Easy 30 Minute Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

When I was 15, my family and I spent spring break touring the original 13 states, as well as historic landmarks. We visited all the national monuments in Washington D.C., walked the brick trail in Boston, flew over the Statue of Liberty in a helicopter, and stood at the base of a lighthouse on the coast of Maine.

Each state was beautiful and rich with history; one of the best parts, though, was tasting all the food local to each city and state. One of my family’s absolute favorite dishes (besides NY pizza, of course) was found in the heart of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: the famous Philly Cheesesteak.

Little did you know that the two best (and rival) cheesesteak restaurants in all of Philly are quite literally across the street from each other. Locals swear by one or the other—NEVER both—and might even die for their pick. Parking was so impossible to find that we had to park almost 5 blocks west of the restaurants.

But you know what? It was so worth it. Tender meat smothered in melted cheese and sautéed onions on fresh bread…my mouth is watering all over again!

This recipe is inspired by that wonderful east-coast meal all those years ago. A lighter take on a traditional dish, this Philly Cheesesteak Skillet is bursting with flavor and so easy to make. It is ready to eat in 30 minutes, start to finish!

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What's in a Philly Cheesesteak?

Traditionally, these sandwiches are made with thinly sliced ribeye steak, provolone cheese, sautéed onions, and mayo. Just like any other sandwich at a restaurant, there are many optional toppings and varieties—ketchup, sautéed peppers, mushrooms, banana peppers—but those are the classic ingredients.

This recipe is made entirely in a skillet with traditional flavors like sautéed garlic, mushrooms, green and red peppers, onions, and shaved steak. However, there are a few differences with this Philly Cheesesteak Skillet:

• Instead of mayo or ketchup, the recipe calls for Worcestershire sauce
• Instead of slices of provolone, the skillet is broiled in the oven with shredded mozzarella. Broiling is an option (sometimes I just don’t have time!) but is well worth the effort, especially if you appreciate lots of melted cheese. You could even buy provolone slices and melt those in the skillet!
• The skillet can be eaten as prepared (how I like it!) or served in a toasted hoagie bun (how my husband likes it)

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How to Make a Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

This recipe is one of the frequent flyers in our house because of how EASY it is to make. Really, when you break it down, it only takes 3 simple steps to make:

1. Sauté mushrooms in a greased skillet with salt. Once the mushrooms have caramelized, add in the thinly-sliced steak.
2. Toss in the remaining ingredients (veggies, sauce, cornstarch, and seasonings) and sauté until vegetables are soft and the sauce has thickened.
3. Sprinkle cheese over the skillet and broil in the oven until cheese is bubbly and brown.

The key to this recipe is caramelizing the mushrooms, then sautéing the steak and vegetables in the oils from those mushrooms. Browning/sautéing/caramelizing = massive flavor! The heat and the oil release all the goodness inside the vegetables and they just melt in your mouth when they’re cooked to perfection.

The Worcestershire sauce is savory, with a touch of vinegar, and pulls together the caramelized veggies with the seared meat. Basically, it’s just wonderful. My husband begs me to make this dinner frequently!

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Possible Substitutions

This dish is a wonderful family dinner because you can modify it to fit the needs of your household, whether it's low-carb, gluten-free, keto, or extra saucy! Here are some easy swaps to consider:

• Low-carb: omit the bread: this is how I eat it and it is delicious straight out of the skillet!
• Keto: omit the bread and pile on the cheese!
• Use your favorite cheese: go "traditional" with sliced provolone, "spicy" with pepper-jack cheese, or "extra" with gooey pockets of mozzarella balls throughout the skillet!
• Choice of steak: my local grocery store sells shaved beef steak that doesn't require any prep for this recipe, but if you don't have that luxury, I suggest buying top sirloin.

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More Skillet Recipes You'll Love

Balsamic Steak and Veggie Skillet

Easy Skillet Mac and Cheese

Lightened-Up Shepherd's Pie Skillet

Better-Than-Takeout Healthy Orange Chicken

Irresistible 30-Minute Egg Roll in a Bowl

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However you choose to enjoy this dish, it will become a new family favorite. What’s not to love? Meat, sautéed veggies, cheese, bread, and did I mention it’s done in 30 minutes?!

I can't wait to hear what you think of this Philly Cheesesteak Skillet! Tag me on social media using @kapaicooking and leave a comment and rating below to keep me in the loop! I love seeing you make my dishes and your feedback is vital to the content creation here in the KPC kitchen. Enjoy!