Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you’ll feel like you’re in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches are the answer to all your Philly Cheese Steak dreams. We’ve made this recipe three times in the last two weeks and I think I’ve enjoyed so many I’ve already matched my 2016 beef consumption in just that time.

The beef is super tender, the liquid left behind is magic (I actually froze what liquid I didn’t add to a little bowl for dunking – I know like a cross between a french dip and a Philly cheesesteak but the liquid was SO good). The bell peppers, onions and mushrooms add a delicious flavor to the beef, the liquid and the sandwich. 

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

I’m by no means a purist when it comes to cheese steaks, I will take them any way I can get them I love them so much, so these Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches were right up my ally. We made them for the superbowl party we had and they were such a hit we just haven’t stopped.

I will say the most authentic thing about these Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that people from Philadelphia won’t be upset with me for is the Cheez Whiz that I add to them. It melts and acts like a delicious sandwich glue that you’re going to love. 

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

The blog has been slow cooker obsessed these last few weeks. I think it has to do with the terrible weather we’ve been having, but seeing a slow cooker slowly bubbling away on the counter just makes me so happy these days.

Looking for more Cheese Steak recipes? Look no further!

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

Some quick tips on these Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches:

  • I brown the beef for a good five minutes on each side before putting it in the slow cooker. I mean look at that crust in the sandwich photos!
  • I add the veggies in the last hour, if you add them into the pot in the beginning they’ll melt into nothing. If you forget/arent home in time you can also sauté them quickly with canola oil, kosher salt and pepper on medium high heat, then just add them on top or even stir them into the slow cooker  just before serving to get some of the cooking liquid on them.
  • This isn’t a sandwich you have to dip to enjoy, and I would say about 50/50 were pro-dip vs no-dip, but the liquid left behind is amazing, don’t toss it.
  • Consider Cheez Whiz, but if you’re anti-processed cheese I highly suggest Provolone, thats what my husband puts on his and it is also awesome. To give his cheese a better melt I dunk the provolone slices in the liquid with some tongs for a few seconds before putting them onto his sandwich.
  • Consider buttering very lightly and then toasting your hoagie rolls. It takes the bread to another dimension.
  • Enjoy and please come back and tell me your thoughts! 

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

Tools Used in the making of these Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches:
Slow Cooker: Love this slow cooker and how programmable it is, it has been a workhorse for me… until…
My New Slow Cooker: This recipe was made in this slow cooker. For larger roasts I also brown the meat in the insert and not lose a bunch of the flavor by transferring the meat and leaving the browned bits behind. If you’re thinking of a new slow cooker, consider it if your budget is open.
Worcestershire Sauce: I have been using this brand most of my life and when my husband came home with the store brand one day and I figured “eh no biggie” I could immediately taste the difference. Stick with the original.
Cheez Whiz: I know what you are thinking, Cheez Whiz? YES, but I really only use Cheez Whiz when it comes to cheese steaks. Sometimes you have to go with the authentic ingredient and push the thought of “processed cheese product” out of your mind. Alternately feel free to use provolone which is also delicious.
Strand Brewing Company Beer: Love their beer, if you are in California you can even buy it at Costco. No sponsorship here but just lots of delicious beer.

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!
4.74 from 53 votes
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Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you’ll feel like you’re in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!
Course Sandwich
Cuisine American
Keyword Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 400 kcal
Author Sabrina Snyder

Ingredients

  • 4-5 pounds chuck roast
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) condensed French onion soup
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 cup beer we like Strand Brewing Company - any dark beer will work though
  • 1 yellow onion sliced into 1/4" slices
  • 8 ounces crimini mushrooms sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper sliced into 1/4" slices
  • 10 hoagie rolls
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • Cheez Whiz or Provolone Cheese

Instructions

  1. Season the chuck roast with the Kosher salt and pepper (if you are sensitive to sodium, adjust to your taste or you can even leave the salt out altogether since you’re adding broth and soup).
  2. Heat your pan (or if you can brown in your slow cooker, do it in that insert) to medium high.

  3. Add the canola oil and when it ripples and is hot add in the roast and brown, deeply, for 4-5 minutes on each side.

  4. In your slow cooker add the beef, the beef broth, the french onion soup, Worcestershire sauce, and the beer. Enjoy drinking the second half of that beer!
  5. Cook on low for 8 hours.

