Super, simple, very fun: that’s this pizza cheesesteak in a nutshell (or sandwich bun, if we’re being literal). This recipe brings together the best parts of New York and Philly cuisine, smashes them together, adds some smoke flavor and makes everyone happy. You really can’t go wrong with pizza and cheesesteak (as my friend Jeremy Whitelaw pointed out in his pizza cheesesteak with peppers guest post).

A fully assembled pizza cheesesteak sandwich, with pepperoni and cheese on top of thinly sliced ribeye

I made this freakin’ delicious pizza cheesesteak (not to be confused with a Philly cheesesteak pizza recipe, I see those as two different things!) while blasting my favorite tunes on my Turtlebox. This bad boy goes with me everywhere. It’s rugged and waterproof, plus it has insane battery life and great sound quality. So I can play anything from Empire State of Mind to Philadelphia Freedom while making these pizza cheesesteaks. It all sounds great.

Post sponsored by Turtlebox

Why You’ll Love Pizza Cheesesteak

This is one meaty, gooey, freakin’ delicious sandwich. We’ve got ribeye, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese and sautéed onions, all wrapped up in a tasty bun. I went to college with a kid from Philadelphia who could talk for literal HOURS about how great cheesesteak is. The cheese sauce. The juicy steak. I see his point. And I’m guessing he would go on for days about this pizza and cheesesteak combo. 

Derek Wolf holding up the sliced open pizza cheesesteak sandwich with a Turtlebox speaker in the background

With this easy recipe, you can cook the veggies in the skillet while you’re grilling the meat. Then, you’ll add the veggies and meat together to build into individual lines for the buns. Top with cheese, add to the bread, and you’ve got dinner any night of the week! Or lunch. Or the perfect game day appetizer. The list goes on…

Want more fun pizza combos? Check out Pizza Smashburger, Pizza Sandwich, The Pizza Steak and Pizza Sausage Skewers.

Pizza Cheesesteak Ingredients

  • Beef: We’ll make the meat for our pizza cheesesteak with thinly sliced ribeye, cubed white onion, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and canola oil as needed.
  • Cheesesteaks: To assemble our pizza cheesesteaks, you’ll need a sandwich bun, pizza sauce, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. 

Quick Peppers and Mushrooms

Since green peppers are a classic Philly cheesesteak add-on, you can make a simple sautéed pepper and mushroom mix as a side dish for this pizza cheesesteak. Slice up some green bell peppers and cremini mushrooms, then cook them in the same cast iron with a little butter, salt, and garlic until they’re softened to your liking. You can make them right before the steak and set them aside.

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How to Make Pizza Cheesesteak

First up, heat your grill at high heat (around 450 degrees F) for direct cooking.

Then, add a large skillet (preferably cast iron) or plancha over the flames. Add your 1.5 pounds thinly sliced ribeye beef and “chop” it up more so it’s finely cut. Once all the meat is cooked and there is no more red in the meat, season with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and diced onions. Let everything cook until the onions are translucent, about 2-3 minutes. 

Grilling thinly sliced ribeye and sliced white onions on a cast iron plancha for pizza cheesesteak

Top the beef slices with pizza sauce and pepperonis. Make the meat into a shape on the skillet that will fit on your bun, then cover the top with 10-12 slices of mozzarella cheese and let it melt. 

Adding cheese and pepperoni to the thinly sliced ribeye on the plancha, on top of the grill

Add the sliced bun over the pile of meat. Lift it up and into the bun. Set the cheesesteak down on a platter and repeat for the other cheesesteaks.

Assembling the sandwiches on the grill, with thinly sliced ribeye on top of the sandwich buns

For extra flavor, wrap in foil and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Slice in half, serve and enjoy!

What to Serve with Pizza Cheesesteak 

Like I said, this is one meaty sandwich, so you can go easy on the sides. Give the sautéed green peppers and mushrooms in the tip a try! A simple green salad or Caesar salad, or some grilled bell peppers, zucchini or asparagus would also round out your pizza cheesesteak meal perfectly. 

Derek Wolf holding a sliced pizza cheesesteak sandwich to show inner ingredients, in front of a FYR Grill

Leftovers and Reheating

If you’ve got leftover steak from your pizza cheesesteak, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat the meat gently over a lower heat so it stays tender and doesn’t overcook. I’d recommend storing your sandwich components separately so the bread doesn’t get soggy. Then, when you’re ready for another sandwich, you can quickly throw it all together with your leftover steak. 

More Steak Sandwiches

FAQs 

OK, but seriously: what’s the difference between a pizza cheesesteak recipe and a Philly cheese steak pizza recipe? 

Easy: a pizza cheesesteak is a sandwich. A Philly cheesesteak pizza is a pizza with Philly cheese steaks toppings. Right? Drop a line in the comments if you disagree!

Can I use different cheeses besides mozzarella? 

Sure! Provolone cheese would be a great option. You could also go totally wild and squirt it with Cheez Whiz like they do in some Philly cheese steak spots, but I can’t say I’d recommend it! That’s definitely more cheesesteak than pizza in my book. 

What would you recommend as a substitute for ribeye? 

Flank steak would work well in this pizza cheesesteak recipe. Sirloin or New York strip would also be great choices. 

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A fully assembled pizza cheesesteak sandwich, with pepperoni and cheese on top of thinly sliced ribeye

Pizza Cheesesteak

Super, simple, very fun: that's this pizza cheesesteak in a nutshell (or sandwich bun with ribeye and cheese, if we're being literal).
Author:Derek Wolf
No ratings yet
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients 

Beef:

  • 1.5 lbs Thinly Sliced Ribeye
  • 1 cup White Onion cubed
  • 1.5 tbsp Kosher Salt
  • 1.5 tbsp Black Pepper
  • 1.5 tbsp Garlic Powder
  • Canola Oil as needed

Cheesesteaks:

  • Sandwich Bun
  • 1 cup Pizza Sauce
  • 10-12 Pepperonis
  • 10-12 Mozzarella Cheese sliced

Instructions 

  • Heat your grill at high heat (around 450F) for direct cooking.
  • Add a cast iron skillet or plancha over the flames. Add the beef and “chop” it up more so it’s finely cut. Once all the meat is cooked and there is no more red in the meat, season with salt, pepper, garlic and diced onions. Let cook till onions are translucent (about 2-3 minutes)
  • Top the meat pizza sauce, sliced cheese and pepperonis. Make the meat into a shape on the skillet that will fit on your bun, then cover the top with cheese and let it melt.
  • Add the sliced bun over the pile of meat. Lift it up and into the bun. Set the cheesesteak down on a platter and repeat for the other cheesesteaks.
  • For extra flavor, wrap in foil and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Slice in half, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Quick Peppers and Mushrooms
Since green peppers are a classic Philly cheesesteak add-on, you can make a simple sautéed pepper and mushroom mix as a side dish for this pizza cheesesteak. Slice up some green bell peppers and cremini mushrooms, then cook them in the same cast iron with a little butter, salt, and garlic until they’re softened to your liking. You can make them right before the steak and set them aside.

Nutrition

Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 3093mg | Potassium: 778mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 321IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 4mg

Derek Wolf

Derek is the driving force behind Over the Fire Cooking. He started cooking with live fire in 2016 and decided to start a social media page so his friends and family could follow the journey. Fast forward to today and Over the Fire Cooking has spread across multiple platforms with millions now following Derek's fire cooking journey. He's a southern fellow who enjoys everything from classic BBQ to Central and South American inspired dishes. Whatever he's cooking up, it's guaranteed to be so freakin' delicious!

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