A Philly Cheesesteak Sliders recipe, from a Philly girl! Loaded with thinly sliced steak, fried onions, 2 kinds of cheese, and baked to perfection with garlic butter and sesame seeds- these sliders are a guaranteed crowd pleaser!
JUMP TO RECIPEQuintessentially Philly, I feel the Cheesesteak is one of the most perfect sandwiches, and there is something about it's delicious simplicity. It's not a bells and whistles sandwich. The authentic cheesesteak I grew up eating requires only slightly caramelized onions, plenty of cheese, and a good hoagie roll to make me (and most Philly natives) happy. So for this sliders recipe, I celebrate the balanced simplicity of the sandwich.
Loaded with 2 types of cheese, fried onions, and perfectly cooked shaved steak, and topped with slightly crispy, garlic butter buns, these sliders are a true bite sized version of the Philly classic sandwich.
These easy Philly Cheesesteak Sliders make a great game day snack, quick weeknight dinner, and an amazing party appetizer!
Table of Contents
- Why this recipe works
- Ingredient Notes
- Step by Step Instructions
- Variations and Tips
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Video
- Serving Suggestions
- More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Why this recipe works
I was born and raised in Philly! Having lived in Philadelphia my whole life, and I am very passionate about our flagship sandwich, the Philly Cheesesteak. I love a classic cheesesteak with fried onions and extra cheese, and have even been known to indulge in a cheesesteak hoagie from time to time (don't knock it 'till you try it).
Super thin sliced steak. A traditional cheesesteak is made with thinly sliced steak, (typically ribeye or top round steak) that is cooked quickly on a flat top or griddle. This recipe stays true to the classic, using thinly shaved steak that cooks quickly and remains tender.
2 types of cheese. It's not a cheesesteak without the cheese, and this recipe satisfies that need by using both Cooper Sharp American (or American cheese of your choice), and sliced provolone cheese.
Toasted buns. Since we're working with Hawaiian slider buns rather than traditional hoagie rolls, I like to toast the buns on the inside prior to building the sliders to keep them from getting too soggy while baking, and to give the sandwich an overall better texture.
Classic Fried Onions. To me, it's not a cheesesteak unless it's "wit", so for this recipe, you'll cook down thinly sliced onions until they are slightly caramelized before adding the steak to the pan, so the full sandwich is loaded with great fried onion flavor.
Garlic butter. To give these sliders an extra burst of flavor before popping in the oven to get the cheese all ooey-gooey, I brush the tops with a quick garlic butter, which not only flavors the sliders, but gives them great browning, and helps the sesame seeds to stick!
Ingredient Notes
Shaved or thinly sliced beef steak, such as Old Neighborhood works great for this recipe. You can find shaved steak in the meat section of most grocery stores. It's very thin, making it the perfect candidate for a great cheesesteak. I love working with Old Neighborhood shaved steak, but if you can't find something similar, you can slice your own as well. See other options in my FAQ section below.
Slider rolls, such as King's Hawaiian rolls. I love working with King's Hawaiian rolls, since they are easy to cut in half in one intact piece, making it easier to build a bunch of sliders at once.
Sliced American cheese and Provolone Cheese. I love black pepper Cooper Sharp American Cheese for this recipe, which pairs well with classic thinly sliced provolone. Any American cheese will work for this recipe, or you can experiment with different types, like Pepper Jack cheese or Monterey Jack cheese. You'll layer the provolone on the bottom buns, and top the steak with the American to make things extra cheesy. This also creates a barrier for the buns to prevent them from getting soggy.
Step by Step Instructions
Variations and Tips
Make things ahead. If you want to prep the ingredients in advance, you can store the cooked steak and onion mixture in an airtight container in the fridge overnight, and assemble just before serving.
Use a sharp knife. You'll want to use a very sharp knife or serrated knife to cut the sliders, to make sure you get a clean cut for easy eating.
Swap the rolls. Instead of classic Hawaiian Rolls, you can use any slider buns you like! Just keep them intact when baking to make building the cheesesteak sliders easier to prep and bake.
