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This Philly cheesesteak casserole brings all the classic flavors you love into a lighter, family-friendly one-pan meal with tender beef, sautéed peppers and onions, and melty cheese. It’s simple, satisfying, and great for any night of the week.
Why You Will Love this Casserole
- Classic comfort food made healthier with simple, balanced ingredients that keep all the flavor you love while adding more nutrition
- Easy one-pan meal with minimal prep and cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknights
- Kid-friendly with soft textures and familiar flavors that are easy for little ones to enjoy
- High in protein to help keep both kids and adults full and satisfied longer
- Great for leftovers and meal prep since it reheats well for quick lunches or dinners
- Flexible and customizable so you can easily adjust ingredients based on your family’s preferences or what you have on hand
“My 5 year old just had 3 helpings of this!! That’s never happened before EVER!!! Thank you!” – Samantha Kennerson
I personally think this comforting casserole tastes better with time, just like with most of my one pot meals, as the flavors continue to mingle and intensify. If you love easy, flavorful dishes like this, be sure to check out my one pot meals for families for more inspiration.
I am all about sharing easy kid-friendly dinners that the whole family can enjoy together, and this is one of that you’ll keep coming back to.
If you love simple, customizable meals, you might also enjoy this hamburger bowl. It’s a fun, deconstructed take on a classic burger that lets everyone build their own perfect bowl!
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Ground beef – I recommend using 85-90% lean beef for best flavor. We personally love and trust ButcherBox’s commitment to delivering high-quality grass-fed, grass-finished beef straight to our door. You can certainly use thinly sliced ribeye steak or flank steak for a more authentic Philly cheesesteak.
- Green Bell Peppers – No Philly cheesesteak is complete without bell peppers! They add crunch, color, and a subtle sweetness that pairs well with the beef.
- Full fat cream cheese or Greek yogurt – This is the secret to making the casserole creamy without being heavy. Greek yogurt keeps it lighter, while cream cheese gives it a richer feel.
- Provolone – The classic choice for Philly cheesesteaks, but you can also use mozzarella, white cheddar cheese, or Monterey Jack.
Substitutions
- Beef – Use sliced beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken
- Cheese – Swap with mozzarella, Monterey Jack, cheddar, or a dairy-free alternative
- Vegetables – Use any soft-cooking veggies like mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach in place of or in addition to peppers and onions. You can also use different colors of bell peppers if desired.
- Protein shortcut – Use leftover cooked steak instead of raw beef
- Dairy components – Substitute with sour cream, cream cheese or other dairy-free alternatives.
How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Step 1: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up into crumbles as it cooks. once the beef is cooked, carefully remove it from the pan and use a paper towel to wipe away any excess grease remaining in the skillet.
Step 2: Add all the vegetables to the pan and cook over medium-high heat until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
Step 3: Stir in the seasonings. Add back the beef and combine.
Step 4: Turn off the heat and stir in cream cheese or yogurt. Add the optional mozzarella cheese.
Step 5: Transfer the ground beef mixture to a 9×13 baking dish.
Step 6: Top the casserole evenly with slices of provolone cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts.
Expert Tips
- Use lean ground beef to prevent excess grease, or drain it well before adding back to the casserole for a healthier, lighter dish.
- Add mozzarella cheese if desired. If you’re using Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese, I recommend adding mozzarella helps keep the casserole creamy and cheesy.
- Boost the flavor naturally. I personally love using smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder for a rich, balanced flavor. You can also experiment with classic Philly cheesesteak seasonings like Worcestershire sauce or a touch of hot sauce.
- Create a golden brown crust. For a visually appealing finish, broil the casserole for 30 seconds to 1 minute until lightly browned.
- Let it rest before serving. Just like with lasagna, let the casserole sit for at least 5 minutes before serving so it’s easier to scoop and let the flavors set.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many fun ways to serve this Philly cheese steak casserole:
- Philly cheese steak sandwich, of course!
- With crackers – check out my suggestions for the best crackers for babies and toddlers
- Cooked pasta
- Stuff into shell pasta – try this easy stuffed shells with meat and veggies
- Over cooked grains – oatmeal, rice, quinoa, barley, etc.
- Stuffed into bell peppers
- Over cooked spaghetti squash
- Baked potato or sweet potato
- Added to protein pizza crust
- Serve on top of garlic bread
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole FAQs
Transfer any leftover casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire casserole in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
If intending to freeze, I recommend doing so before baking.
The classic cheeses used in Philly cheesesteak are provolone, American cheese, and Cheez Whiz. But for this casserole, feel free to experiment with different cheese combinations to find the flavor profile that you enjoy the most.
Some suggestions include mozzarella, cheddar, Swiss, gouda, and Monterey Jack.
Yes! Prepare the casserole as per the recipe instructions, assemble, cover tightly with foil or a lid, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. When ready to bake, preheat the oven and remove the casserole from the refrigerator. If you’re using a glass dish, be sure to take it out at least 10 minutes prior to prevent shattering in the hot oven.
Use a milder cheese like mozzarella, chop the vegetables finely, and keep the seasoning simple. Serving it with a familiar side can also help.
Easy Casserole Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Philly Cheese Steak Casserole
Video
Ingredients
- 2 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, diced
- 1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt (or 6 ounces softened cream cheese)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (optional)
- 8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it up into crumbles as it cooks. once the beef is cooked, carefully remove it from the pan and use a paper towel to wipe away any excess grease remaining in the skillet.
- Add oil and and cook all the vegetables over medium-high heat until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the seasonings. Add back the beef and combine.
- Turn off the heat and stir in cream cheese or yogurt. Add the optional mozzarella cheese.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 baking dish. Top the casserole evenly with provolone cheese.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese has melted.
Notes
- Mozzarella cheese is optional but if you are using Greek yogurt instead of cream cheese, I highly recommend adding it.
- If you desire a golden brown crust, broil for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Let the casserole sit for at least 5 minutes before serving so it’s easier to scoop.
- Refrigerate leftovers for 3-4 days.
This was sooo good! Definitely will be making it again!
We had ours open face on garlic toast. Very easy and quick.
Can we substitute the cream cheese/Greek yogurt with sour cream? Thanks!
Absolutely!
I want prep and freeze this for postpartum meal! How long should I bake if I want bake straight from freezer?
I would bake for 45 minutes or so
My husband, 2 year old and i loved this recipe. I used 2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce instead of the italian seasoning, added an extra 2 green bell peppers since mine were on the small side, baby bella mushrooms since i couldnt find crimini and fontina cheese. I didnt bother putting it in a casserole dish i just mixed it all in a large skillet and served over mashed potatoes since i had to use up the potatoes i had.
My 5 year old just had 3 helpings of this!! That’s never happened before EVER!!! Thank you!
Aww doing the happy dance with you!!
Made this yesterday exactly as instructed except I used ground turkey instead of beef, and wow, it was amazing! So delicious. Thank you!
Oh I’m so glad!!
Absolutely LOVED this recipe!!!! It was devoured and I went back for seconds. Can’t recommend this one enough!! I ended up using ground turkey and since it was a 2.5lb package, I went with a little more veggies, a full 8oz container of cream cheese and a little extra mozzarella. Unreal! I can’t speak to the version with beef but I really liked the flavor that the turkey added. I also didn’t have green bell peppers so I used orange from our garden. Will definitely be making this regularly!
Yay!!!! Thank you SO much for sharing. Totally made my day :).
Can I share this with my 10 month old?
Sure!
Will be adding this to my weekly rotation!!! Easy and healthy!!
Yay! Hope y’all enjoy :).