
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Ribeye steak (very thinly shaved)
- 1 large White onion (diced)
- 1 Green bell pepper (thinly sliced – optional, but highly recommended)
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil (for the griddle)
- 8 slices Provolone cheese (or your cheese of choice)
- 4 Hoagie rolls (split down the middle)
- 2 tbsp Butter (softened, for the rolls)
- 1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper (freshly ground)
Instructions
- Preheat your Blackstone griddle to medium-high heat. While it is heating up, spread the softened butter on the insides of the split hoagie rolls.
- Place the rolls butter-side down on the griddle to toast them until they are golden brown (about 1-2 minutes). Remove them and set aside.
- Drizzle vegetable oil onto the griddle. Add the diced onions (and bell peppers, if using). Sauté them, tossing frequently, until they are soft and beautifully caramelized (about 4-5 minutes). Move them to a cooler side of the griddle.
- Add a little more oil to the hot zone and drop the shaved ribeye onto the griddle. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- As the meat cooks, use two sturdy metal spatulas to quickly chop and shred the meat directly on the flat top. Cook until no longer pink (about 3-4 minutes).
- Bring the caramelized vegetables back into the center and mix them thoroughly with the cooked meat.
- Divide the meat and vegetable mixture into 4 equal, rectangular piles (roughly the length of your hoagie rolls). Turn off the burners directly under the meat.
- Place 2 slices of Provolone cheese over each pile. The residual heat from the griddle will perfectly melt the cheese within a minute.
- Take a toasted hoagie roll and place it upside down right on top of a cheesy meat pile. Slide your large spatula completely under the meat and carefully flip the entire sandwich over. Serve immediately!
Nutrition
Bring the Taste of Philadelphia to Your Backyard
Have you ever craved that iconic, melt-in-your-mouth sandwich from the East Coast, but thought you had to travel all the way to Pennsylvania to get it? Good news—your flat-top grill is the ultimate tool for recreating that legendary street-food magic right at home. We are excited to share the ultimate guide to making an authentic Blackstone Philly Cheesesteak. It is messy, savory, incredibly cheesy, and guaranteed to become an instant family favorite for weekend lunches or game day gatherings.
Why the Griddle is the Ultimate Cheesesteak Tool
When it comes to crafting a traditional cheesesteak, the cooking surface is everything. A massive flat-top griddle provides the intense, even heat necessary to sear the shaved beef rapidly without boiling it in its own juices. Making a Blackstone Philly Cheesesteak outdoors gives you the incredible advantage of space; you can cook multiple huge sandwiches at the exact same time, making it the absolute best choice for feeding a hungry crowd.
If you are hosting a cookout and want to offer a diverse menu of classic American favorites, consider pairing these sandwiches with our incredibly juicy Ultimate Blackstone Smash Burgers!
The Holy Trinity of Ingredients: Beef, Veggies, and Cheese
The secret to a mouthwatering Blackstone Philly Cheesesteak lies in keeping things relatively simple and focusing strictly on high-quality ingredients. Here is what you need to build the perfect sandwich:
- The Beef: Ribeye is the undisputed king of the cheesesteak. It has the perfect fat-to-meat ratio to stay tender and juicy on a hot griddle. Pro tip: Place your steak in the freezer for about 30 to 45 minutes before slicing it. This firms up the meat, allowing you to slice it as thinly as humanly possible.
- The Veggies: Sweet yellow onions are the traditional choice, finely chopped and slowly caramelized to perfection. Many people also love to add diced bell peppers and mushrooms. While purists might argue over the additions, your flat-top gives you the ultimate freedom to customize your meal. (Speaking of chopping and grilling colorful veggies on the flat-top, you will also love our highly rated Best Blackstone Hibachi Chicken Recipe for another fantastic dinner idea!)
- The Cheese: The classic Philadelphia debate! You can go with the iconic, gooey Cheez Whiz, sharp and creamy Provolone, or classic White American cheese. The trick is to lay the cheese directly over the hot meat on the griddle so it melts deeply into every single crevice.
