Light Philly Cheesesteaks

Name: Light Philly Cheesesteaks
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 bell pepper; 1 onion; kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper; 1 tablespoon Worcestershire; 1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon flour; 1/2 cup beef broth; 1 lb shaved beef; Montreal steak seasoning; 4 oz reduced fat cheddar (or: light swiss, light mozzarella); 4 hot dog buns

September 22, 2020 By Stephanie 59 Comments

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Philly Cheesesteaks, done by a Long Islander. Shaved beef mixed with sautéed peppers and onions coated with melted cheese on a bun; what could be better? My Light Philly Cheesesteaks are the perfect family friendly meal that can be made quickly and easily when you are craving something classic, comforting and filling!

What makes this a “Light” Philly Cheesesteak?

People from Philadelphia are very serious about their Philly Cheesesteaks. I mean what’s not to love? A delicious roll, thinly sliced ribeye steak, and melted provolone cheese. In order to defend myself against the Philly Cheesesteak connoisseurs, I think it is necessary to explain that this is a Long Islander’s take on the classic sandwich and is a lightened-up version to fit the needs of those on a health and wellness journey like me!

You may be wondering, what exactly makes this a “light” Philly cheesesteak? To start off, I used a hot dog bun instead of a hoagie. This is cuts the calories down, but still provides the feeling of eating the classic sandwich. I also used reduced fat cheddar cheese instead of provolone cheese. If you aren’t a fan of cheddar or don’t have it on hand, feel free to use light swiss or light mozzarella. Cheese is definitely a necessity for this recipe, so using a reduced fat alternative will make it lightened-up while still keeping it as close to the classic sandwich as possible.

I use olive oil spray instead of regular oil in almost all of my recipes. The macros are a lot better but still allow the vegetables and meat to have a little bit more flavor and not stick to the pan. Lastly, I only use one teaspoon of flour to thicken the sauce. One teaspoon is all you really need to get it to the right consistency. These few changes save so many calories but don’t change the satisfaction of the taste. I love eating Philly Cheesesteaks with air fried French fries, a side salad, or my Easy Smashed Potatoes.

What you’ll need to make Light Philly Cheesesteaks

bell pepper
onion
kosher salt
fresh cracked pepper
Worcestershire sauce
balsamic vinegar
all purpose flour
beef broth
shaved beef
- You can find this at: Trader Joe’s, Aldi, or you can purchase the “Old Neighborhood” brand at most supermarkets, including Target.
Montreal steak seasoning
reduced fat cheddar cheese
- You can also use light swiss or light mozzarella instead.
hot dog buns

How to make Light Philly Cheesesteaks

Preparing the vegetables

Begin by finely dicing one bell pepper and one onion. Put the diced bell pepper and onion in a frying pan over medium heat coated with olive oil spray. Season with a pinch of kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper and cook for 10 minutes. The peppers and onions should be tender and starting to brown, or slightly caramelize.

Once the peppers and onions have cooked, add the Worcestershire sauce and balsamic vinegar. Stir and allow the liquid to evaporate. This won’t take very long – so be sure to keep an eye on it after adding the liquids.

When it is evaporated, spray more olive oil spray and sprinkle the flour across the pan. Toss the vegetables until they are coated with flour. At this point, the mixture will appear dry. Add the beef broth and cook for about 2 minutes or until the mixture thickens. The flour will allow the mixture to become thick, and not watery.

Remove from the pan and set the pepper and onion mixture aside while the beef cooks.

Cooking the beef and assembling the sandwich

Using the same frying pan, spray with olive oil spray and add the shaved beef. Season with a sprinkle of Montreal steak seasoning. Cook for 5-10 minutes over medium heat until your beef is browned and slightly crisp on the edges.

To assemble the sandwich, I toasted the rolls. This is completely optional but I think it provides a nice base and prevents the bread from getting soggy after adding the rest of the ingredients. Top with the shaved beef, followed by the pepper and onion mixture, and finally, the cheese. Melt the cheese and you are done!

This recipe takes just around 30 minutes to make and is so delicious. It is the perfect week night meal if you are looking for something new to make.