Chicken Philly Cheesesteak

A Chicken Cheese Steak is made with thinly sliced pieces of seasoned chicken breasts, instead of beef. Chicken is much quicker and easier to cook than sliced beef pieces. A cheesesteak sandwich can be topped with mushrooms, bell peppers, or pizza sauce and mozzarella for a Pizza Steak sandwich.

To make a Chicken Philly Sandwich you’ll want to make ahead my Copycat Subway Bread Recipe first. If you are short on time simply use store-bought Amoroso or hoagie rolls to substitute for the long footlongs.

• Meat- thinly sliced chicken breasts or chicken thighs can be thinly sliced and fried for this Chicken Philly recipe.
• Bread- you want to use a long bread roll similar to a footlong or hoagie roll.
• Cheese- a chicken cheesesteak can be made with slices of white American cheese, Provolone, or Monterey Jack Cheese. You want a good melting cheese since the sub will be toasted.
• Add-ins: I added sauteed onions and peppers with the addition of lettuce and tomatoes after the sandwiches have toasted.
• Sauces: a simple dressing like mayonnaise is great. However, we added Chipotle Southwest Sauce as a flavored hot sauce. Ketchup is a great condiment to add to Philly cheesesteaks too!

1. Thinly slice the chicken breasts and toss in the spices and dressings. Marinate for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, slice the bell peppers and onions and set them aside. 
3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat with 2 Tablespoons of oil. Add the peppers and onions and sear for 30-60 seconds over high to get good charr. Set aside.
4. In the same skillet add 3-4 Tablespoons of oil and add the chicken in with its marinade to the hot skillet. Sautee over high until browned and a meat thermometer reads 165°F. 
5. Slice each roll length-wise. Place halved provolone slices on the top half of the bread, then top with the fried chicken pieces and sauteed peppers and onions. 
6. Broil open-faced sandwiches over high on the bottom rack of the oven for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
7. Remove from the oven and top with lettuce and tomatoes. Drizzle sandwiches with mayo and Southwest Chipotle sauce. 
8. Serve!

The secret to a good Philly Cheesesteak is thinly sliced meat. You get more for the buck and nobody wants to chew on thick chunks of meat. An easy way to get thinly sliced chicken at home is to flash freeze your meat until it’s hard enough to slice with a sharp knife or mandoline (this takes about 30-40 minutes depending on the thickness.)

I like to use a mandoline to get meat shavings which makes it easier than using a knife. However, if you just sharpened your knife or recently bought a new knife set, then you can easily slice your chicken breasts into thin slices with a sharp blade. Use a boning knife for the best results.

• Make a cheesesteak sandwich by using beef.
• Sautee Mushrooms to make a Mushroom Cheesesteak.
• Top with seared sweet bell peppers, banana peppers, or hot peppers to make a Pepper Cheesesteak.
• Make a Pizza Steak by using Marinara Sauce and Mozzarella Cheese.
• Make a Cheesesteak Hoagie with Cheez Whiz and caramelized onions like our Cheddar Philly Cheesesteak

To toast a footlong sandwich you’ll want to use an oven. Even subway uses a small commercial oven to toast their subs. 

• Set your oven to a high broil.
• Line a large baking sheet with silicone mats or parchment paper.
• Top your bread with cheese then seasoned and fried chicken pieces. Add in the sauteed peppers and onions.
• Place sandwiches onto the lined baking sheets and place them onto the bottom rack of the oven. Then, broil for 1 minute and 30 seconds or until cheese melts. 
• Remove from the oven and top with your favorite veggies and sauces. 

The marinated chicken pieces can be placed into a slow cooker and be cooked low and slow for hours! This saves you the oil splatters and can be a great make-ahead option for dinner. 

How to make slow-cooker chicken cheesesteaks:

1. Season your chicken breasts with spices and salad dressings. 
2. Place into a crockpot and set over low for 5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
3. Shredd with a fork and proceed with the recipe. 

Cook’s Tip: thinly slice the chicken breasts before cooking in the crockpot to avoid shredding later and getting the best of flavor. In the meantime prep, all the veggies to easily assemble the sandwiches once the chicken cooks. 

This Chicken Philly Sandwich Recipe is made with seasoned herb and cheese bread that has tons of savory flavors! Some grilled onions and peppers are sufficient, however, add-ins like a variety of veggies or sauces can be many. Here are some tasty ways to load your chicken sandwich;

• lettuce and tomatoes 
• banana peppers 
• olives
• dill pickles
• sauteed mushrooms
• cucumbers 
• salt and pepper 
• Buffalo sauce
• bacon slices
• olive oil and vinegar
• ranch dressing