- The Bread: A fresh, soft hoagie roll with a slightly crusty exterior is absolutely mandatory. Toast it briefly on the griddle with a touch of butter to ensure it holds up to the heavy, juicy filling.
4 Expert Tips for Griddle Perfection
To guarantee your meal rivals the best legendary sandwich shops, follow these four expert flat-top techniques:
- Utilize High Heat for Searing: Use the hottest zone of your griddle to get a quick, aggressive sear on the thinly sliced ribeye. You want crispy, flavorful brown edges, not gray, steamed meat.
- Master the “Chop and Flip”: Use two sturdy metal griddle spatulas to continuously chop and tear the meat as it cooks. This breaks down the beef, mixes it intimately with the caramelized onions, and ensures a fast, even cook.
- The Steam Melt Technique: Once you portion the cooked meat into sandwich-sized piles and layer on your cheese of choice, cover each pile briefly with a metal basting dome. This traps the heat and creates a gorgeously gooey, rapid cheese melt.
- The Roll Scoop: Instead of trying to scoop the meat into the bread, place your sliced, toasted hoagie roll directly upside down over the cheesy meat pile on the griddle. Slide your long spatula underneath the entire mound and confidently flip it right-side up for a perfectly loaded, mess-free sandwich.
This recipe is awesome! The cheese melted perfectly and the flavors were spot on. My family loved it! 5 stars!
I don’t understand why people put so much effort into cheesesteaks. Just get a sandwich from the deli! 1 star.
So good!!! Better than any restaurant! Gotta try this – thank you for sharing! 😍
I can’t believe how tasty this was! I will never eat at a restaurant for cheesesteaks again! 💕
How did you get that steak so thin? I tried and it was like chewing rubber! Need tips on that! 2 stars.
Delish! Used cheddar instead of provolone and it was still great. Will definitely make again! 👍
Looked easy but my steak ended up tough. Maybe I sliced it too thick? Be careful with that!
I added a little Worcestershire and it bumped the flavor a lot. Also, the bell pepper really does help. Didn’t think I’d like it but I did.
This was delicious but I messed up the rolls—burnt them a bit because I multitasked. Still, the onions and beef were so good I’d totally make it again. Also the griddle instructions are on point.
Honestly that sounds like a win. Burnt rolls happen when you multitask—cheesesteaks are forgiving but bread can’t be lol. Glad the onions/beef nailed it!
So good, I can’t stop making these! My family loves them.
Lol I always thought Philly was just cheese and meat but this is like a science project. Caramelized onions + provolone tho—can’t deny that combo. Looks legit!
Lol I mean, isn’t caramelizing onions just… burning them a bit? I’d probably go less time. Still sounds good tho—provolone is the move.
Right?! I used to do it lazy with just chopped meat, but caramelized onions really change everything. Science project, yep 😄
Cheese didn’t melt right for me. Maybe my griddle was not hot enough. 1-2 minutes for rolls felt short too.
Took too long to prepare. Not worth it for me.
Best!😋 Just like I had in Philly on vacation!
Looks good, but ribeye is expensive. Can I use regular steak instead?
I love Philly cheesesteaks! Can’t wait to try this recipe! 🥖🧀
This recipe is amazing! Best Philly cheesesteak I’ve ever made at home. The ribeye was so tender and the cheese melted perfectly. Definitely a 5-star dish!
Eh, wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. I mean, it’s just a sandwich.
The thin-shaved ribeye + griddle combo is legit. I did the cheese melt exactly like you said (after turning off the burners) and it came out perfect and gooey. Caramelized onions were the real MVP.
OMG these were SO GOOD. The onions added a great touch! Thanks for the recipe, chef!
I didn’t have a Blackstone griddle, so I used a regular pan. It was still good, just not as crispy. Still worth it!
Glad to hear it turned out good! I think the flavor of the steak really comes through, even in a regular pan. Have you tried adding mushrooms next time? They add a nice touch!
Nah, I really don’t think using a regular pan is the same. The griddle’s what makes it crispy! Is it really worth it if it’s not the same? Just saying.
Not sure about turning off the burners right under the meat—won’t it cool too fast? Still, love the caramelized onions idea.
