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 RECIPEThe 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 Philly Cheesesteak Sliders take just 10 minutes of prep time, and 30 minutes of cook time! Layer provolone cheese under and American cheese on top with fried onions on toasted Hawaiian rolls for melty and delicious, non-soggy sliders with a garlic butter top!
Table of Contents
- Why this recipe works
- Ingredient Notes
- Anti-Sog Plan
- Step by Step Instructions (with photos and video)
- Variations and Tips
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
- 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 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. if you can't find pre-shaved steak, you can slice your own as well. See other options in my FAQ section below.
Slider rolls, such as Hawaiian Rolls. Hawaiian style rolls 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. While cheese whiz is a classic pairing, it won't hold up on the sliders, so if using, reserve that for dipping.
Anti-Sog Plan
Here's how to keep your Cheesesteak Sliders cheesy and delicious, but never soggy.
Broil your buns: Broil the cut sides of the Hawaiian rolls under your oven’s broiler for 1–3 minutes.
Drain the fat: Leave excess fat in pan when transferring your cooked steak and onions to the slider buns with a slotted spoon to keep your sliders from getting soggy.
Cheese barrier: Using Provolone cheese under + American over the meat and onions creates a moisture barrier, so the sliders are cheesy and delicious, not soggy!
"Fantastic-Followed the recipe exactly as it was written. Everyone loved it- this is definitely a keeper. Love the clear instructions. Please some publisher get us a cookbook!" -Amy T ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Step by Step Instructions (with photos and video)
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.
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. For best results, use uncut dinner-style rolls.
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!
Add additional toppings. Add your favorite toppings to the sliders, like sautéed mushrooms or thinly sliced sautéed 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.
What's the best way to reheat the sliders?
Oven. To reheat the sliders, cover with foil and reheat covered in a 350 degree oven for 10-12 minutes, then uncover for 1-2 minutes to crisp up.
Microwave. To microwave, reheat on high for 30-50 seconds.
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!
Notes
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!
Get your burger fix with my Cheesy Baked Cheeseburger Sliders with Everything Bagel Seasoning!
Make a Philly Cheesesteak Pizza!
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Amy T says
Fantastic-Followed the recipe exactly as it was written. Everyone loved it- this is definitely a keeper.
Love the clear instructions. Please some publisher get us a cookbook!
Sharon says
Thank you SO MUCH Amy, I am so happy you loved the recipe!
Mich says
PERFECT! Added mushrooms and dipped in Whiz.