Make them cheesesteak hoagie sliders! Add a thin layer of mayonnaise (or garlic mayo) to the cut layer of the buns before assembly. Top with shaved red onion, lettuce and tomatoes after baking!
Make them your own. Add your favorite toppings to the sliders, like sautéed mushrooms or thinly sliced bell peppers! These cheesesteak sliders are easily customizable, and can be made with various types of sliced cheese as well! Keep away from anything super wet, like uncooked veggies to keep them from getting soggy.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What other options can I use for the steak?
If you can't find thinly sliced steak, you can use frozen steak, such as Steak Umms in a pinch, or very thinly sliced ribeye that you cut yourself. Your best bet if you can't find prepared shaved steak at your local grocery store is a local Asian Market. They often offer a variety of thinly sliced steak options. Thin sliced Ribeye steak works great, too!
How can I thinly slice my own steak?
To get a super thin, clean cut on a whole steak, such as a Ribeye steak, slightly freeze the steak for 20-30 minutes to get it nice and firm, so its easier to handle and slice. Then, using a very sharp knife, slice it as thinly as you can against the grain for thin, ribbon- like slices.
How do I prevent the sliders from getting soggy?
This recipe calls for briefly toasting the inside (cut side) of the slider buns under your oven's broiler before building the sliders. This helps keep things from getting soggy by giving the bread a bit more texture. To avoid sogginess, be sure to leave any excess fat from the steak in the pan, and layer the cheese on both the top and bottom.
Can I use ground beef instead?
While not traditional, you could use ground beef for these if you like, just be sure to drain the meat well before assembly. You'd need a pound of ground beef.
Video
Philly Cheesesteak Sliders Recipe
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- aluminum foil or parchment paper
- large non stick frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola or, or another neutral oil
- 1 medium or large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 lb package shaved beef steak
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 12 ct package Hawaiian slider rolls, or other slider rolls
- 6 slices American cheese, such as Cooper Sharp Cheese , ( I used Cooper Sharp Black Pepper American Cheese)
- 6 slices Provolone cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoon butter, melted
- ½ tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Cut slider rolls in half, separating tops and bottoms (keep full set intact, so you have 2 sections). 2. Place rolls cut side up on a cookie sheet, and place under oven’s broiler on high for 1-3 minutes, until lightly toasted (checking frequently to prevent burning). 3. Transfer to parchment or foil lined baking sheet. 4. Layer sliced provolone cheese on bottom buns, and set aside. 5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 6. Heat canola oil over medium heat in a large nonstick frying pan. 7. Add onions, and season with salt and pepper. 8. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown, 8-10 minutes. 9. Add shaved steak to pan, and season again with salt and pepper. 10. Cook, breaking up as you go, until all steak is cooked through, 5-7 minutes. 11. Transfer steak and onion mixture to bottom buns over provolone, leaving any excess liquid in the pan behind. 12. Top with sliced American cheese, then with top layer of slider rolls. 13. Whisk garlic and melted butter together, and brush top buns with melted butter garlic mixture. 14. Sprinkle top of garlic butter rolls evenly with sesame seeds. 15. Bake in preheated oven on parchment or foil lined sheet for 10-15 minutes, until just toasty and cheese is melted. 16. Slice and serve hot!
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve classic Philly Cheesesteak shop toppings on the side for guests, such as hot cherry peppers, banana peppers, a side of cheese wiz for those who LOVE them some cheese, and ketchup.
A side of french fries, crispy rosemary potatoes, tater tots, or onion rings never hurt, either! For a lighter side, a simple side salad is also delicious, like my Butter Lettuce Salad with Avocado!
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Try my tasty Salami Cheesesteak Wontons, the perfect bite sized game day snack!
Make a batch of my cheesy Sloppy Joe Sliders!
Get your burger fix with my Cheesy Baked Cheeseburger Sliders with Everything Bagel Seasoning!
Try my spicy Philly Cheesesteak Jalapeno Poppers!
Make a Philly Cheesesteak Pizza!
© Jawns I Cooked. All images & content are the sole property of Jawns I Cooked. Please ask permission prior to using my photos. If you would like to share one of my recipes, please link back to this post and re-write the instructions in your own words.
Leave a Reply