  6. Add in the onion, mushrooms, and bell pepper in the last hour of cooking.
  7. To serve, toast your hoagie rolls with a bit of butter spread onto the cut sides.
  8. With a very sharp knife cut your beef against the grain.
  9. Add you cheese of choice, some of the meat and top with the cooked veggies.
  10. I like to have a bit of the liquid (with the fat skimmed off on the side,) but it is totally optional.

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
Amount Per Serving
Calories 400 Calories from Fat 252
% Daily Value*
Fat 28g43%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Cholesterol 137mg46%
Sodium 526mg23%
Potassium 628mg18%
Protein 35g70%
Vitamin A 165IU3%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 3.9mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!
Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches that are so tender and flavorful you'll feel like you're in Philly. Perfect for a crowd!

About the Author: Sabrina Snyder

Sabrina is a professionally trained Private Chef of over 10 years with ServSafe Manager certification in food safety. She creates all the recipes here on Dinner, then Dessert, fueled in no small part by her love for bacon.

Dinner, then Dessert, Inc. owns the copyright on all images and text and does not allow for its original recipes and pictures to be reproduced anywhere other than at this site unless authorization is given. If you enjoyed the recipe and would like to publish it on your own site, please re-write it in your own words, and link back to my site and recipe page. Read my disclosure and copyright policy. This post may contain affiliate links.

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Comments

  1. I made these last night and they turned out Amazing. I followed the directions to a tee. Such an easy recipe, but yet great flavor. I used a Stone IPA, good choice I believe. I also used toasted Artesano sausage rolls. Perfect match. I did take the topping for each sandwich topped with provolone and heated it up the skillet to melt the cheese. Family loved them. Will definitely make a them again.

  2. Hello there, I am from New Zealand and we can’t get cans of french onion soup here. What could I use as an alternative? I would love to try this recipe, it looks & sounds so good!

  3. This looks like my kind of recipe – EASY!!! But I have some questions.
    I plan to serve this at our April Camping Club Pot Luck, there will be about 20 people to feed. I have cooked two chuck roasts (6-8 lbs) in my 9×13 crockpot before (Mississippi Pot Roast) to serve this group of seniors. My question is should I just double the broth and French Onion Soup (hope it fits)? Is there any other adjustments, I should make?
    Also, this is a Church group – can I use broth instead of the beer?

    1. You can definitely use broth instead of beer, no problem. As long as you’re not overcrowding the slow cooker, you’ll be fine. Enjoy!

    1. I’ve not tried it with that kind before but I think I saw another commenter say they used it and it worked. Good luck!

  4. We made this for dinner tonight and it was AMAZING! It was my first time making Philly cheese steaks and this was SO easy and SO delicious! Thank you so much for this great recipe. We write all our favorite recipes in a small journal/notebook, and whenever we try a new recipe, we always talk about if it’s “book-worthy.” Well, this one is definitely book-worthy and will be in regular rotation at our house!

  5. Hey, sounds great! I’m just wondering what you’d replace condensed French onion soup with – I couldn’t find it. Would the Lipton onion soup mix work, somehow?

  6. My sister has made this before for me and it was delicious so I am making it today at my house.

    Can you leave it on low for 10 hours (work schedule is getting in the way) ?

    1. I would suggest getting a slow cooker that automatically turns to a “warm” setting once the cook time is complete. You don’t want to risk drying out the meat from overcooking it. Enjoy!

  7. I made this tonight, except I used venison roast instead of beef and followed the directions exactly and added a tad of Dijon mustard just because. This was wonderful. Used the crockpot and cooked on high for 4 hours. Will make again! Yum.

