Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteak Recipe (Instant Pot too) (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep Philly cheesesteak moist? ›

A great way to maintain soft bread, hot steak and melty cheese is to wrap your sandwiches. Use a layer of greaseproof or parchment paper, then a layer of foil and wrap 'em up tight.

Philly Cheesesteak is a sandwich made with super thinly sliced ribeye steak, caramelized onion, and provolone cheese. That simple combination is the original classic as made popular on the East Coast.

Ribeye is the traditional cut of beef used to make Philly cheesesteaks. However, since this is a crockpot recipe, you'll want to choose a cut of beef that cooks well low and slow. I recommend boneless chuck roast which also can be labeled as a shoulder roast, chuck eye roast, or arm chuck roast.

If you are interested primarily in slow cooking, you should buy a dedicated slow cooker. They're more reliable with a range of slow-cooker recipes than an Instant Pot. We found Instant Pot multicookers specifically could not successfully slow-cook dense, high-volume recipes such as beef stew or pot roast.

Another tip, taken from an Instant Pot Facebook group, is to open the valve all the way on your Instant Pot lid when slow cooking. This allows some moisture and steam to release and keeps the Instant Pot from overcooking your slow cooker recipes.

Shredded Ribeye Steak for the Best Philly Cheesesteaks

The first secret to the perfect philly is the meat. You need very thinly cut ribeye steak. I'm so blessed to have a stand-alone butcher shop in the tiny town that I live in, so I have my butcher cut my ribeye in thin slices with his meat slicer.

Mix salt, pepper, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, marjoram, and basil together in a small bowl. Place steak in a large bowl; sprinkle seasoning mixture over top and stir to coat.

Cheese - Use either mild provolone cheese, white American cheese, or melted Cheez Whiz for a classic Philly Cheesesteak flavor. Rolls - Use sliced hoagie rolls for these luxurious sandwiches. Butter - Salted butter is best to make garlic butter, as it will enhance the flavor.

If you are looking for an authentic Philadelphia experience, you should try using Whiz Cheese Sauce. This sauce is made by mixing shredded cheese with mayonnaise, mustard and other ingredients. You can also use Cheez Whiz as an alternative if you do not like the taste of mayonnaise.

Crafted with premium steak, grilled onions, American cheese, mushrooms, bell peppers, provolone cheese, light mayo on our fresh-baked bread.

What's the difference between a cheesesteak and a Philly cheesesteak? ›

Other hallmarks of a true Philly cheesesteak include an Amoroso's roll and sliced or shaved ribeye. A steak and cheese sandwich, then, can be defined by how it differs from a Philly cheesesteak. If it uses a different type of cheese, steak, or roll, it's a steak and cheese sandwich.

You want a cut that isn't too lean—the fat is necessary for juiciness and flavor carry-through. Obviously, ribeye steak is the best, but it can be a little pricey for a few sandwiches. Chuck could work for a budget approach, but you might get it cut just a little thinner than the ribeye.

Knife Shredding: For a more uniform shred, use a sharp knife to slice the steak thinly against the grain, then chop the slices into smaller, shredded pieces. This technique is great for achieving evenly shredded steak.

Cut the beef top round steaks in half and then into 1/8″ thick strips. To make this easier, place the beef in the freezer about 30 minutes before cutting to firm it up.

Instant Pot Slow Cook Temperatures Explained

Low on the Instant Pot Slow Cooker Function is like the keep warm on a traditional slow cooker. The low setting reaches about 170 degrees F. Normal on the Instant Pot Slow Cooker Function is equivalent to low heat on a traditional slow cooker. Normal reaches 200 degrees F.

It shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes to heat up.

To override this, you can take the lid off your pressure cooker, press saute, and saute for 2-4 minutes. Hit cancel, and then reset the cooking time using the slow cook function.

You can leave your Instant Pot unattended when using it to slow-cook food such as chicken bone broth.

In order for pressure to build in the Instant Pot — a necessary requirement for pressure cooking — the steam release knob must be turned to the sealed position. This traps the steam pressure in the cooker, which builds over time, eventually pressure cooking the ingredients.