mix
- Black Angus roast beef – I like to get thinly sliced roast beef from the deli counter at my grocery store, but you could use pre-sliced deli meat or even leftover roast beef from Sunday dinner. Just make sure the beef is nice and thin; the flavor of the juice soaks in better that way when you simmer it.
- Green bell pepper – Cut the peppers up really thin so they cook evenly. You want them tender but not mushy.
- Onion – A white onion is perfect for taste and smell. Slice into thin slices.
- Cream cheese – Spread a nice, thick layer of cream cheese on the bread. The cream cheese softens with the hot meat and veggies and melts perfectly.
- Provolone cheese – My favorite cheese to use for this recipe.
- Hoagie rolls – You can find hoagie rolls at pretty much any grocery store or use our Homemade Subway Bread recipe if you like homemade bread better!
- Optional Additions: mushrooms, hot peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles
Best Meat for Philly Cheesesteaks
If you’ve ever wondered what kind of beef to use, here’s a quick breakdown:
- Ribeye (traditional)
The classic choice. Rich, tender, and full of flavor (but requires slicing and a little more effort). - Deli roast beef (this recipe)
My go-to for busy nights. It’s already thinly sliced, cooks fast, and still tastes amazing once simmered in broth. - Shaved steak
A great middle ground. Cooks quickly like deli meat but gives you that more traditional texture.
👉 If you’re short on time, deli roast beef is the easiest option – and honestly, most people don’t miss the difference.
What Cheese Is Best for Cheesesteaks?
It really comes down to personal preference:
- Provolone (used here) – mild, melty, and classic
- American cheese – extra creamy and smooth
- Cheez Whiz – the most traditional Philly-style option
👉 For this version, provolone pairs perfectly with the creamy filling without overpowering the flavor.
Easy Variations and Substitutions
- No cream cheese?
You can skip it, but the filling won’t be quite as creamy or rich. - Add mushrooms
Sauté them with the onions and peppers. - Make it spicy
Add jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce. - Use a different cheese
American or mozzarella both work great! - Low-carb option
Serve the filling in a bowl or over roasted veggies.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Simmer the Beef: Bring the beef broth and onion soup mix to a boil in a medium pot. Add the roast beef, lower the heat, and let it simmer gently for 5-10 minutes to soak up the flavor.
- Sauté the Veggies: While the beef simmers, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and green peppers and cook until soft and lightly caramelized.
- Combine Beef and Cream Cheese: Once the beef is done, drain the juices (save them if you’d like to make an “au jus” dip). Add the roast beef to the skillet with the vegetables, along with about 4 oz. of cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese melts and everything is well combined.
- Prep the Rolls and Build the Sandwiches: Spread the remaining cream cheese onto the hoagie rolls. When the beef mixture is creamy and heated through, spoon generous portions onto each roll. Top each sandwich with provolone cheese and place them open-faced on a baking sheet.
- Broil Until Melty: Place the baking sheet under the broiler on high for about 1 minute, or until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the bread start to toast.
- Serve Warm: Remove the sandwiches from the oven and serve immediately-preferably with the reserved juices if you love a good dip!
Tips for the Best Philly Cheesesteak at Home
- Slice veggies thin
They cook faster and blend better into the sandwich. - Don’t overcook the beef
It just needs to heat through. Too long and it can get tough. - Drain the beef well
This is key to avoiding soggy sandwiches. - Use the broiler (don’t skip it!)
That final melt makes a big difference in texture and flavor. - Toast the rolls slightly if needed
Especially helpful if your bread is very soft.
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating
- Refrigerate:
Store leftover filling in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. - Best way to store:
Keep the meat mixture separate from the rolls to prevent sogginess. - Reheat:
Warm the filling in a skillet over medium heat until hot, then assemble and broil for 30-60 seconds to melt the cheese. - Freeze:
The filling freezes well for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
👉 I don’t recommend freezing assembled sandwiches – the bread gets too soft.
Frequently Asked Questions
An authentic Philly cheesesteak consists of thinly sliced ribeye steak, melted American cheese, provolone, or cheez whiz all served on thick crusted bread like a toasted hoagie roll. Top it with sauteed onions and green bell peppers. Use a sharp knife and cut it in half to serve on butcher paper.
Aside from getting a hold of an authentic sandwich in Philadelphia at a local cheesesteak shop, a homemade Philly cheesesteak needs to have thin sliced ribeye steak and cheese. Serve on an amoroso roll and top with caramelized onions.
A melty cheese, for sure. The best cheese would have to be American cheese, deli provolone, or cheese whiz. You need a good cheese melt!
Soft hoagie rolls are ideal. They hold up well to the filling but still stay tender when broiled. Amoroso-style rolls are the “classic Philly” choice, but any soft sub roll or sandwich hoagie will work. Avoid crusty baguettes; they tend to compete with the filling.
Two tricks help:
Spread cream cheese on the rolls (as in the recipe). It acts like a moisture barrier and adds a delicious creamy layer.
Drain the beef mixture well before assembling.
These simple steps keep the bread soft but not wet.