  8. Our family loves cheesesteaks and we love potroast. Was beyond skeptical about this working, but with the great reviews and the possibility of easily creating great cheesesteaks at home, we went for it. Sadly, these taste nothing like a Philly Cheesesteak. The beef came out amazing…but it tastes like a french dip sandwich/pot roast tryng to pose as a cheesesteak. For us it was disappointing but shouldn’t have been. Reading the recipe should have told us exactly how this would taste and come out. If you are a true cheesesteak lover…this is 0 out of 5. 2 stars because the beef comes out perfect if you want to make French Onion Dip sandwiches. We didnt waste any…but these only look like philly cheesesteaks. Thanks to the author for posting. Happy for her that most people clearly arent discerning cheesesteak eaters 🙂

    1. It’s definitely as authentic as my Philly cheesesteak recipes or even better a Pat’s Philly cheesesteak 🙂 But I’m glad that you were able to enjoy 🙂

  9. I normally dont comment on these, but that looks delicious and cheese whiz is a must for an authentic philly…normally people use ribeye but I think this would be just fine, gonna make it for the family tonight, thanks

  10. Hello Sabrina,

    I would love to make this but I can only get eye of the round beef. Any tips on using it instead of chuck roast ?

    Making this for company tomorrow, so I would really appreciate if you could get back to me quickly.

    Thanks !

    1. I would substitute instead of omitting to keep the liquid ratio. I suggest beef broth, coke, or even apple cider, depending if you want to play with the flavors a bit.

  11. This recipe was DELICIOUS ?! My family loved it! We used Modelo Negra* beer & provolone cheese. Great recipe. Have already sent to several friends.

  12. Can you slice the roast prior to placing it in the crock pot? I am having a large birthday party, and would like to do the minimal amount of work during the actual party.

    1. You won’t want to slice it up before cooking it, sorry. After it’s finished you can leave it in the slow cooker and just shred it for your guests.

  13. Excellent. I see why you like eating it every day. It’s the best . Thank you for such a great recipe.

  14. Whether this is the ‘original’ recipe or not, it’s fantastic! Very flavorful, and it was enjoyed by all. We used Provolone, since it’s more ‘original’ than Cheese Whiz, since Cheese Whiz was not invented until around 1952. We loved the green peppers in it, since they add a lot of flavor. I’ll try using red bell peppers next time, or a combo of both. I used my homemade garlic butter to spread on the toasted hoagie buns. I’m definitely keeping this recipe in my arsenal of “Terrific Stuff”. Thanks 🙂

  15. My husband is going to love, love, love this recipe! I totally agree with you regarding the “Cheez Whiz”…need to keep this authentic. Thank you, l can feel the love in your recipes and cooking style.

  16. Hi! I used to be a vegetarian for years, so meat is still kind of fun for me to try in different recipes. So as not to sound to dumb, but needing to know- does it say Chuck roast right o the package? I’ve never cooked one! And is that the only type of meat that should be used? Thanks bunches!

  17. Hi Sabrina, is it ok to brown the meat the night before and then place it in the fridge? Mornings are a challenge, would love to simply turn my crockpot on in the morning. Thanks!

    1. Unfortunately you can’t. You never want to brown or partially cook beef to refrigerate and finish cooking later because any bacteria present wouldn’t have been destroyed. Sorry.

    2. My only complaint is that there was not much left over because it was so darn good! I opted for provolone although I’m sure the Cheez whiz would be tasty as well. We toasted the hoagie rolls before loading them up. Oh so good!

  18. Made this today for dinner with my in-laws and parents and it turned out really well…had a lot of fat to cut off my roast and I ended up shredding the beef so it was easier to bite into the sandwich! Everyone really liked it, even my husband who can be picky. I fried the veggies to have on the side and so my vegetarian mother in-law could have a sandwich!

  19. thank you so much for adding the non processed cheese option, i was going to have to move on until i saw the delicious provolone option. it’s not that i don’t eat anything processed, but cheez whiz ain’t one of them! can’t wait to make these!

    1. I haven’t tested it yet so I’m not comfortable giving a recommendation. I’m sure you could find a recipe online with similar ingredients and follow that as a guideline.

  20. It’s in the crockpot now! Smells amazing – looking at the other comments- I could come out the hero here – I’ll let you know (thanks for sharing)

  21. Made the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich recipe. Used provolone and Guinness. Put veggies and mushrooms in for last hour, next time (and there will be a next time!) will be for last 45 min to try and leave just a bit of crisp in the vegetables. Or I’ll likely saute instead. Served with oven roasted quartered medium sized potatoes boiled in rosemary water before roasting. Combination was outstanding. Next day thickened a portion of juice with mayo for a sauce used on more reheated sandwiches. Wow.

