Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Hearty, delicious sandwich alert! This Philly Cheesesteak Casserole brings home all the classic flavors of the Philly sandwich in one big casserole, which you can dish out in individual sandwiches or serve in a variety of ways!
There are many version of a Philly Cheesesteak Casserole on the Internet. I found that most of them are missing a few key ingredients. Namely: steak. Second, Cheez Whiz!
I just can’t imagine a Cheesesteak without juicy, sliced-thin steak (many recipes use ground beef) and melted Cheez Whiz. To round out my casserole, I added lots of caramelized peppers and onions and topped everything with provolone.
It’s a winner!
How to Prep Steak for Cheesesteaks
If you get an authentic Philly Cheesesteak, the steak is paper thin. They do this by almost freezing the steak and then shaving it. That’s pretty hard to do in the home kitchen environment.
The best way to mimic that result is to get your steak cold – even putting it in the freezer for 30 minutes – and then trying to slice it as thin as you can.
I also like to chop mine a bit so the steak is in thin, bite-sized chunks.
Cook the steak first in a large skillet with a drizzle of oil until it’s browned in spots and almost cooked through. It’ll cook really fast!
Peppers or No Peppers in Cheesesteak?
There are many opinions on cheesesteak. Some people insist on onions and peppers. Some hate those add-ins. Personally I like them and this is my recipe so I added them!
I cooked the veggies in the same skillet as the steak and didn’t even bother cleaning it. Season the vegetables well with salt, pepper, and spices!
Making the Cheesesteak Casserole
The benefit of making this dish in casserole form is that you don’t have to be constantly manning a skillet to make a single sandwich. Layer everything together and pop it in the oven and then make as many sandwiches as you need!
I layered my peppers and then my steak in my casserole dish.
Is Cheez Whiz Essential for a Cheesesteak?
Short answer: No. People like it with just provolone, but personally it’s the only time I eat Cheez Whiz. Something about it just works.
It also helps in a casserole like this because it adds some fat to the dish and keeps it from drying out as it bakes.
Drizzle on the Whiz and then add some provolone slices. CLASSIC!
Of course, everything in this casserole is already cooked so our goal with popping it in the oven is to warm everything through and melt all the cheese!
BOOM!
How to Serve Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
A hoagie roll would be the classic idea. Warm one up and stuff it with as much filling as possible!
There are other options though!
Serve it over rice or in a lettuce wrap for a fun low-carb option!
Storing Leftovers
You will almost certainly have leftovers of this casserole. Let it cool and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat smaller portions in the microwave in 30 second bursts until the steak is warmed through and the cheese is re-melted!
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
- Serves:
- Serves 6-8
- Prep Time:
-
10 mins
- Cook Time:
-
30 mins
- Total Time:
- 45 mins
All the classic Philly Cheesesteak flavors in casserole form! Easy to make for multiple sandwiches or serve the Philly Cheesesteak in lettuce wraps or over rice! YUM!
Ingredients
Show Directions
- Preheat oven to 400˚F.
- When prepping steak, it helps if the steak is very cold. Slice steak into very thin slices and then chop into 1-2 inch chunks. Season steak with half of all the spices.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering hot, add steak and cook until steak is cooked through and browned, maybe 4-5 minutes.
- Remove steak from the skillet, add a fresh drizzle of oil and add the peppers and onions along with the rest of the spices. Cook until veggies are tender and caramelized in spots.
- Transfer cooked peppers to a large 9×13 baking dish and spread out evenly. Top with steak.
- Drizzle about 1 cup of Cheez Whiz over the surface of the steak and then cover with Provolone cheese slices.
- Bake casserole for 8-10 minutes to warm through well and completely melt cheese. Garnish finished casserole with fresh parsley.
Serve Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with rolls or over rice. For a low-carb version, try it with lettuce wraps!
Leftover casserole keeps great in the fridge fro 3-4 days and can be reheated in the microwave in short 30 second bursts until steak is warm and cheese is re-melted.