Sounds fancy but I just want a quick snack after work. Can I just use sliced lunch meat?
Yum! I added some hot peppers too! Spicy but worth it!!!
Okay I’m confuse: can you use any cheese? How about mozzarella, will it work?
Meat wasn’t cooked right, ended up chewy. 😕
I’m gonna be that person: Provolone isn’t “authentic” enough for me. Also I think the pepper amount is too low… but the onions were great.
Totally hear you on provolone 😅 I still think it works great on the griddle though—melts perfect. And yeah that pepper feels a little timid; I’d go heavier too.
Onions were great here too—agree. But I’m also with you about pro-vole-onne… not my first choice for “Philly” vibes. Pepper wise I used extra and it kicked.
Yum! But next time I’m adding mushrooms too. More flavor!
I don’t know, this seems like a lot of steps for a sandwich. Ain’t a cheesesteak just meat and cheese? 🤔
I get what you’re saying, but trust me, all those steps make it taste way better! Totally worth it! 😋
This is exactly how I want a Philly cheesesteak to be—crispy edges, melty provolone, and that onion/pepper caramelization. Medium-high griddle is the sweet spot.
The setup in this recipe is confusing. Didn’t come out like the picture.
This was amazing! Best cheesesteak ever!
So glad you loved it! The cheese really makes it, right?
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! Made this for my family and they couldn’t get enough. Will make again for sure!
Solid recipe, but “very thinly shaved” is key—mine wasn’t thin enough so it took longer and wasn’t as tender. Still tasty though.
Tried it last weekend. My ribeye wasn’t super thin so it took longer, but the flavor was still on point. The butter-toasted rolls were a game changer.
The technique with turning off the burners under the meat before the cheese melted was smart. My cheese usually gets weird but this time it was perfect.
Very tasty, though I mixed up the salt and sugar… oops!
Not sure about turning off the burners then adding cheese. I feel like you risk uneven melting. Mine was okay, but the edges of the cheese got a little rubbery before the center melted.
Yeah, I get what you mean. If you shut it off too early, the edges can start to dry/toughen before the center catches up. I usually leave it on low-medium for the melt just so it evens out.
I tried something similar and it came out dry. I think 1.5 lbs is a lot so the meat has to be really thin/shaved. If it’s not thin enough, no amount of griddle magic fixes it.
Totally agree—if the steak isn’t shaved paper-thin, it turns into sad chewy/dry stuff fast. “Griddle magic” only works so much 😅
Wow! This looks like the real deal! Gonna make this over the weekend for my buddies. Can’t wait!
That sounds awesome! I’m sure your buddies will love it! Have fun!
Tried this, but my cheese didn’t melt like that. What kind of cheese is Provolone? Is it like cheddar?
Lol, cheddar’s nice but Provolone is better for cheesesteaks! Try again, it’s worth it!
Provolone is a different kinda cheese, it’s smoother and creamier than cheddar. Maybe try a higher temp next time? That could help melt it!
I think real Philly cheesesteaks don’t have green peppers. 🤷♂️
But green peppers add flavor! Where’s the fun in just meat and cheese? 🤔
You’re totally right! I’m a Philly local and green peppers just ain’t the real deal. It’s all about the steak and cheese baby! 🥖🧀
I subbed the ribeye for chicken and used cheddar cheese. Still turned out yummy, but I feel like it’s not a real cheesesteak. Just a heads-up!
I get what you mean! It’s hard to call it a cheesesteak without the ribeye. But hey, as long as it tastes good, that’s what counts, right?
I didn’t have ribeye, used ground beef and it works!
I dunno, seems too complicated for a cheesesteak. Can’t I just fry the meat and throw cheese on it? Why all the fuss?
Nah, that sounds too hard. Frying and cheese is good enough for me. Who has time for all that chopping? 😅
I get where you’re coming from, but all those steps really make a difference! It’s not just about the cheese, it’s about the flavor! 🙌
Why butter the rolls? I feel like oil would be better… but I’ll admit golden rolls are still the dream.
Because butter on the roll helps it brown and taste richer—oil tends to be more neutral. Golden rolls are the whole point 😄
Just tried it and it was so good! My kids loved it too, and that’s hard to do! Thank you for sharing!