  22. I made it without green peppers as I’m just not a fan; followed all your directions decided to try the 5 hrs. On hi turned out yummy definitely liked the chz wiz haven’t had that in years! Boyfriend was pleased with the end results having to smell it all day long & wait until I brought it to work for his dinner break.

    1. You’ll want to make sure to use a gluten free beef broth and condensed french onion soup but I believe everything else on the ingredient list is gluten free. Hope this helps!

  23. I made the recipe as stated. The taste was just ok. I expected a little different flavot but instead it just tasted like pot roast in a sandwich but not philly cheesesteaks. I won’t try this again but the leftovers tasted better on top of rice instead of on bread. Thanks for the recipe anyway.

  24. I was hosting 30 Philly people during SB52. I wanted to do cheesesteaks, but didn’t want to bother cooking during the event. I used this recipe proportionately for 8lbs of chuck in the crock pot. I seared all six sides on a griddle for both pieces for total of 5 mins for each piece of meat (~4lbs each). Before the flip of the coin (after 8 hours of cooking) I pulled/cut the fat off the meat. The beef pulled like pulled pork. At halftime, everyone dug in. I’ve had it for leftovers the last few days and would absolutely do again. 

    Although my wife was apprehensive utilizing a new recipe for a Super Bowl party, we crushed it thanks to you. 

    It may not be a perfect replication of a SE Philly cheesesteak, you will crush a Philly party with this recipe. Believe me, I have eaten a few cheesesteaks!

    One exception, we cooked the mushrooms, onions and peppers separately in a pan and served on the side due to picky customers. It worked out well bc you can pan fry vs sweat cook the veggies. 

    Hot Cheez Whiz on the side will authenticate this sandwich!

    1. So awesome!! Thanks for coming back to let me know how much of a success this was for you…..and congrats on the win!!

  25. Made this on the cheap for a group of 25 hungry Philly fans on Super Bowl Sunday. Used an 8 pound rump roast I lucked into for 3 dollars a pound, and simmered on low in your broth recipe for 10 hours. I then removed 2/3 of the yummy broth to freeze, cut the beef and “pulled” it as pulled pork, and cooked the veggies for an hour in the remaining broth with the meat. For cheese, I used 3 cans of white queso, which I simmered in the broth with the meat and veggies. Simply divine! It was a huge hit and is now called “magic cheese steak”by its fans. I’m going to use the frozen (delicious) broth as a base for a beef barley soup next Sunday. Thank you so much for an amazing recipe!!!

    1. I didn’t drain the liquid because I like the meat to sit in the juices. I just used tongs to get the meat and veggies out to load the hoagie rolls up.

    1. I’ve never tried it before so I’m not comfortable making a recommendation. I’m sure you can find a recipe with similar ingredients and follow that as a guide. Good luck!

  26. So after you slice do you put back in crock pot so people can serve themselves at their leisure? Planning to make for SuperBowl!!

  27. My husband and I made these for group of 10 for the Philadelphia Eagles game yesterday! Since I was raised in Philly, I was looking to make something pretty close to an authentic cheesesteak but in bulk. These were SO easy for a big crowd, and everyone loved them! We cooked them on high for 4 hours, and got 2 x 2.5 pounds of meat that sat on top of each other in our slow cooker (ours is smaller than yours). We rotated the hunks of meat around 2 hours, and then we sliced the meat at 3.5 hours to make sure it cooked evenly. We also cut off some fat around that time too. They turned out so tender and delicious!!!! Thanks so much. Since the Eagles won, we think these are good luck and plan to make them again if they go to the Super Bowl!

  28. Believe it or not, right here in Houston Texas; I could not find a can of french onion soup. So I use some dried onion soup mix, along with the other ingredients. Left my crock pot at my daughter’s house for Friendsgiving. So I just cooked it at 200 in the oven for about 5 hours. I did do the sear before putting it in the oven. I am not a major beef eater, but this was so amazingly good!

    1. That’s crazy you couldn’t find it, but you did a great job substituting! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for coming back to let me know!

  29. It was a little bland for our tasting. We added sautéed garlic cloves to the broth mixture, more black pepper and more salt. Overall it was really good.

