
On a recent trip to Costco, I came across a big package of thinly sliced New York strip and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it—Philly Cheesesteaks. There’s just something about that iconic sandwich that makes it a crowd-pleaser every single time. Juicy beef, sautéed veggies, and a blanket of gooey, melted cheese all piled into a soft hoagie roll…it’s comfort food at its finest.
A Philly Cheesesteak isn’t just any sandwich—it’s a Philadelphia classic with a reputation for big flavor and hearty portions. Traditionally, it’s all about the griddled beef, the mix of onions, peppers, and mushrooms, and of course, that ooey-gooey cheese that ties everything together. My version stays true to the heart of the sandwich while keeping it simple enough for anyone to pull off at home.
Philly Cheesesteaks on the Blackstone | Heath Riles BBQ
For this cook, I fired up the Blackstone griddle, which is perfect for making enough cheesesteaks to feed a hungry crowd. The wide, flat surface lets you cook a big batch of beef and veggies at once, making it an ideal setup for gameday or any get-together. One of the keys to a true cheesesteak experience is chopping the meat right on the griddle with a pair of metal spatulas, ensuring every bite is seared, sizzling, and packed with flavor.
The Ingredients
These Philly Cheesesteaks are bursting with flavor and come together quickly with a very short list of ingredients:
New York strip. Philly Cheesesteaks can be made with cuts of meat including boneless ribeye steak, top round, and top sirloin. Here, I made use of sliced New York strip, which comes from the short loin.
Onions. Use sliced white or yellow onions.
Bell peppers. Bell peppers, whether green, red, yellow, or orange, work in this recipe. Try a combination of colors for a more traditional result.
Mushrooms. Use medium sized white or cremini mushrooms, sliced.
Heath Riles BBQ Garlic Butter Rub. This is my unique mix of roasted garlic, jalapeño, and butter. Use it to season the vegetables and meat.
Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub. This is my BBQ blend of salt, pepper, garlic, chili powder, and paprika. It brings a subtle, savory heat to this Philly Cheesesteak.
White American Cheese. Traditional recipes for the Philly Cheesesteak may use provolone cheese, American cheese, or Cheez Whiz. I chose white American for this recipe.
Sandwich Rolls. Philly Cheesesteaks are typically served on oblong sandwich rolls, also known as hoagie rolls. Look for rolls that will hold up to the generous amount of meat, cheese, and veggies without falling apart.
The Blackstone Griddle
The Blackstone is an easy to use, portable griddle that makes quick work of this Philly Cheesesteak sandwich, provide plenty of surface area for cooking and chopping the meat.
The Process for Making Philly Cheesesteaks
The detailed procedure for these scrumptious Philly Cheesesteaks covered in my video and on the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here’s the overall process:
- Get your Blackstone griddle going at Medium heat.
- Drop New York steak. Get your sliced New York steak down on the griddle and spread it out with the use of two large spatulas.
- Drop the veggies. Place your onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the other side of the griddle from the meat. This will give you enough space to spread everything out as it cooks.
- Season the meat and vegetables generously with Heath Riles BBQ Garlic Butter Rub and Heath Riles BBQ Beef Rub.
- Chop ‘n shred. Get the meat moving on the grill as you chop and shred the meat with two metal spatulas.
- Add the cheese. Get the meat formed into a long mound and then add the cheese on top. As the cheese melts, blend it into the meat with the spatulas.
- Get the veggies on. Top the meat and cheese with the veggies.
- Grab the rolls. Open up a roll, turn it upside down and use it and the spatula to grab the meat and veggies. Repeat with remaining rolls.
The Results
These Philly cheesesteaks are the bomb! The meat is succulent and the veggies are perfectly seasoned.
What to Serve with Philly Cheesesteaks
Serve these Philly Cheesesteaks at your next tailgate or get-together. Try serving with chips, my Mississippi Coleslaw, and your favorite beer.
Equipment and Tools
Blackstone, Blackstone Accessories, Cooking Sheet Pan, Black Latex Gloves, Large bowl, Small plastic container, Paper plates