Classic Cheesesteak Recipe: 17 Simple Steps

Cheesesteak is classic, and we have all tasted it in America, especially if you live in Philadelphia. Philly cheesesteak is also famous outside of Pennsylvania and out of the U.S. due to its excellent blend of flavors. And it is pretty easy to prepare, but if you’re up to a bit of a challenge, why don’t you prepare the bread, too?

In this article, you will find not only how to prepare the delicious filling of a classic cheesesteak but also the bread. This is the classic cheesesteak recipe you want to follow to bring back the flavor of Pennsylvania wherever you go.

Step-by-step on how to prepare a classic cheesesteak recipe

In this step-by-step, we will guide you through making the bread and the filling of the classic cheesesteak recipe.

Here’s how to prepare the bread:

Step 1: Mix instant yeast and sugar in warm water

The first thing we recommend is taking a small bowl and pouring 125 mL of warm water. Add 1 tablespoon of instant yeast and one tablespoon of sugar. Then, mix them thoroughly with a spoon or fork until the solution is homogeneous. The warm water will help you achieve a more homogeneous blend.

Step 2: In a larger bowl, whisk two eggs and mix with salt

Now, take a larger bowl and whisk two eggs. Mix them thoroughly with 1/2 a tablespoon of salt. You can use a whisker to make it faster and achieve a more homogeneous blend.

Step 3: Add 1 cup of milk and vegetable oil, and mix with the instant yeast

In the same bowl, and after the eggs are mixed with salt, take one cup of milk and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil. Now mix thoroughly, again trying to make it as homogeneous as possible.

Step 4: Add 1 and 1/2 cups of flour

Next step is adding the flour. It should be preferably all-purpose flour, but you can make a blend with other types as we will suggest below. After pouring the flour, mix with a rubber spatula first, and then continue with your hands until the texture is homogeneous and smooth. Make sure to wash your hands before doing this, and you can also do it with gloves on.

Step 5: Cover the bowl with plastic foil and let it sit for 30 minutes

As clearly stated, now you should let the mix rest for a while. Thirty minutes would do, and it should be placed preferably in a warm place with a plastic foil covering the top.

Step 6: Dust the dough and the surface with flour, shape the dough and cut it into four pieces

Now it is time to shape the dough to prepare the bread. As a preparation for this step, we recommend dusting the surface where you will work with flour. Do the same with the dough and start shaping it from the sides to the center with your hands until achieving a rounded shape. Then turn around the dough to cut it into four pieces. Use a dough scraper to achieve a more accurate cut.

Step 7: Shape each dough piece into an elongated bread

Now, turn your attention to each of the four pieces of dough. Shape each one starting from the sides and taking it into the center with your hands until achieving an elongated shape. Leave the smooth side on top and repeat the process with each dough piece.

Step 8: Cover a baking pan with baking paper and place the dough pieces

Now we’re close to baking, so prepare a baking pan with baking paper and place the dough pieces. They should be separated from each other by around half an inch long.

Step 9: Score the bread

Using a knife, perform three slices on your dough pieces before taking them to the oven.

Step 10: Cover with oil and take to the oven

Before taking the bread to the oven, we also recommend covering them with oil. You can use a pastry brush to cover the dough with a thin layer of oil. After that, take it to the oven at 180 ºC for 25 minutes.

Step 11: Open the bread and take it to a skillet until slightly brown

After those 25 minutes, take out the bread and let it cool for a short while. When you can handle the bread without burning, cut the bread and take it face down to a skillet. This will prepare the bread to be filled afterward with the steak.

Now, let’s go through the preparation of the filling, which is the easier part. You can always buy the bread and skip steps 1 to 11. But let’s assume you want a classic cheesesteak recipe done with your own ingredients. Now let’s dive into the filling:

Step 12: Cut one onion and one pound of steak into small pieces

Onions should be very small, and steak pieces can be a bit larger. Cut them both and prepare them for the next steps.

Step 13: Fry the onion with butter

Now, take the onion in pieces to a skillet oiled with butter. You can also add some salt and black pepper to your taste. Stir and let it brown a bit before going ahead with the next step. Do not leave the onions for too long.

Step 14: Cover another skillet with vegetable oil and fry the steak with salt

In another skillet, oil with vegetable oil and fry the steak. Use some salt and black pepper to your taste and stir until browned. You may also use other spices you like. But keep in mind that the classic cheesesteak recipe contains mainly salt and black pepper. When cooked, add the onions on top and keep stirring for a while.

Step 15: Make two heaps with the steak and cover with American cheese

Now, you will take a spatula and collect the steak in two heaps. Put two slices of American cheese on top of each heap and set the temperature low to leave it to melt.

Step 16: Put the bread on top and take it out with a spatula

In this step, you may want to detach the steak a bit with scratching movements against the skillet. Do it carefully to avoid burning.

Step 17: Cut in halves and serve

Now you’re done. The only step left is to cut the bread into smaller pieces and serve.

Bread alternatives you can also try for this classic cheesesteak recipe

In this classic cheesesteak recipe, we recommended using all-purpose flour, which is the standard ingredient in bread. It is easy to handle and gives a good result. But there are many other options to consider, and now you’re making the bread on your own, this gives you the liberty of choosing what ingredients you want to use.

So, here’s a useful table you can consider to try different types of flour.

	Gluten content	What it is made of	Benefits
All-purpose flour	9-11%	It combines soft and hard wheat. You can find bleached and unbleached flour. The latter has a higher nutrient profile	It is easier to use and you won’t struggle much to maneuver the dough.
Bread flour	11-14%	Usually created with hard red spring wheat. In some cases, it is aged naturally. Lower price bread flour uses chemicals to make aging faster.	The dough is more elastic than all-purpose flour. But you may need to use more water to achieve the same results
Whole-wheat flour	16%	This type of flout contains the bran and germ of the wheat.	It is much more elastic and requires more water still. The main benefit is the added dietary fiber it has

Video instruction on how to prepare a classic cheesesteak recipe