Philly Cheesesteak-Style Sliders Recipe

The Philly cheesesteak dates back to the 1930s, although in the early days it was more of a simple steak sandwich since it didn't include cheese. But as the sandwich approaches its century mark, cheese has long been considered a traditional part of the dish (hence the name). Still, its melty goodness can make for pretty messy (albeit fun) eating on a full-sized bun. Developer Julianne De Witt solves this problem, not by eliminating the cheese (the horror!), but by replacing sub rolls with slider buns. This results in sandwiches that are much easier to eat and also make for cute and tasty appetizers that she says are "great for entertaining — perfect for a Super Bowl party or a casual dinner party."

"This recipe is so fun to make," De Witt tells us, describing the sliders as "delicious, family-friendly, and easy to put together." While cheesesteak sliders would be an excellent addition to a game day buffet of Buffalo wings and chicken nachos, you could also make them for dinner since they're quick and easy enough to prepare even on a weeknight. If you go this route, De Witt suggests fries, chips, or potato salad as a side. For something less starchy, you could go with raw vegetables accompanied by onion dip or homemade aioli.

Collect the ingredients for the Philly cheesesteak-style sliders

For the sandwich filling, you'll need butter, an onion, a red bell pepper, steak (ribeye works best here), salt, black pepper, and sliced provolone. You're also going to need slider rolls (Hawaiian rolls are a good pick here) as well as a little garlic to flavor them.

Step 1: Turn on the oven

Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Step 2: Melt some butter

Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a saute pan over medium heat.

Step 3: Put the peppers and onions in the pan

Once the butter has melted, add the onions and peppers.

Step 4: Fry the peppers and onions

Saute for 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.

Step 5: Remove the peppers and onions from the pan

Transfer the peppers and onions to a bowl and set aside.

Step 6: Melt some more butter

Add 1 more tablespoon of butter to the saute pan.

Step 7: Cook the first batch of steak

Add half of the sliced steak and cook, stirring frequently, for about 4 to 5 minutes, until no pink remains. Season to taste with salt and pepper while cooking.

Step 8: Cook the second batch of steak

Transfer cooked steak to a bowl and cook and season the remaining steak.

Step 9: Cut the slider rolls in two

Using a serrated knife, slice all 12 slider rolls in half at once and place the bottom half on a lined baking sheet.

Step 10: Put the meat on the rolls

Assemble the sliders by adding the meat in an even layer onto the bottom half of the sliders.

Step 11: Add the peppers and onions

Add peppers and onions on top of the meat.

Step 12: Top the peppers and onions with cheese

Add the provolone, overlapping the cheese slightly if necessary.

Step 13: Cook the open-faced sandwiches

Place the baking sheet in the oven and broil the sandwiches for 5 minutes.

Step 14: Make some garlic butter

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and crushed garlic to a small saucepan over medium heat.

Step 15: Brush the garlic butter on the top rolls

Once the butter has melted, brush it onto the top of the slider rolls.

Step 16: Cook the sandwiches with the tops in place

Add the tops of the slider rolls to the bottom portion and broil for 2 minutes more until the cheese has melted and the slider tops are browned.

Step 17: Separate the sliders

Slice the buns to separate them and serve the sliders.

Philly Cheesesteak-Style Sliders Recipe

5 (33 ratings)

The classic Philly cheesesteak gets the slider makeover in this recipe, making it the perfect choice for a game day spread or family-friendly dinner.

Prep Time
7
minutes
Cook Time
23
minutes
servings
4
Servings
sliders with tortilla chips
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 1 small yellow onion, cut in half then sliced crosswise
  • 1 red pepper, cut into thin strips
  • 1 ½ pounds ribeye steak, excess fat trimmed, sliced across the grain into thin strips
  • Salt and cracked pepper to taste
  • 12 slider rolls
  • 6 slices provolone cheese
  • 2 cloves crushed garlic

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 F.
  2. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to a saute pan over medium heat.
  3. Once the butter has melted, add the onions and peppers.
  4. Saute for 5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
  5. Transfer the peppers and onions to a bowl and set aside.
  6. Add 1 more tablespoon of butter to the saute pan.
  7. Add half of the sliced steak and cook, stirring frequently, for about 4 to 5 minutes, until no pink remains. Season to taste with salt and pepper while cooking.
  8. Transfer cooked steak to a bowl and cook and season the remaining steak.
  9. Using a serrated knife, slice all 12 slider rolls in half at once and place the bottom half on a lined baking sheet.
  10. Assemble the sliders by adding the meat in an even layer onto the bottom half of the sliders.
  11. Add peppers and onions on top of the meat.
  12. Add the provolone, overlapping the cheese slightly if necessary.
  13. Place the baking sheet in the oven and broil the sandwiches for 5 minutes.
  14. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and crushed garlic to a small saucepan over medium heat.
  15. Once the butter has melted, brush it onto the top of the slider rolls.
  16. Add the tops of the slider rolls to the bottom portion and broil for 2 minutes more until the cheese has melted and the slider tops are browned.
  17. Slice the buns to separate them and serve the sliders.

Nutrition

Calories per Serving 1,201
Total Fat 64.2 g
Saturated Fat 30.3 g
Trans Fat 2.1 g
Cholesterol 175.2 mg
Total Carbohydrates 95.8 g
Dietary Fiber 5.2 g
Total Sugars 5.3 g
Sodium 1,324.6 mg
Protein 59.8 g
The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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What is the best way to prepare the meat for cheesesteak sliders?

As steak is an integral part of the sandwich, it all starts with choosing the right kind. De Witt tells us, "I like to use ribeye steaks in this recipe because they are well marbled and very tender when cooked." She adds that sirloin would be a pretty good alternative, but advises that if you use it, you may need to use a little extra butter for frying because it's a leaner cut of meat.

Once you've selected your steak, the next step is slicing it thinly. De Witt notes that restaurants will generally use a meat slicer, but her method is to put the steak in the freezer before cutting. While you don't want to leave it in there until it's rock hard, 25 to 45 minutes of freezing time will make it firm enough that you can easily slice it into thin strips using a sharp knife.

Once you've sliced the steak, let it come to room temperature, then fry it in two batches so all the slices can have enough room to heat evenly. Some cooks may add various spices and seasonings to the steak as it browns, but De Witt says, "I wanted to keep this recipe simple and authentic, so I seasoned the meat with salt and pepper only so that the flavor of the ribeye shines through."

What are some ways I can change up the sliders?

De Witt admits that "Purists will say less is more" when it comes to making a Philly cheesesteak. In fact, some may feel that if you add too many toppings, what you've got is a steak and cheese sandwich, instead. We're not the food police, so go right ahead and add those extras if you like. In addition to seasoning the meat with garlic, onion powder, or Worcestershire sauce, you could add some sauteed mushrooms or jalapeños to the pepper and onion mix. You could change up the cheese too, replacing the provolone with Philadelphia's beloved Cheez Whiz or something with a stronger flavor like sharp cheddar or blue cheese. If you want a condiment for your cheesesteak, De Witt recommends mayonnaise or creamy horseradish, while you could heat things up with your go-to hot sauce (here are a few of our favorites).

You also have your choice of slider rolls for this recipe. De Witt uses Kings Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, which come attached to one another in one big bread block, thus making them very easy to slice. If you prefer, though, you can use a different type of slider roll such as plain, pretzel, or brioche.

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