    1. When making these recipes, I really try to cater to a broad audience but most dishes are customizable to our individual tastes. While garlic isn’t true to the original cheesesteak, I think it makes a wonderful addition. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

  30. I used a chopper and cut the onion and bell peppers very small before I realized u said 1/4, does it matter as long as I used a whole onion and pepper?

    1. It really doesn’t matter. I like keeping them bigger so they still have some texture in them after cooking but you’ll still get the flavor either way. No worries! I hope you enjoyed it!

  31. Very disappointing. It smells great while cooking but the meat was very bland. I even added more Worcestershire sauce and it didn’t help. Didn’t work for me.

    1. So sorry you thought it was bland. This recipe is made to satisfy most pallets. Perhaps seasoning the meat more aggressively next time would be more to your liking.

  32. I made this tonight, except used my instant pot pressure cooker. I sliced the beef thinly across the grain, no browning. Added everything but the veggies and cooked on high pressure for 35 minutes . I let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes , added the veggies and cooked on high pressure for 3 more minutes . Then quick released the pressure. So tender and the jus was excellent.
    *also… If anyone has seafood allergies… Soy sauce is a good substitution for worcestershire.

  33. Sounds & looks delicious. One question: What do you mean by 1 inch of onion, and 1 inch of green pepper? If you mean a 1 inch slice (diced), it doesn’t seem like enough for 8 servings. Please clarify, since I’ve never seen such an amount.

    1. Thank you for catching that! The recipe plug in was not imputing that correctly. I edited it but it should read 1 onion and 1 bell pepper.

  34. My husband is allergic to mushrooms. Would adding more bell pepper and onion compromise the recipe?

  35. I made this recipe for my boyfriend’s family today when they needed a lunch break from seeding crops in the field. I added a few extra peppers, mushrooms, onions and a couple extra shakes of Worcestershire sauce. It turned out amazing, I’ll definitely be making this again soon!

  36. Tonight is sandwich night and the beef is in the slow cooker now, I can’t wait! Will let you know how it turned out! My mouth is watering already!

  37. I don’t understand 1 inch pepper and onion cut into 1/4 inch slices. That would only give you 4 of each? Looks very good!

    1. So sorry for the confusion. You want to cut the bell peppers into 1 inch long strips about 1/4″ wide.

      1. Thank you! We don’t drink much. I? was going to look to see if I? could buy one can of beer at the grocery. Then I? remembered it was a Sunday in Indiana!

        1. Oh, that’s right! I always forget about the different state laws when traveling. Glad it’s Monday and you’re free to go!

    1. It would depend on the size and the marbling. If it is too lean you’ll end up with meat that is incredibly dry. Chuck steak with good marbling tends to be a better cut for the slow cooker.

    1. I can’t vouch for a “cream of” soup as I don’t have experience with them, but since there isn’t really a creamy element in this soup I would shy away from it. Perhaps just use beef broth or consomme or if you have a Lipton Dried Onion soup packet add that with beef broth?

  38. I’m a ranchers wife in the middle of Montana. We have a branding every year where I have to feed abt 30 people, that is after a long day of working cattle along side everyone. My question is, can this be made the day before and reheated? Trying to figure out a yummy meal, not my father in laws plain roast beef sandwiches.

    1. Yes! I would hold off on the veggies until you go to warm the next day though. I have to say I’m picturing an amazing meal to be served with some amazing quality beef. This would’ve been a dream gig as a chef.

  39. This looks amazing…trying it now. Was short on time so did high on the crockpot hope its just as tender…but I am confident it will delish. Have you made it on high before?

  40. This looks awesome! I am wondering if we could freeze the left overs? It’s just my self my husband our 10 month old so we could never finish this. I am still trying to figure out the rules of freezing food and what does well and what does not! Thank you!

  41. Making this for supper tonight. Already smells amazing. Such an easy meal to make. Had everything on hand. Cheesesteaks are one of our favs. Can’t wait til it is done. Love your recipes!

  42. Tried your mo jo pulled pork. It was very tender with mild flavor (I left out the red peppers). My husband liked it with bbq sauce added.
    Will now try your Philly steak sandwich.

    I like your recipes because they use on hand ingredients, are simple and quick to put together.
    Keep up the good work.

  43. My goodness. These sandwiches just sound and look AMAZING. I’ve never made a cheesesteak at home before, and I just ADORE that you made this in the slow cooker! Brilliant!