Melty Philly Cheesesteak Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls

Get ready friends, because today, we’re kicking off football season the only way I know how: with something carb-y, cheesy, and great with beer. These Philly cheesesteak sliders are layered on Hawaiian rolls with lots of melty cheese, onions, and peppers for a handheld snack inspired by the classic sub. Serve them with potato chips for the ultimate game day appetizer!

Back in the day, my special little treat was going to this run-down shack of a restaurant that made the best cheesesteaks. (RIP Little Philadelphia.) Their sandwiches were the perfect amount of grease and cheese and I swear, their fries were to die for. It really was like having a little Philly right in the center of Reno.

So now that I have to rely on my own damn self for a good cheesesteak, I’ve tested lots of recipes to come up with my perfect sandwich situation. I used a few little tricks that I learned when I was in culinary school (like using a really good cast iron skillet!) and the result are these melty, savory sliders.

Instead of full sandwiches, I wanted to make a mini version since I usually make this recipe for game days or parties. This is the snack-turned-meal you need at your next get together.

And, if you’re looking for some more steak appetizers, make sure to try these beef Wellington bites, boursin and roast beef crostini, or blue cheese steak crostini!

Provolone, American, or Cheez Whiz?

Some people (like my husband) swear by Cheez Whiz for a Philly. But most classic Philly spots offer a choice of provolone, American cheese, or Cheez Whiz. My personal fave is a good-quality American cheese from the deli counter. But I’ll give you tips on using all three in this recipe!

Other things you’ll need

Besides your cheese of choice, you’ll need a few other basic ingredients.

• Oil – use a neutral oil like avocado, canola, or vegetable so it perfectly sears the veggies and meat.
• Peppers – you will need one small red and one small green bell pepper.
• Onions – I use a brown onion for a hint of sweetness.
• Salt and pepper – I use Morton’s Kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper.
• Butter – a bit of unsalted butter will give the sliders a richer flavor.
• Shaved steak – you want super thin steak in a Philly. I buy shaved steak from the meat counter at my local grocery store. But you can also slice your own. (More on this later.)
• Seasonings – a bit of garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce give the meat extra flavor.
• Rolls – Amoroso rolls are traditional but also not easy to find outside of, you know, Philly. So I used Hawaiian rolls in this recipe! You can use the traditional sweet rolls or the savory butter rolls.
• Mayo – a bit of mayo keeps the sandwiches from being too dry. But you can leave it out if you like.
• Parsley – just a bit for garnish. This is totally optional!

Slice the steak

If you can’t find shaved steak at the grocery store, you can totally slice it yourself! Ribeye steak is my favorite but you can also use sirloin or skirt steak too. To shave the steak, make sure you have a super sharp chef’s knife. Then, slice the steak as thinly as possible against the grain.

If you slice the steak by hand, freeze the ribeye for about 20-30 minutes first. It will firm up the steak which makes it so much easier to slice thinly!

Make the filling

1. Start by heating the oil in a cast iron skillet until it’s nice and hot.
2. Add the peppers and onions and sauté until they’re softened and caramelized. Spoon the veggies into a bowl.
3. Then, melt the butter in the skillet. Add the shaved steak and sauté until the meat is no longer pink.

While you’re sautéing the steak, break it up a bit with a wooden spoon. You want the steak to be chopped a bit so it crisps up just a little on the edges.

4. Add the garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
5. Stir the bell peppers and onions into the steak.
6. Then, add half of the cheese and stir everything together until it’s nice and melty.

Layer the sliders

1. Use a sharp bread knife to slice the rolls in half horizontally.
2. Spread both sides of the bread with mayo.
3. Next, evenly spread the filling over the bottom half of the buns.

4. Layer the cheese slices over the filling. Place the top rolls over the filling.
5. Then, melt the butter and add the parsley. Brush the parsley butter over the rolls.
6. Lastly, bake the rolls at 300°F (150°C) for about 15 minutes. Slice and enjoy!

Want to use Cheez Whiz instead? Just stir half of the Cheez Whiz into the filling to help the meat & veggies stick together. Then, spread the other half of the Cheez Whiz on top of the meat and veggies before baking!

With or without onions & peppers

Adding veggies to cheesesteaks is controversial at best. From what I know, original Phillies don’t have any veggies. But personally, I like the addition of peppers and onions! Of course, you can totally leave them out if you want a more traditional cheesesteak.

Mushrooms are also another popular choice. I don’t love mushrooms in a cheesesteak so I didn’t use any in this recipe. But if you want to, feel free to replace one of the bell peppers with about 1 cup of thinly sliced mushrooms.

Recipe notes

• You want to keep the top & bottom halves of the sliced rolls intact. Keep the knife as parallel to the counter as possible for an even cut.
• The rolls should get slightly browned on top but not crusty. If the rolls start getting too browned, tent them with foil.
• Use a seasoned cast iron skillet if you have one. It gives the meat and veggies a nice caramelization that brings out so much flavor!

Store & reheat leftovers

I honestly think these sliders taste best right away, but if you do have leftovers, just pop them in an airtight container. You can refrigerate the leftovers for up to 3 days.

When you’re ready to reheat the sliders, wrap them in foil and bake at 350°F until they’re warmed through, about 15 minutes. Or, microwave individual sliders for about 1 minute.

Serving ideas

I usually make steak and cheese sliders as an appetizer but they’re also delicious for dinner! I like to serve them with smashed fingerling potatoes, frizzled onions, or even baked tater tots.

If you want to serve them with other crowd-pleasing, casual snacks, try cheesy loaded waffle fries, garlic butter chicken wings, or Sicilian-style pizza!

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

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