Philly Cheesesteak Garlic Bread is Italian bread loaded and baked with seasoned ribeye steak, caramelized onions, green peppers, and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. It is a delicious merge of the classic Philly cheesesteak sandwich and traditional garlic bread. Whether served as an appetizer or the main dish, it will surely be devoured in no time! And, you can make it in an air fryer. I also have Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes, another flavorful twist on the popular sandwich.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Bread: Look for a loaf of Italian bread, sliced in half lengthwise. You could also use ciabatta bread, a French baguette, or try it with a loaf of sourdough bread.
Garlic Butter: The garlic butter spread over each half of the loaf is made with unsalted butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. If using salted butter, you may want to lessen the amount of salt.
Meat: I used ribeye steak for the garlic bread, commonly used for the classic sandwich. It is tender and flavorful, but you could try this with other kinds of meat, too. Try it with sirloin, flank steak, skirt steak, or even filet mignon.
Vegetables: Caramelized onions and green peppers are often added to the sandwich. If you are not a fan of green peppers, you could leave those out. You could also experiment with more toppings like mushrooms, jalapeno peppers for a little kick, or roasted red peppers, just to name a few.
Cheese: Both mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese top each half of the garlic bread. Ensure that the cheese completely covers the meat. Otherwise, the exposed meat could be overcooked. You could try other cheeses, too, like provolone, swiss, cheddar, or your favorite blend of cheeses.
How To Serve Philly Cheesesteak Garlic Bread
Philly cheesesteak garlic bread can be served in a variety of ways, either as an appetizer or the main dish. Here are some ways to serve the bread:
- Serve as an appetizer, cut into smaller, bite-sized portions.
- Serve a large portion as an open-faced sandwich with a wedge salad or roasted potato wedges for a delicious and satisfying meal.
- Offer dipping options like ranch dressing or garlic aioli.
- Serve as a side dish for grilled meats, pasta dishes, or soups (roasted tomato or French onion soup would be delicious).
Can I Make Parts Of This Recipe Ahead Of Time?
Sure! To get a head start on this recipe, you could slice the ribeye and get the onions and green peppers cut. Store the meat and vegetables in separate containers in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3 days. You could also caramelize the onions in advance. Once caramelized, let the onions cool. Then, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few days. When ready to add them to the garlic bread, reheat them in a skillet or microwave.
How To Store Philly Cheesesteak Garlic Bread
Although best served fresh, you can save the leftovers to enjoy within the next day or two. Store the Philly cheesesteak garlic bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When ready to enjoy, reheat the pieces in the oven or air fryer.
More Garlic Breads
Philly Cheesesteak Garlic Bread
Ingredients
Garlic Bread
- 1 loaf Italian bread
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Philly Cheesesteak Toppings
- 1 pound ribeye steak
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 ½ cups (169.5 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (50 g) parmesan cheese, shredded
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.* Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Slice the loaf of bread lengthwise into two halves. Place both halves of the bread onto the lined baking sheet, cut side up.
- In a small bowl, combine the garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Spread and equal amount of the mixture over the cut sides of the bread. Set aside while you make the Philly cheesesteak toppings.
Philly Cheesesteak Toppings
- Slice the meat into thin strips. Season strips with salt and pepper and set aside.
- To a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and butter. Once the butter is melted and the oil is hot, add onions. Cook, stirring frequently until caramelized (about 10-15 minutes). If using green peppers, add them to the skillet in the final 5 minutes of cooking the onions. Transfer onions (and peppers) to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- To the same skillet over medium heat, add the ribeye slices.
- Using two spatulas, shred the meat. Use one spatula to hold the meat in place and the other to pull it apart. (This step helps tenderize the meat while it cooks.)
- Continue cooking until the meat is cooked through, but not crisp (about 2 minutes).
Assembly
- Divide the meat equally between both halves of the bread. Then, top each with onions and green peppers (if using). Top with shredded mozzarella and parmesan, ensuring all the meat is covered with cheese. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.
- Garnish with parsley. Slice the bread into 8 portions (or your desired servings) and serve.
Video
Notes
- Follow the recipe for making and assembling the garlic bread as written, up to baking the bread in the oven.
- Place the halves of the assembled bread into the basket of your air fryer, cutting them to fit if necessary.
- Air fry for about 5 minutes at 400°F, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown. (The bread will get a little darker when cooked in the air fryer, but will still be delicious!)
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This is a great appetizer, and so easy to prepare! This would be perfect for entertaining!
Elizabeth
This bread is so good and loaded with just the right amount of toppings from the steak to the vegetables to the cheese. Wow, I could not stop eating this one. I plan to serve this a the main dish at home.
Rachael
So delicious! I haven't met a garlic bread that I don't like yet, and this one with the cheesesteak topping was just delicious.
Annabelle
This bread is so flavorful! I loved the way all the flavors combined, and the texture of the melty cheese with the tender beef!
Bella
This is quite delicious! So meaty and so cheesy. The bell peppers also complete this recipe! The melted mozzarella and parmesan are amazing. This is a solid garlic bread recipe!
Selena
Oh my gosh. This is so good. I kept going back for more!
