philly cheesesteaks with sweet peppers and homemade provolone sauce
Sometimes I miss the ceremony of watching after-school shows.
I would come home from an intense day of studies at school, pull off my heavy backpack, head straight to the kitchen for a snack, and nestle in front of the TV, waiting to be memorized by tales of teen awkwardness and new morals.
Some of my favorites ’80s and ’90s’ TV shows: Boy Meets Girl, Where In the World is Carmen San Diego?, Full House (obvi), Salute Your Shorts, California Dreams, Hey Dude, and Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Let’s be real, Will Smith was a cutie back in the day. I love that the writers portrayed him as a thug from Philly up to no good. Um, those neon high-tops and t-shirts are real hard core gangsta. If you ask me, it’s Carlton you need to be wary of. If I saw someone doing the “Carlton” dance in the middle of Rodeo Drive, I would hand him a straight jacket. Just saying.
Clearly I didn’t realize this at the time, but maybe that’s why I lacked friends in grade school. Maybe doing the “Carlton” dance had people questioning my sanity? Okay, that and my impersonation of ET with a side of Weekend at Bernie’s dance. How I didn’t eat lunch in the bathroom growing up, I haven’t a a clue.
But looking back at the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, I don’t ever remember Geoffrey fixing Will a Philly cheesesteak sandwich on the show. If he did, I don’t recall. You would think a nice butler would make a kid living far away from home a traditional sandwich from Philly. It just makes sense. Well, in honor of Fresh Prince of Bel Air and after-school snacks, I thought making a homemade version of this classic sandwich seemed fitting.
Besides the thinly sliced juicy steak, I like the addition of the homemade provolone sauce and sweet peppers on top. The peppers give the cheesesteak a little neon flare. Definitely Fresh Prince of Bel Air approved.

Philly Cheesesteaks with Sweet Peppers and Homemade Provolone Sauce
Ingredients:
for the philly cheesesteaks:
1 pound beef ribeye
salt and pepper to taste
2 pretzel rolls
1 small yellow onion, sliced
1 small green pepper, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup small mini peppers, sliced into rounds
for the provolone sauce:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1 cup provolone, shredded
salt and pepper
Directions:
for the philly cheesesteaks:
Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Salt and pepper both sides of the steak. Place steak on grill and cook the first side about 5 to 7 minutes. Flip, and continue cooking for another 4 minutes or until cooked to desired temperature. Let the steak rest before slicing thinly.
In medium skillet preheated to medium-high heat, add olive oil, green pepper, onions, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about 7 to 8 minutes or until the veggies have softened. Set aside.
to serve: take a pretzel bun and place half of the steak slices into the bun. top with green/onion mixture and provolone sauce. Garnish with sweet pepper rounds!
for the provolone sauce:
In a small saucepan preheated to medium heat, add the butter. Let it melt and then whisk in flour. Keep whisking for a minute until you cook out all of that raw flour taste. Gradually add the milk. Stir often so the milk doesn't clump. After about five minutes the sauce should thicken and then you add the provolone. Stir and add pinch of salt and pepper.
Like whoa… for real that look amazin!!
Thank you, my dear!
Open wide!!!
BWAHAHA! Coming right up!
Full house all the way! I used to loving watching (sill do!) that after school. Full house and gilmore girls! LOL!
The sandwiches are epic! Love them!
Thanks, Tieghan! Full House all the way!
All I want now is a cheesesteak! Total perfection!
Mwah! Thanks, Laurie!
I totally have the Hey Dude song in my head right now. #noregrets.
PS. My husband is going to propose all over again when I make this amazing sammie. Homemade provolone sauce? Girl, you crazy and I love it.
That song is soooo catchy! And yes, let me know if he likes the sammie!!
This looks heavenly!
Thanks, Carrian!
This looks so good! I love the colors of the peppers in this!
Thank you, Amy!
Now all I want for breakfast is a cheesesteak. I love that provolone sauce! It’s finger-licking good! This is a sandwich worthy of being messy!
Thanks, Julie! The provolone sauce totally makes it a breakfast worthy sammie.
Can I put that provolone sauce on EVERYTHING??!?!?
Yes, and yes. Thanks, Bridget!
Ahh! I almost forgot about Salute Your Shorts and Hey Dude! That was definitely Nickelodeon’s prime. Also, I may have both Boy Meets World and Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire currently hanging out on my DVR. Apparently I still get a kick out of awkward teenage sitcoms.
I loooooove Philly Cheesesteaks, and that provolone sauce?? I’d just eat that with a spoon.
I so need to DVR those shows! We need to establish an after-work gathering and watch these oldies while we devour these sammies:)
Ohh you just went there with this provolone sauce!
I did! I did!
I was pretty well convinced I could beat ANYONE and EVERYONE at Carmen San Diego. I was a champ and totally determined to make it on that show one day… and to this day I’m a little bitter about that.
Can I console myself with one of these?
Um, you would have crushed that show! Carmen,who? Totes found her biotches!
This is one mean cheesesteak! Swooning over the provolone cheese sauce!!
Thanks, Kelli! 🙂
Philly cheesesteaks are where it’s at! I only make them a few times a year, but it’s a major treat every time. Your provolone sauce has my mouth watering!
Heck yes! Philly cheesesteak for life, my nizzle!
Suuuuuuch gorgeous photos. I’ll come bake bread with you if I can hang that photo of the peppers on my kitchen wall. 🙂
Mwah! Thanks, Rachel! Get your tookus to Denver and let’s dewwww this!
That first pic is just making me so unbearably hungry.
I’m sorry, but not sorry:) Thanks, Kathryn!
Get outta town! This is all I’ve been craving lately, OMG. A must, must make for soon. Love this recipe and your photos are mouthwatering, Lauren! Great job!
Georgia, you will love it!! The provolone sauce really kicks it up a notch!
These look so good! I’m a sucker for a good cheesesteak.
Me too! Who could say no to cheese and steak? Crazy people.
Ok, first off these sandwiches look amazing and second I watched and LOVED every single one of those shows. P.S. Are you as excited about Girl Meets World as I am?! Although, it will probably make me feel old.
So excited!!! Yes, it makes me feel a little old, but whatevs. We had the best shows growing up!
So we were like after school tv show twins. By the way. California Dreams?! Carmen San Diego?! Boy Meets Girl?! Those were my jams. In tv form.
Back then I ate snack packs of oreos with then…but I’d be pretty content with this sandwich also.
Snack pack of oreos and California Dreams? We totally would have been friendship bracelet besties back in the day!
You are KILLING me with that provolone sauce! LOVE.
I miss the simple days of after school TV. Full House for life. And this sauce…definitely FOR LIFE.
Pretty much love all your favorite after school shows..re-runs are the best thing ever invented!
I order steak and cheese all.the.time. Now I want this one, i want to spoon-feed myself the sauce!
I’m seriously drooling!!
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