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Chicken Philly Cheesesteak is a delicious twist on the classic recipe, combining tender sliced chicken with bell peppers, onions, and melty cheese. Served on a toasted hoagie roll, we use pantry staples like garlic, mayo, and a hint of A1 steak sauce for a mouthwatering sandwich.
For another tasty variation, try my Authentic Philly Cheesesteak Recipe, Philly Cheesesteak Sliders and Cheeseburger Sliders with Hawaiian Rolls next!
As a Philly native, I approve this recipe! This Chicken Philly cheesesteak recipe has everything you love from the traditional cheesesteak, but we swap ribeye steak for juicy chicken thighs.
When it comes to a chicken philly sandwich, there’s a few things you HAVE to have. Soft hoagie rolls (if you can find amoroso rolls, it’s a major win!) is 1. They have to be soft in texture but strong enough to hold the juices. Secondly, seasoned and tender chicken is KEY to a delicious sandwich.
Last but not least, you NEED a quality melty cheese that just melts right into the meat – this is what takes this chicken cheesesteak recipe to the next level.
Slather garlic and mayo on toasted bread, sauté bell peppers and onions, then smother everything in melted provolone cheese. Dare I say, it’s better than the original! When you can’t get to the steak shop, make this these chicken cheesesteak sandwiches at home, the whole family will LOVE it.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make! With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, chicken Philly cheesesteak comes together quickly, making it perfect for weeknight dinners. You can even make it ahead.
- A Tasty Alternative to Beef! For those who don’t eat red meat or just want something with fewer calories, this is it! Enjoy the flavors of a cheesesteak with a lighter touch of chicken.
- Great for Hosting! While this recipe is great for 2 people, simply multiply the ingredients to make enough to serve a crowd. Slice them into smaller servings and place them on a platter for parties.
- Customizable! Feel free to add your favorite toppings like banana peppers, or swap out the provolone for your cheese of choice. Serve with a little BBQ sauce like I did with my BBQ chicken sliders for a pop of flavor. You have plenty of options!
Chicken Philly Cheesesteak Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken thighs are succulent and flavorful so they’re the perfect protein.
- Seasoning – I use a blend of spices for a savory, smoky taste. It includes poultry seasoning (you can sub for Italian seasoning), onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Butter – Use this when toasting the hoagies and later when sautéing your veggies.
- Olive oil – Combine the oil with butter to cook the chicken and vegetables evenly and prevent burning.
- Yellow Onions – When caramelized, these sweet onions complement the more savory components of this recipe.
- Peppers – I use red pepper, yellow pepper, and green pepper, and sweet banana peppers.
- Sugar – This may be an unexpected ingredient but it helps to caramelize the onions and peppers, enhancing their natural sweetness.
- A1 steak sauce OR Worcestershire sauce – With all the sweet elements, these ingredients add umami flavor with a tangy, savory kick.
- Provolone Cheese – melty provolone cheese goes well over the chicken, peppers, and onions. It’s creamy with a sharp taste that ties everything together.
- Fresh Hoagie Rolls – The hoagie, specifically THEE Amoroso roll, is the best bread for a chicken Philly cheesesteak. They’re hearty enough to hold all those fillings but still soft enough for a satisfying chew.
- Garlic Paste – we’re mixing this with the mayo to create the garlic mayo that gets slathered onto the toasted buns.
- Mayo – This creamy element adds more moisture to the sandwich so the bread isn’t too dry.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cheese: I love provolone but you can also swap it for white American cheese or Cheez Whiz (another classic choice). Any good melting cheese will do.
- Rolls: If these Philadelphia-style rolls aren’t available in your area, find a comparable sub roll at your local bakery or grocery store.
- Chicken: You can use boneless chicken breasts or ground chicken if you prefer. To save time, shred leftover chicken or use rotisserie chicken instead.
- More Toppings: Add sauteed mushrooms for a more savory flavor. Jalapenos would add a spicy kick.
Pro Tips
- Caramelize the vegetables. Sauté the onions and peppers with butter and a bit of sugar to enhance their natural sweetness. Cook them until they are slightly softened and browned for the best flavor.
- Let the chicken rest. Allowing the cooked chicken to rest for a few minutes helps retain its juices. This step ensures the chicken remains tender and moist when sliced.
- Thinly slice the chicken. Thinly slicing the cooked chicken thighs allows them to mix well with the vegetables. This ensures every bite of the sandwich has a perfect balance of chicken and veggies.
- Serve immediately. Assemble the sandwiches and serve them right away while they’re still warm. This ensures the cheese remains melty and the hoagie rolls stay perfectly toasted.
How to Make a Chicken Philly Cheesesteak
Step 1:Slice chicken thighs thinly. Add to a large mixing bowl and season with poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chicken bouillon paste, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix together and ensure that all of the chicken is coated.
Step 2: Combine garlic paste and mayo in a small bowl. Mix together and set aside.
Step 3: Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is warmed, cook the sliced chicken thighs, about 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and thoroughly cooked (internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees F). Remove from the skillet and place on a plate to rest.
