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This Philly Cheesesteak Casserole has all the authentic cheesesteak flavor with savory steak, sautéed peppers and onions, and melty provolone cheese in a easy, one pan dinner. It’s a simple protein-packed meal that feels like comfort food but is easy enough for any day of the week.
I love a good Philly cheesesteak, but a lot of casserole versions end up feeling heavier or more complicated than they need to be. This recipe keeps all of the best parts and turns them into a simple balanced one-pan meal that tastes amazing and works for a quick weeknight dinner.
If you love easy one pan dinners, try my Chicken Taco Pasta Skillet, Vegetable Orzo Soup, or Cheesy Taco Rice Skillet!
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with All the Classic Flavors
This version keeps everything you love about a classic Philly cheesesteak but simplifies it into an easy one pan dinner that feels a little more balanced and flexible.
Lean shaved steak, peppers and onions are sautéed together with a touch of cream cheese and topped with gooey melted cheese for an easy dinner idea your entire family will love. No bread or pasta needed!
- High protein and satisfying. With steak and cheese, this is a protein-packed casserole with over 34 grams of protein that actually keeps you full.
- One pan, minimal prep. Everything cooks in a single skillet before going straight in the oven, making it simple for busy nights.
- Lighter than traditional versions. Skipping the bread or pasta makes a lighter option that still delivers great flavor.
- Easy to customize. Serve it as-is, with rice or potatoes, or in a wrap or roll depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Ingredient Notes
You only need a handful of simple ingredients and a few minutes to throw this one together.
For full recipe instructions and complete list of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Shaved steak, thin sliced beef, or lean ground beef: You can use whatever type of beef that you like here, as long as it’s in bite sized pieces. Use shaved steak for the most authentic Philly cheesesteak flavor.
- Provolone cheese: Provolone cheese slices are typically used for Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, but you can also use American cheese, mozzarella cheese, or even cheddar.
- Bell peppers: This dish uses three bell peppers, so there’s lots of nutrient-rich veggies and fiber. I like to use orange, yellow and red bell pepper. You can use green bell peppers if you prefer. They all work! Green peppers are a little less sweet, so it just depends on your preference.
- Onion: I like to use a yellow onion for this dish but you can use whatever you have on hand. White onion, sweet onion, or even red onion can be swapped in. If you don’t have fresh onion, swap in a half teaspoon of onion powder.
- Garlic: Garlic is essential here, so if you don’t have fresh garlic, use a teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Cream cheese: Cream cheese is an essential piece of adding creaminess to the entire dish. You could also use sour cream if you didn’t have cream cheese on hand, but it will be slightly tangier.
Variations to Try
- Use ground beef or ground turkey. Swap the shaved steak for ground beef or turkey for a more budget-friendly and quick option.
- Make it low carb or keto. Serve as-is for a low carb meal or add extra cheese and skip any higher carb sides.
- Add mushrooms. Sautéed mushrooms are a classic addition to Philly cheesesteaks and add extra flavor and texture.
- Try different cheeses. Provolone is traditional, but white American, mozzarella, or even pepper jack can work well.
- Add extra flavor. Stir in a splash or Worcestershire sauce or a little steak seasoning to deepen the flavor.
- Make it spicy. Add sliced jalapeños, crushed red pepper flakes, or a drizzle of hot sauce.
How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
This easy Philly cheesesteak casserole comes together in one pan with just a few simple steps.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. In an oven-safe large skillet or sauce pan, heat 1-2 tsp of oil on medium-high heat. Add shaved steak and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the shaved steak is mostly browned, add peppers, onions and minced garlic to the pan. Turn down to medium heat and continue cooking for 5-6 minutes until veggies are soft. Note: If you’re using ground beef, simply follow this recipe exactly using the ground turkey or ground beef mixture.
- Add the cream cheese and combine well with sautéed peppers and meat mixture to create a creamy sauce.
- Add slices of provolone cheese to the top of the casserole. Transfer your skillet to the oven for 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts and is bubbly and golden brown. (If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, transfer to a baking dish before this step, or simply cover the pan with a lid to melt the cheese). Add salt and black pepper to taste.
Jamie’s Tips
Expert Recipe Tips
- Use shaved steak for the most authentic flavor. This gives you that classic Philly cheesesteak texture.
- Slice peppers and onions evenly. This helps everything cook at the same rate giving you the best texture.
- Use an oven safe skillet. Cooking and baking in the same pan keeps things simple and reduces cleanup.
- Let the vegetables fully soften. This builds flavor and mimics the texture of a traditional cheesesteak.
- Don’t overbake. Bake just until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Overbaking can dry out the meat.