That’s awesome to hear! I love when kids enjoy the meals! What’s their favorite part?
I dunno, seems a bit too fatty with the ribeye. Can you use chicken instead? 🍗
Not sure about the “turn off the burners” part—mine cooled too fast and the cheese didn’t melt as nicely. I ended up keeping the heat low instead and it worked.
Good point—turning off the burners might be too aggressive depending on your griddle temp and how fast it cools. I usually just lower to low/keep it on the lowest setting so the provolone can melt without drying the meat out.
Who puts pepper on a cheesesteak? That’s just wrong. Philadelphia wouldn’t approve. Stick to the basics.
Made this on my Blackstone and it was dangerously good. The caramelized onions + that provolone melt is legit. I didn’t even need extra sauce.
Yum!! 🤤 Absolute hit at the party!
The instructions say cheese melts in a minute—mine took way longer. Maybe because my griddle runs cooler? I was honestly stressing.
Wow. Easy and tastes like a diner sandwich. 10/10 would eat again, for real.
I tried a Philly before but always messed up the cheese melt. The “residual heat” step sounds super helpful.
The ingredient amounts look perfect. Green pepper optional but “highly recommended” is how you know it’s the real deal.
I appreciate the step-by-step, especially the ‘flip the sandwich’ part—fun, honestly. I will say my meat didn’t shred as easily because mine wasn’t shaved super thin, so I had to cook a touch longer.
idk if I’m doing philly right 😅 but mine tasted more like beef and onions with cheese. maybe i needed more salt or different provolone? still not bad though.
My guy… 1.5 lbs for only 4 hoagies seems kinda light? I weighed it and it still felt like ‘more like slider’ portions. Flavor was good though, just wish it made bigger sandwiches.
Not sure about the hoagie roll step—my rolls got toast but kinda dry. Maybe my heat was too high or I left them too long. Taste was good, though.
This feels kinda like Philly at home, which I respect, but I’ve had better. It needed more seasoning overall and I’d add garlic powder or something.
My ribeye never gets “very thinly shaved” where I live. Any substitute like chuck? Or is the Ribeye non-negotiable?
I tried it with store-bought chopped steak… big mistake. It didn’t shred right and was chewy. If you can’t shave thin, maybe use thin sliced steak.
Ugh, I don’t have a Blackstone. Can I do this on a cast iron skillet??
I mean… shaved steak + griddle + cheese = good, but how do you “chop and shred” without making it chewy? I’m probably doing it wrong. Still tasty though.
This sounds dangerously good. The way you shred the meat right on the griddle is genius—gonna try it exactly like that.
The cheese-on-top with residual heat sounds genius. I’ve burned cheese before by getting impatient, so I appreciate the method. Also love adding bell pepper—don’t @ me 😄
Yes!! That residual heat trick is the only way I don’t end up with sad rubber cheese 😅 Bell pepper is 100% Philly-approved in my book.
That’s exactly the kind of Philly vibe I like—thin ribeye, griddle heat, and melty provolone. The “butter-side down” roll tip is money. Gonna try it next weekend.
I don’t have a Blackstone, just a regular skillet. Can I still do the same chops/shred on the pan? Also what’s “hoagie rolls upside down”—like bottom on top? Confusing but I wanna make it anyway.
My only gripe is the “turn off the burners directly under the meat” part—seems like it might cool too fast? Maybe for a thinner pile it works, but I’d keep a little heat on. Still, looks tasty.
I’d keep it on low too. If you turn off and your griddle’s not super hot, the cheese might not melt right and the meat can steam instead of stay nice and hot.
Totally get what you mean, but with ribeye that thin it usually doesn’t take long to lose heat. I like it—turning off keeps the cheese from overcooking too much.
I like this, but 8 slices provolone for 4 rolls seems like a lot… unless you REALLY love cheese. (I do.)
Pretty close to what I get at the casual Philly spot near me. I used green pepper anyway—glad you said it’s recommended. Only thing: my rolls browned a little too fast at first, but still tasted great.