Step 4: Add 2 tbsp butter to the skillet and add the yellow onions, peppers, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until slightly softened and browned. Once the peppers and onions have softened, add the chicken back into the skillet and mix everything together. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
Step 5: Preheat the oven to the broil setting. Add 2 tbsps butter to a skillet and allow it to melt completely over medium heat. Cut the hoagie rolls in half and place the inside of the roll flat onto the skillet. Toast for 3-4 minutes. (depending on the size of the skillet, you may have to do 1 roll at a time). Then add 1-2 tbsps mayo and slather the inside of the roll. Top with two slices of cheese. Broil the rolls for 1-3 minutes until the cheese has fully melted, watch closely.
Step 6: Scoop the chicken and vegetables onto the hoagie roll. Garnish with banana peppers.
What to Serve with Chicken Philly Cheesesteak
This is a hearty sandwich that works well as a standalone meal. If you want a side dish, try it with fries or potato chips. A soup or salad are also great pairings. Try my heirloom tomato soup, jalapeno corn chowder or loaded baked potato soup.
And don’t forget dessert, make something fun and fruit like a cast iron skillet peach cobbler or key lime pie with graham cracker crust.
Storing Leftovers
Chicken Philly cheesesteak sandwiches taste best when eaten immediately because the bread gets soggy within a few hours. However, you can store the meat, veggies, and cheese in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Then assemble sandwiches with fresh bread.
Recipe FAQs
To slice chicken for a cheesesteak sandwich, cook the chicken thighs until they are done and then let them rest for a few minutes to retain their juices. Once rested, use a sharp knife to thinly slice the chicken against the grain, ensuring even, bite-sized pieces that mix well with the sautéed vegetables.
Toast hoagie rolls before adding the fillings to prevent them from getting soggy. Additionally, slathering the inside with mayo and ensuring the vegetables are cooked without excess liquid will help maintain the roll’s texture.
Yes, you can cook the chicken and vegetables ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat them in a skillet before assembling the sandwiches to ensure everything is warm and the cheese melts properly.
A California chicken cheesesteak is another variation of the traditional Philly cheesesteak. It includes fresh ingredients like avocado, lettuce, and tomato in addition to chicken, peppers, onions, and cheese. This version is a lighter, West Coast twist on the classic sandwich.
A chicken Philly cheesesteak is a tasty variation of the classic Philly cheesesteak, featuring chicken thighs instead of beef. This sandwich combines juicy, seasoned chicken with sautéed onions and bell peppers, all topped with melted provolone cheese on a toasted hoagie roll.
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Chicken Philly Cheesesteak
Ingredients
- 1 lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- 2 tsp Poultry Seasoning
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon Paste
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Garlic Paste
- 1/4 cup Mayo
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Yellow Onions, (sliced)
- 1/2 Red Pepper, (sliced)
- 1/2 Yellow Pepper, (sliced)
- 1 Green Pepper, (sliced)
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp A1 steak sauce OR Worcestershire sauce
- 8 Slices Provolone Cheese
- 4 Hoagie Rolls
- Banana Peppers, (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Slice chicken thighs thinly. Add to a large mixing bowl and season with poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chicken bouillon paste, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix together and ensure that all of the chicken is coated.
- In a small bow, combine garlic paste and mayo in a small bowl. Mix together and set aside.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Once the skillet is warmed, cook the sliced chicken thighs, about 5-7 minutes, until golden brown and thoroughly cooked (internal temperature of the chicken should be 165 degrees F). Remove from the skillet and place on a plate to rest.
- Add 2 tbsp butter to the skillet and add the yellow onions, peppers, and sugar. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until slightly softened and browned. Once the peppers and onions have softened, add the chicken back into the skillet and mix everything together. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to the broil setting.
- Add 2 tbsps butter to a skillet and allow it to melt completely over medium heat. Cut the hoagie rolls in half and place the inside of the roll flat onto the skillet. Toast for 3-4 minutes. (depending on the size of the skillet, you may have to do 1 roll at a time). Then add 1-2 tbsps mayo and slather the inside of the roll. Top with two slices of cheese. Broil the rolls for 1-3 minutes until the cheese has fully melted, watch closely.
- Scoop the chicken and vegetables onto the hoagie roll. Garnish with banana peppers.
Notes
- Caramelize the vegetables. Sauté the onions and peppers with butter and a bit of sugar to enhance their natural sweetness. Cook them until they are slightly softened and browned for the best flavor.
- Let the chicken rest. Allowing the cooked chicken to rest for a few minutes helps retain its juices. This step ensures the chicken remains tender and moist.
- Thinly slice the chicken. Thinly slicing the cooked chicken thighs allows them to mix well with the vegetables. This ensures every bite of the sandwich has a perfect balance of chicken and veggies.
- Serve immediately. Assemble the sandwiches and serve them right away while they’re still warm. This ensures the cheese remains melty and the hoagie rolls stay perfectly toasted.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve tried a ton of make at home Philly cheesesteaks, but this is the first one I’ve had that absolutely nails it. The cheese melts perfectly into the sandwich, and the seasoning for the chicken is top notch. The only thing I did different was deglazing the pan with a little bourbon after the veggies were cooked. My wife loved these and it’s going to be a go-to for us from now on!
Hi! I’m so happy that you love this recipe! It truly makes my day!
I grew up in Philly and my family wasn’t sure what a chicken cheesesteak would be like but they loved this recipe.
So glad y’all loved the recipe!
I was pleasantly surprised how it turned out. I added hot honey drizzle on an everything seasoned hoagie roll. Delish!
hot honey sounds delicious on these, so glad that you enjoyed it!