Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

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Trust me, you’ll want to add this ground beef Philly cheesesteak skillet to your regular rotation. It’s got all the cheesy, savory, pepper-and-onion-packed flavor you love from a classic Philly cheesesteak, but made faster, easier, and all in one pan. It’s a budget-friendly meal you can whip up in 20 minutes or less.

Some dinners are tasty. Others are convenient. But every now and then, you find some that are both. I’m talking about the one-pan skillet meals I absolutely love making like cheeseburger skillet, cheesy taco skillet, and Italian ground beef skillet.

Our new family favorite weeknight meal? Ground beef Philly cheesesteak skillet.

Throw this together in just a few minutes for your next dinner or lunch. Honestly, no matter your diet type, we can all use more recipes like this in our lives! It’s reliable for meal prepping, busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or when comfort food cravings hit.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• 5-minute prep
• Comfort food made easy: Enjoy everything you love about a Philly cheesesteak in a simpler skillet form, and without the heavy bread roll!
• Easy cleanup: Only a skillet and a spatula to clean up, which means more time to relax after dinner.
• Fits keto and low-carb diets
• Meal prep friendly: Reheats beautifully for lunches or quick dinners later in the week.

How to Make Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

Gather 7 simple ingredients, and you’re halfway to making the best Philly cheesesteak skillet with ground beef in just 20 minutes! 

Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients You Need

• Butter: I like butter because it tastes amazing. We’re also adding other dairy foods to this recipe, so there’s no need to choose dairy-free fat.
• White onion 
• Green bell peppers: You can use green, red, yellow, or a mixture thereof. I choose to use all green because I love the spicy, bitter flavor. Bell peppers are one of the few condiments traditionally added to cheesesteak.
• Ground beef: 80/20 ground beef is perfect for this; it has a higher fat content that keeps recipes moist and delicious.
• Salt and ground black pepper
• Provolone cheese: Provolone cheese has a mild tangy flavor that melts over the entire skillet and brings everything together. Shred the cheese yourself for the best melt and flavor.

Step-By-Step Instructions

This recipe is my favorite way to enjoy a Philly cheesesteak, and it will soon be yours, too! Definitely one of my go-to 20-minute meals for busy days. Follow along with these easy step by step directions to get started.

Step 1: Sauté the aromatics

First, warm the butter in an oven-safe large skillet over medium heat. Sauté bell pepper and onion for 5 minutes or until soft.

Step 2: Add the ground beef

Second, raise the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef with salt and pepper. Break apart the meat with a spatula, if needed. Brown the meat for 5-7 minutes, until it is no longer pink.

Step 3: Top with cheese

Then, sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the beef mixture. Place the skillet under a broiler for 1 to 3 minutes until the cheese is completely melted.

Step 4: Serve

Finally, serve warm!

Substitutions

• Butter: You can also cook in olive oil, ghee, tallow, or other preferred cooking fat.
• White onion: Substitute with yellow onions for a milder sweetness, or red onions for a sharper bite.
• Green bell peppers: Replace with poblano peppers.
• Ground beef: Use ground chicken or turkey if preferred.
• Provolone cheese: Swap out with mozzarella cheese, cheddar, Swiss, any melty cheese you like.

Expert Tips

• Brown the beef: Let the beef sit undisturbed in the pan for a couple of minutes before stirring so it develops a rich crust.
• Drain excess grease if needed: This keeps the dish from feeling greasy while still retaining rich flavor.
• Control the moisture: If your vegetables release too much liquid, push them to the side of the skillet and let it cook off before combining with the beef.
• Season to your liking: I usually only season with salt and pepper, but you can play with different herbs too. Add a kick of flavor with a tablespoon of Italian seasoning or your favorite steak seasoning, mixed in with the meat as it browns.
• Play with the cheese: You can use thin slices of Provolone instead of shredded for a more gooey, more authentic texture. You can also use a cheese blend, mixing in mozzarella or pepper jack to add extra creaminess and personality.
• Add mix-ins and toppings: Try sliced veggies or caramelized onions, and finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, or hot sauce for a pop of flavor.

How to Store This Recipe

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm it in a skillet over medium heat until heated through, stirring in between to keep the cheese melty and the beef moist. If the mixture seems a little dry, add a splash of beef broth or water while reheating to bring back its juiciness. 

If making ahead, cook the beef and vegetables in advance, then just reheat and add cheese before serving.

What to Serve with Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

Serve the skillet over a bed of lettuce or salad greens to stretch the meat into more servings. Sides like raw sauerkraut and keto flatbread buns pair well with the cheese meat. If you’re looking for more carbs, enjoy it over rice, in sandwiches, stuffed in a baked potato, or wrapped in a tortilla for quick meal variations. With extras like these, you can get up to 6 servings instead of 4.

In addition to sides, there are various add-ins you can mix into the basic recipe. To make a “sloppy-joe” type dinner, whip up a batch of these easy keto hamburger buns from Cassidy’s Craveable Creations.

Popular toppings:

• Sautéed sliced mushrooms
• Peppers like hot cherry, banana, and pickled jalapeño slices
• Lettuce and tomatoes
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Sriracha sauce

More Easy Ground Beef Recipes To Try

• Ground beef and broccoli casserole
• Ground beef stir fry
• Slow cooker taco soup
• Korean ground beef
• Cabbage noodles with ground beef