Philly Cheese Steak Crock Pot Recipe
You put round steak, peppers, onions, and an Italian seasoning packet into the crock pot in the morning. Your meat will be fork-tender and loaded with flavor in eight hours. Pile the meat into hoagie buns, place two slices of provolone on top, and broil it for two minutes.
Philly cheese steak sandwiches with no hands-on time.
Why This One Works on Busy Days
Deep, robust flavors will surprise anyone who thinks that slow cooker dinners are always the same boring thing. The Italian seasoning packet will feel like cheating, but it will taste like you put in a lot of effort.
I started making this in fall when I bring out the slow cookers for the season, and it has remained in the rotation ever since. Six sandwiches and almost no effort in the afternoon, plus the leftovers are actually good the next day. It’s hard to argue with that.
What We Eat These With
- French fries or potato wedges — the classic cheesesteak side; bake a frozen bag while the sandwiches are under the broiler
- Simple coleslaw — creamy coleslaw adds crunch and cuts the richness of the beef and cheese
- Soup — tomato soup or French onion alongside a half sandwich is a great cold-weather pairing
How It Keeps and What to Do With Leftovers
Refrigerator: Store the cooked meat and vegetable mixture (without the buns or assembled sandwiches) in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep the buns and cheese stored separately.
Reheating: To warm the mixture, place it in a saucepan and heat it on medium-low, or microwave the mixture for 60 second intervals until warm. Don't reheat the assembled sandwiches; assemble and broil them fresh.
Freezer: The meat mixture can be frozen for 3 months; cool fully and then freeze in a zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible. To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat.
Crock Pot Philly Cheese Steak FAQ
Do I have to brown the meat first?
I would disagree on skipping it. Browning only takes about five minutes and adds so much flavor — color, depth, the toasted edges that survive the long braise — that you won’t get from a raw roast just going straight into the slow cooker.
If you have time constraints, it can still work without the time window, but if you can spare five minutes in the morning, use them here.
Can I use a different cut of beef?
Certainly. Chuck roast is a great alternative — it has more fat marbling and shreds even easier after 8 hours. Flank steak does work but cooks faster; check it at 6 hours. Round steak is the original choice because it is cheap, and the long braise handles the toughness.
Chuck roast is my number one choice for tenderness. All of them work with this seasoning.
What if I don’t have Italian dressing mix?
You could try ranch seasoning, it will change the flavor some but could work. Just mix together 1 teaspoon of each garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, plus 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. It will be close, but not exact.
Can I cook this on high instead of low?
Yes, cook on high for 4-5 hours. For tough, connective tissue in round steak to break down properly, low and slow is preferred. However, high for 4-5 hours does work if you need dinner quicker.
What cheese is most authentic?
In Philadelphia, the classic option is American cheese or Cheez Whiz — not provolone. American melts the smoothest and is the easiest to use under the broiler. Provolone has become the most common home-cook choice and it's what I use. Use whichever you like best; the beef is the star either way.
Can I make this for a crowd?
Certainly! Just double the recipe and use a 6-quart crockpot or larger. You can keep the meat warm on the low setting and let guests make their own sandwiches. This slow cooker option is perfect for game days or casual get-togethers. You do all the work before anyone arrives!
Other Slow Cooker Beef Dinners Worth Making
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes — ground beef version of the Philly flavors, faster to make on a weeknight
- Philly Cheese Steak Sliders — same flavors in a smaller format, perfect for parties
- Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches — another slow cooker beef sandwich, with au jus for dipping
- Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff — creamy slow cooker beef over egg noodles
- Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Pasta — cheesy ranch chicken pasta cooked entirely in the slow cooker
Philly Cheese Steak Crock Pot Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 to 3 pounds beef round steak sliced thin
- 2 green peppers sliced thin
- 1 onion sliced thin
- 1 envelope dry Italian dressing mix
- 2 cups beef stock
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 3 teaspoons garlic salt
- 6 hoagie buns
- 12 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Spray the crock pot with cooking spray.
- Cut beef round steak into thin slices and brown briefly in a hot pan for color.
- Add browned beef, green peppers, onion, beef stock, garlic salt, black pepper, and Italian dressing mix to the crock pot. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on Low for 8 hours, until beef is tender.
- Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
- Spoon the beef and vegetable mixture onto sliced hoagie buns.
- Top each sandwich with 2 slices of provolone cheese, overlapping as needed.
- Bake at 350°F or broil on low for a few minutes, just until the cheese melts.
- Serve warm.