For all things meats, cheesy, & yummy, make this recipe for Philly Cheese Steak Pasta Skillet Casserole. This easy 30-minute recipe is the perfect marriage of mac & cheese & a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
So grab your cast iron skillet and make this, it's one the Best Easy One-Pan Dinners. Seasoned tender shaved beef cooks quickly. Even the rotini pasta is cooked right in the same pan with caramelized onions & sweet bell peppers until al dente.
This was inspired by my easy Classic Homemade Philly Cheesesteak Recipe on this site. With a pasta version, it is a complete meal and all you need for dinner. But if you want more, it pairs well with Air Fryer Broccolini with Lemon & Parmesan or an Italian Chopped Salad.
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Ingredients Needed
This recipe calls for all the classic ingredients that you need for a good cheesesteak sandwich, minus the hoagie roll. To finish off the Philly vibe, you need some sliced onion, sweet bell peppers, &, of course, the cheese! This cheesy recipe has 3 kinds of cheese in it.
If you order your cheesesteak "wit" onions & peppers, this pasta recipe is for you. It also has what I call that classic Cheez Whiz or Easy Cheese gooeyness that I feel all cheesesteaks must have. Even the official visit Philadelphia site agrees, order it "whiz wit!"
- Olive Oil - so the steak doesn't stick to the cast iron skilet.
- Trader Joe's Shaved Beef Steak - these thin slices are the best meat for any cheesesteak recipe.
- Worcestershire Sauce - classic seasoned sauce for true Philly flavor.
- Spices - Black Pepper & Garlic Powder
- Bell Peppers & Onion - classic produce for a cheesesteak.
- Salted Butter - to saute the vegetables.
- Beef Broth - the liquid for cooking the pasta & making the cheese sauce.
- Rotini Pasta - you can use any kind but I find this fun shape is a kid-favorite & the spirals cling to the cheese well.
- Cream Cheese - for creamy texture.
- Cheez Whiz/Easy Cheese - a MUST HAVE for anything related to a Philly cheesesteak.
- Provolone Cheese - the final cheese & perfect casserole topping.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Here are the easy steps for making this one pan pasta casserole. It takes about 5 minutes to prep and 25 minutes to cook. The perfect meal for a busy weeknight.
Follow these easy steps shared below in more detail:
- Prep the Beef & Produce
- Season & Cook the Shaved Beef
- Cook the Vegetables
- Cook the Pasta in the Skillet
- Add Cheese to the Skillet Casserole
1 - Prep the Beef & Produce
Use a sharp chef's knife and cut the onion into slices and then quarter rounds as shown below. You will also need to remove the stem, seeds, and membranes from the bell pepper. Then thinly slice that.
Once they are all ready, the cooking time and effort for this recipe are minimal. That helps make this recipe fairly quick and easy.
TIP: The shaved beef steak will come in large thin slices. This is great for a cheesesteak sandwich that you will take meaty bites of. However, I found that smaller bite-sized pieces work best for casseroles or when kids are eating.
If you want smaller pieces of meat in your skillet dinner, dice up the shaved steak. Set aside.
2 - Season & Cook the Shaved Beef
Heat oil in a large cast-iron pan, or another oven-safe skillet. Make sure you are using a skillet that will be large enough to fit all the meat, pasta, and other ingredients. I love a cast-iron pan for this recipe on my flat cooktop or try one of the best pans for a gas stove.
Over medium heat, add the shaved beef, and season with black pepper & garlic powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the beef, is cooked through.
Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir to coat. Remove beef from the pan and set it aside. Do not clean the pan, leave the meat juices.
3 - Cook the Vegetables
Add butter to the skillet. Scrape up the bits from cooking the meat. Once melted add the peppers and onions. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, just until they are starting to soften.
Add broth and water to the pan. Turn up the heat to bring it to a boil.
4 - Cook the Pasta in the Skillet
Once boiling, add the rotini pasta and stir to combine. Turn the heat down to medium. You want the vegetables and pasta to simmer in the liquid.
** NOTE** If you use a different type of pasta shape such as egg noodles, farfalle, etc the amount of liquid and cooking time may vary. Egg noodles for example cook fast and will need less water & farfalle will need more! In the substitution section below I shared ideas for gluten-free & keto or low-carb friendly pasta alternatives.
After about 12-15 minutes the pasta should be al dente and most of the liquid will be absorbed. It should look like this with some broth left and the veggie will be soft and tender. None of the ingredients will be overcooked or mushy.
5 - Add Cheese to the Skillet Casserole
Turn the heat to low. Add the shaved beef back into the skillet and stir. Now it is time to add the 3 kinds of cheese to make this the cheesiest steak pasta ever.
Next, add the softened cream cheese. The cream cheese and the bit of cooking broth will come together and make a creamy sauce. Coat all the ingredients as you stir.
Next, spray about ½ a can of Easy Cheese over the pasta skillet. My kids love to help with this part! Stir to combine. Or use about 4 ounces of Cheez Whiz and stir it in.
Top with a layer of the sliced provolone and turn off the stove.
Set the oven to a low broil. Using oven mitts, place the pan in the oven to broil and melt the cheese until bubbly.
Carefully remove the skillet from the broiler, the pan will be very hot! Let the pan sit for a few minutes on the counter before serving. Caution - CHEESE WILL BE HOT! Dig in with a big spoon and serve.