Serving Suggestions
This Philly cheesesteak casserole is easy to serve in a variety of ways, whether you want to keep it simple or turn it into a more complete meal.
- Keep it simple. Serve as-is for a low carb protein-packed meal.
- With hearty sides: Pair with rice, a baked potato, tater tots, french fries, or air-fried potato wedges for a complete, balanced meal.
- In a roll or wrap. Spoon the filling into a hoagie roll or tortilla for a classic Philly cheesesteak-style sandwich. I love serving in these high fiber tortillas.
- Over noodles or grains. Serve over egg noodles, rice, or even quinoa to turn it into a more traditional hearty casserole.
- Add extra toppings. Finish with sliced banana peppers, a drizzle of hot sauce, or a sprinkle of fresh herbs for added flavor.
- Make it a build-your-own-meal. Set out different bases and toppings so everyone can customize their own bowl, wrap, or sandwich.
Storage Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Reheat leftover casserole in the microwave in 30 second intervals until hot or reheat in a skillet over medium heat for the best texture.
To freeze: Store in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months, but the texture of the peppers may soften slightly before thawing. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
This is one of those meals that tastes just as good, if not better, the next day.
More High Protein Dinner Recipes
If you’ve made and loved this Philly Cheesesteak Casserole or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pounds shaved steak, or ground beef or ground turkey
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese
- 6-8 slices provolone cheese
- 1 pinch salt, or to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large skillet or sauce pan, heat 1-2 tsp of oil on medium heat. Add shaved steak and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Once the shaved steak is mostly browned, add peppers, onions and minced garlic to the pan. Continue cooking for 5-6 minutes until veggies are soft.
- Add cream cheese in combine well with meat and veggies. Taste and add additional salt and pepper to taste if needed. Top with provolone cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. (If you don’t have an oven safe dish, transfer to a casserole dish before this step, or simply cover the pan with a lid to melt the cheese). Serve as is, with rice or potatoes, or in a wrap or roll!
Notes
- Slice vegetables evenly so they cook evenly.
- Don’t overbake. Bake just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
This was such a delicious quick easy meal, I had to leave a comment. Subbed light cream cheese and it was just as creamy and flavorful. I also added sliced mushrooms to the veggie mix. Will definitely be in my rotation for when I need a quick option for dinner.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Thank you for sharing your additions! Mushrooms would be perfect in this!
This was fantastic! I opted for a red onion based on our preference, otherwise I made the recipe as written. The prep was simple. The ingredients something I generally have on hand. Served over brown rice and lentils seasoned with garlic and herbs – perfection!! This will be on a bi-weekly rotation for sure!! I’m looking forward to serving it over pasta and also stuffed in ciabatta rolls. Yum!!!
YES to stuffed into ciabatta rolls- yum!! I love serving in tortillas too! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
I love this recipe! So easy and flavorful and reheats great! I tend to eat more chicken than beef but wanted to use up the rest of the cream cheese so subbed ground chicken and that was delicious as well.
Thank you for sharing that it was still delish with ground chicken!! So glad you love it!
OMG!!!! This was so good. I did not have shaved steak on hand so I used ground beef. I made the recipe exactly as the recipe said and was quite surprised at the amount of flavor it had. We are a family that uses a lot of spices in/on our food and this one certainly didn’t need it!!. It will definitely be a staple in our home. Can’t wait to try it with shaved steak. Thank you for such a delicious and flavorful recipe.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!! I love how versatile it is with different types of protein! 🙂
Do the peppers add a lot of flavor? Rest of my family doesn’t like peppers, and I know I could leave them out. But wonder if it’s not a real strong flavor, and because they’re cooked, maybe I can get away with adding them. Love the color they add.
They definitely add quite a bit of flavor, but you could try just onions and then swap in a different veggie 🙂 I bet it would still be delish!
I LOVE this recipe! My boyfriend and I regularly make this. I had never used shaved steak before but we love the flavor, texture, and how quickly it cooks. It’s a quick meal that leaves you feeling full and satisfied- everything you could want! We like to serve it over egg noodles.
Yay I’m so glad! Thank you for sharing Hilary 🙂
Loved the flavor of this one; even better the next day!
It truly makes the best leftovers!
This has become a staple meal! So good and simple to make!
Yay, thank you Sarah!
I just tried this recipe for the first time and LOVED it! (Only substitution I made was ground beef instead of shaved steak). I was wondering if there would be enough flavour because of the simplicity of the ingredients, but it is so tasty and will now be a regular in my rotation!
So glad you enjoyed it! Definitely works super well with ground beef too 🙂
Super easy to make, even when you’re short on time.
Next time I will add some mushrooms and mild pepper rings.
We served ours over baked potatoes and that was so good!!
One of my favorites!!