Read Next: 35+ Quick and Easy To Follow Dinner Ideas Your Family Will Surely Love
More Subs and Sandwiches
If you like this Philly Cheesesteak recipe, you will love any of these delicious sandwich options:
If your family loves these Philly cheesesteaks as much as mine does, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and let me know how they turned out, and don’t forget to give the recipe a rating so others can find it too. Happy cooking! 🥖🧀🥩
Easy Philly Cheesesteak Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 package onion soup mix
- 1 pound Black Angus rare roast beef, regular roast beef works great too, just make sure it’s from the deli and thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 large white or yellow onion, sliced
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 8 slices provolone cheese, 2 slices per sandwich
- 4 hoagie rolls
Instructions
- Bring beef broth and onion soup mix to a boil. Add roast beef, reduce heat, and simmer for about 5-10 minutes.
- In the meantime, in a large skillet saute onion and green pepper.
- When beef is done simmering, drain juices (you can keep the juice if you want to make an “au jus” dip). Add roast beef to skillet along with about 4 oz. of cream cheese.
- Spread remaining cream cheese on each hoagie roll. When the cream cheese in the skillet is all melted, generously portion beef mixture onto each hoagie roll. Top with provolone cheese and place sandwiches, open-faced on a large baking sheet.
- Broil on high for about a minute or until cheese becomes bubbly and bread becomes slightly toasty.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Notes
- Optional Additions: mushrooms, hot peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles
- To make a family sized sandwich, use a loaf of French bread.
- Add some cheese whiz for an authentic Philly Cheesesteak.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe?
We want to hear from you! Please leave a review.
These hoagies are amazing! I’m making them for the second time in two weeks right now! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! This is a keeper for sure! ????????????
So glad that you like them! They are definitely a “regular” at our house, too!
These are the best! I put some of the soup mixture into the meat after cooking (used Schwan’s Philly Beef Steak) and simmered until liquid dissolved, then added the cream cheese. We used the rest of the soup mixture for the “au jus”. I used provolone, husband used baby swiss. Seasoned peppers, onions & mushrooms with salt & pepper. Absolute heaven! Thank you so much for this recipe. I will use it forever!
Thank you for the comment! So glad you liked it! Love the idea of adding mushrooms. YUM!
I made this tonight for dinner. I absolutely loved it!! So simple and quick! I’ll be making it again soon 🙂
So glad you liked it!
This is spectacular!! Best Philly cheese steak sandwich! I also added mushrooms and used white american cheese instead of provalone. Much better taste that way 🙂 thanks for the recipie!
Yum! Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Delish! I made this with a few extras and mushrooms. ( GREAT!!!) I also simmered the meat for about 20 minutes to give it more flavor. While the onion,bell pepper were almost done I through in the mushrooms and a little broth to brown it with flavor. It was so good. Thanks so much
“These are DELICIOUS!!!!” to quote my 10 yo son! He asked what we were having and when I said “philly cheese steak” he replied with the typical ‘Oh, yeah…Do I have to have that?” So when I made his plate I only gave him a small piece and told him I wanted him to at least try it, which typically returns a “ok, I tried it, now can I have a PBJ?” He took one bite and asked for the rest of his sandwhich! Thanks for posting. Not only is the flavor delicious but was a very quick to prepare meal!
Just made this for dinner, and used a whole loaf of French bread instead of indivual hoggie rolls, the family loved it!
Thank you so much for sharing made this tonight everyone LOVED it!!!! I sauted mushrooms and jalapeños for my husband and he said he will be requesting this on a regular!!!
Probably the best sandwich I’ve ever had! The cream cheese really makes it extra delicious!
I just made this and BOY OH BOY,IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!!! I added mushrooms and then mayo and lettuce and tomato. but It didn’t need it. Great just the way it is! My family ate up every last bit! Thank you so much for this recipe. It will be a regular one for sure.
mmmm – you have me drooling!! I’m a pinner pro for bh&g and have just pinned this as a fav find – looks awesome! You may get a bit of traffic from this pin but wanted you to have the link – http://pinterest.com/pin/92042386105815217/ – you can find me here too:
NORTHERN COTTAGE: {http://www.northerncottage.net} and on pinterest here: http://pinterest.com/northernc/
chat soon girlies!
I made this tonight for dinner, it was so yummy and easy to make. I would highly recommend this
One of the best dinners Ive ever made! what a great recipe! thank you!
This was seriously so good. We LOVED every single bite. Thanks for such a good and easy recipe! LOVING your site and excited to try more things!
Made this for dinner tonight and the boy friend loved it! I also used mushrooms, it made the sandwich.
My husband looooves philly's I'm going to try this version!
We tried it with sautéed mushrooms….yum!
This looks wonderful!! I will be adding it to my menu for next week for sure—with the cheese!! :0)
Yum! This is going on this week's menu plan, I'll be posting my menu plan later today and I'll link to this wonderful recipe 🙂
http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com
Do you know if you cook the meet before adding it with the broth mix
That looks so yummy! I'm going to try this recipe this week!