Hint: DO NOT step away as the cheese will melt quickly. You can add as much provolone cheese to the top as you like. 4 to 8 slices depending on how big your skillet is ought to cover it.
Substitutions
If you have dietary needs that you want to make substitutions for, go for it. This is an easy recipe that is versatile and forgiving. Here are a few ways you can make changes and use alternate ingredients for a delicious recipe that fits your diet or food allergies.
- Shaved Steak - use ground beef instead of steak: or instead of beef, used thinly sliced chicken or ground turkey
- Pasta- use gluten-free pasta or spaghetti squash for a keto version instead (liquid amounts will need to be adjusted for this)
- Cheese - if you cannot find Cheese Whiz (which I did) or Easy Cheese, you can use American cheese or Velvetta - all will melt easily.
- Vegetarian - do not use beef or any protein for a vegetarian take - add in the optional mushrooms to make it more hearty.
- Worcestershire Sauce - pick an alternate ingredient that is also salty with umami flavors.
So if you enjoy a low-carb, gluten-free, or vegetarian diet you can also enjoy this delicious homemade Philly cheesesteak pasta skillet. With the above substitutions, this recipe can easily be altered to fit the dietary needs of your household. No matter how you make it, enjoy every yummy bite.
Variations
This recipe hits so many tasting notes. It is salty, creamy, rich, savory, & a little bit sweet. If you crave a bit more or like things spicy, try one of this fun and equally yummy variations. All these Philly cheesesteak variations are home runs!
- Spicy - add jalapeno or other spicy peppers along with the bell peppers
- Vegetable packed - add sliced mushrooms and/or squash too
- Low-Sodium - use low-sodium beef broth and leave out the easy cheese
- Italian - make it a pizza steak by adding diced tomatoes & dried basil with the vegetables or stir in a bit of pizza sauce instead of the Easy Cheese
Equipment
This is an easy one-pan recipe so you will need a big skillet. It will need to also be oven-safe so you can broil the final cheese layer. I used a large 12" cast iron skillet and that is what I recommend for this recipe. If you do not have one, you are missing out. They are inexpensive, easy to wipe down, & they can last for decades if not generations.
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Storing & Reheating
This recipe stores very well in the refrigerator. Place any leftovers in an air-tight container to enjoy later. Cheesesteak pasta will be good for 3 days in the refrigerator.
These ingredients don't stand up well to freezing. Due to the 3 kinds of cheese and pasta, I don't recommend freezing this recipe.
To reheat, warm in the microwave for 1 minute per serving. Or reheat several servings at onces in a hot skillet on the stovetop for 3-5 minutes.
What to Serve with this Cheesesteak Casserole
This Philadelphia cheesesteak pasta recipe is a complete meal on its own. It has pasta, steak, vegetables, and more for a hearty supper. If you wish to have something to serve alongside this amazing dish, here are some favorites of mine that all go well with this one-pan skillet pasta dinner.
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Equipment
- 12" deep cast-iron skillet or large dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Trader Joe's Shaved Beef Steak or thinly-sliced ribeye steak
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup bell pepper seeded, quartered & thinly sliced
- 1 small onion quartered & thinly sliced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- ½ pound rotini pasta ** see the substitution section above for gluten-free & low-carb options
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened @ room temperature
- 4 ounces Cheez Whiz or ½ can Easy Cheese Optional BUT YUM!
- 4-8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- If you want smaller pieces of meat in your skillet dinner, dice up the shaved steak. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large cast-iron pan, or another oven-safe skillet. Over medium heat, add the shaved beef, and season with black pepper & garlic powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes, until the beef, is cooked through.
- Add the Worcestershire sauce and stir to coat. Remove beef from the pan and set it aside. Do not clean the pan, leave the meat juices.
- Add butter to the skillet. Scrape up the bits from cooking the meat. Once melted add the peppers and onions. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes, just until they are starting to soften.
- Add broth and water to the pan. Turn up the heat to bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and stir to combine. Turn the heat down to medium. You want the vegetables and pasta to simmer in the liquid. After about 12-15 minutes the pasta should be al dente and most of the liquid will be absorbed.
- Turn the heat to low. Add the shaved beef back into the skillet and stir. Next, add the softened cream cheese & easy cheese/cheez whiz. Stir to combine.
- Top with a layer of the sliced provolone and turn off the stove. Set the oven for a low broil. Using oven mitts, place the pan in the oven to broil and melt the cheese until bubbly - about 1 minute. This will melt fast so stay and watch it.Carefully remove the skillet from the broiler, the pan will be very hot!
- Let the skillet sit for a few minutes to set and the cheese cools so it doesn't burn your mouth. Serve and enjoy!
Izzie says
The cheese whiz is a must for it to be really cheese. We did 8 slices of provolone because we love cheese. The kids loved this.
Angela says
So glad you enjoyed this and extra cheesy is how I roll sometimes too.
Gen says
This is so. good. I am a huge Trader Joe’s fan so I will definitely be adding this beef to my list the next time we want a decadent, cheesy pasta!
Shelby says
This literally has all the things I love in it haha you took a family favorite sandwich and made it into a full family meal- amazing!
Jenn says
This was REALLY good! I loved all the flavors and it was super cheesy - just the way we like it!
Glenda says
This is just the kind of hearty, quick-fix supper that stays at the front of my recipe box. It's delicious! Thanks so much for sharing!
Angela says
Thanks for the compliment!
Emily says
You had me at "philly cheesesteak" because it's my favorite. This combo was easy and it turned out wonderful!