Philly Chili Cheesesteak Recipe: How to Make Authentic Philly Chili Cheesesteak

Philly cheesesteaks are famous around the world and are practically synonymous with the city of Philadelphia. For a Southwestern twist, try this low-carb Philly Chili Cheesesteak. It pairs sautéed steak and fire-roasted green chiles with the original low-carb “Soul Bread” for a flavorful, lower-carb take on the classic.

We know purists will notice a few omissions: there’s no Amoroso roll and no Cheez Whiz. Those traditional elements usually mean more carbs than we want for this recipe. We still respect the Philly cheesesteak’s role as a civic symbol and cultural obsession in Philadelphia, but this version keeps things tasty and low-carb.

On visits to the City of Brotherly Love we sampled sandwiches at both Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. Rather than decide which is best, we focused on building a Southwestern-inspired, low-carb sandwich that’s quick to make and satisfying.

Ingredients and Preparation

Start with thinly sliced top round steak; ribeye is another good option if you prefer a richer flavor. The steak cooks quickly in a little butter, so avoid overcooking. After cooking, slice the meat lengthwise into strips so you can pile it high on the sandwich.

Sauté white onion slices in butter until softened; a sweet onion can be substituted. We like a pronounced onion flavor, so we usually cook them just a few minutes, but you can cook them longer to caramelize them for deeper sweetness. For green chiles, fire-roasted canned whole chiles are convenient and full of flavor—either chop them and cook with the onions or slice one down the center and lay it whole over the sandwich to cover it. They’re already roasted, so no extra cooking is required.

Soul Bread – A Perfect Sandwich

This is a low-carb sandwich because we use Soul Bread, which has about one carb per slice. We like spreading a thin layer of horseradish sauce on the inside of both bread slices for added bite—horseradish pairs beautifully with cooked beef. (We’ll post the horseradish sauce recipe soon.)

Top the meat and onions with cheddar (or provolone or Monterey Jack if you prefer), then butter the outside of the bread and grill the sandwich in a panini press or on a hot griddle until golden and the cheese melts. The sandwich comes together quickly and delivers on flavor while keeping carbs low. It’s not the traditional Philly in every detail, but it’s a tasty Southwestern original.

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Philly Chili Cheesesteak – The Finishing Touch

A cold low-carb beer is an ideal pairing for this sandwich. If you want extra texture and tang, serve it with a sliced Kosher dill pickle on the side. Enjoy a little Southwest flavor tonight with our Philly Chili Cheesesteak!

Philly Chili Cheesesteak

Recipe by Joanie and Chris

5.0 from 25 votes

Try sautéed steak and green chiles stuffed between slices of the original low-carb “Soul Bread.” Our Philly Chili Cheesesteak is delicious!

Course: Meat, Snack Meals
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy

Servings

1

Prep time

15 minutes

Cooking time

15 minutes

Calories

315.9 kcal

Net Carbs

4.2 g

Total time

30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 ounces thinly sliced round steak
• 1/4 medium white onion, sliced
• 1 whole fire-roasted green chili
• 2 slices cheddar cheese
• 2 slices Soul Bread
• 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce
• Sea salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Sauté the white onions in butter until softened, about 8 minutes.
2. Cut the steak into strips and add to the sauté pan; cook about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Spread horseradish sauce on the inside of two slices of Soul Bread. Stack the cooked steak and onions on the bottom slice, then add cheese slices.
4. Add the sliced green chili on top. Place the top slice of bread on the sandwich, butter the outside, and press in a panini press or on a hot grill for about 3 minutes until golden and the cheese is melted.
5. Serve with a Kosher dill pickle on the side.

Chef’s Notes

• Season the steak with garlic powder or Creole seasoning for extra flavor.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 315.9 kcal
• Fat: 17.1 g
• Saturated Fat: 8.4 g
• Cholesterol: 105.4 mg
• Sodium: 354.4 mg
• Potassium: 502.4 mg
• Carbohydrates: 5.2 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Sugar: 2.5 g
• Protein: 34.1 g

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