Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (2024)

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Learn how to make delicious Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers. These peppers are all the things you love about a traditional Philly Cheesesteak but made low carb by using peppers as our serving vessel!

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (1)

It’s low carb Monday!

Okay, I know that’s not really a thing, but I’m so gosh darn excited to tell you about my homemade Philly Cheesesteak stuffed peppers! All the things you love about a traditional Philly cheesesteak, minus the bun. And if you’re one of those people that like Philly Cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz, I apologize now, because there’s none to be found in this recipe.

What you will find though is lots of melty, gooey cheese, perfectly seasoned strips of steak and of course, onions, peppers, and all the garlic your heart desires. All of that neatly put together in a [over] stuffed pepper and serve bubbly hot from the oven.

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (2)

Stuffing veggies full of protein is sort of my jam. When I’m on a low carb kick (which let’s be honest is all the time,) I’ll stuff shrimp into portobellos mushrooms, or even Mexican stuffed avocados, and now, these Philly Cheesesteak stuffed peppers.

Philly cheesesteak flavored stuff is some of my favorite things to make. I’ve made Philly cheesesteak pizza before and even turned it into a dip when the Eagles made the Super Bowl in honor of my husband’s favorite team!

What do you need to make cheesesteak stuffed peppers?

  • green bell peppers
  • sirloin or flank steak
  • olive oil
  • mushrooms
  • red onions
  • seasonings
  • garlic
  • mozzarella or provolone cheese

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (3)

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (4)

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Can I use a different color of pepper for these?

Of course! If you prefer the taste of red, orange, or yellow peppers instead, feel free to swap the green ones out for your color of choice!

How do you prepare the peppers for cheesesteak stuffed peppers?

Start by making a vertical cut down the stem of the pepper through to the base. Then take one half of the pepper and carefully use a paring knife to cut a semi-circle around the stem and remove. Use the same paring knife to remove the ribs and seeds, and your pepper is ready to stuff!

How to make the best cheesesteak stuffed peppers:

  1. Roast the peppers for a few minutes ahead of time. I don’t love super soft peppers, so I only give them a few minutes’ head start. However, if you usually prefer your peppers on the softer side, I suggest upping the prebake on the peppers to up to 10 minutes. I found sixminutes was perfect for us!
  2. Sauté your veggies. Cook the mushrooms until they’re sautéed perfectly, season them with garlic, and onion powder. Then remove them to a plate, and cook the onions separately. This ensures that none of the veggies get soggy.
  3. Sear the steak. While the peppers are baking, heat the oil in a pan and sauté the steak, remember, since they’re really small pieces, you’ll only need to cook it for about a minute. Season with onion powder, garlic powder, soy sauce, paprika, red pepper flakes, and cayenne if you’d like along with salt and pepper. Place the meat in the same bowl as the veggies and toss to combine,
  4. Stuff the peppers and bake. All the peppers to cool slightly as well as the steak mixture. Once cooled, stir in the shredded cheese and stuff the peppers. I save some of the cheese for the top and sprinkle it on and then pop it in the oven to bake. That’s it!

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (6)

Why do you bake the peppers after stuffing?

Baking the peppers ahead of time takes away some of that raw flavor. You have a choice of baking them for longer if you prefer softer peppers or cooking them just a tad bit to take away that raw pepper flavor. I usually prefer bright green and somewhat crispy peppers, so I don’t bake them for too long. However, this is entirely up to personal preference!

Can I make the filling in advance?

Absolutely! You can make the filling earlier in the day or even up to a day in advance. That way, all you need to do is bring the filling back to room temperature and just clean and stuff the peppers.

What to serve stuffed peppers with:

I usually keep things pretty simple, just a side salad. Cauliflower rice is also another option. If you aren’t doing a low carb thing, garlic bread on the side would be yummy or even cilantro lime rice as it works surprisingly well here!

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (7)

Yield: 4 servings

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time30 minutes

Learn how to make delicious Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers. These peppers are all the things you love about a traditional Philly Cheesesteak but made low carb by using peppers as our serving vessel!

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (8)

Ingredients

  • 4 green bell peppers, cut in half + seeds/ribs removed
  • 1 pound beef sirloin or flank steak cut into thin strips
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or butter)
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 teaspoons EACH: onion powder, garlic powder, AND low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon EACH: smokedpaprika AND red pepper flakes
  • ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese

Instructions

  1. VEGGIES: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 425ºF. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and push them around the pan and let them cook for 4-5 minutes or until they brown. Season them with the minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of onion powder, a big pinch of salt and pepper and let them cook for 30 seconds before removing to a large bowl; set aside. Add a little more oil if needed and sauté the onions for 1-3 minutes; season with salt and pepper, remove to the same bowl as the mushrooms.
  2. PEPPERS: Spray a 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (or place a piece of foil in for even easier cleanup, and then spray with cooking spray.) Line the peppers cut side up and spray the peppers with cooking spray, and bake for 6-10 minutes in the preheated oven (6 mins if you prefer them crunchy, longer for softer peppers.)
  3. STEAK: While the peppers are roasting, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the same skillet and cook the meat for roughly 1 minute. Season the meat with the remaining 1 teaspoon of onion powder, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, soy sauce, paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the meat in the same bowl as the veggies.
  4. BAKE: Toss the veggies and meat together so it’s evenly mixed. Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes. Remove the peppers from the oven when done. Stir 1 cup of shredded cheese to the prepared mixture. Divide the prepared meat and veggies evenly among the peppers. Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts. Remove and serve warm.

Notes

  • See post for how I clean and prep the peppers.
  • if you don't have smoked paprika, you can also use sweet paprika here!

Have you made this recipe?

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Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers Recipe - Little Spice Jar (2024)

FAQs

Why do my stuffed peppers taste bland? ›

The problem stems from the common practice of boiling the peppers to start. The goal is to tenderize them before they're stuffed and baked, but generally the poor fellas are over-boiled, which results in their tendency to fall apart and, as noted, be flavorless.

What kind of peppers are in a Philly Cheesesteak? ›

For some reason, when out-of-towners create variations on the classic Philly sandwich, they always add bell peppers.

Should you soften peppers before stuffing them? ›

I definitely suggest par-cooking the bell peppers first, just a little bit before stuffing them. Not only does this help to soften the bell peppers, but it also cuts down on your cook time. As the bell peppers are cooking you can make the filling, shaving off about 20 minutes from your total cook time.

What is Philly steak seasoning made of? ›

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.

What was the original Philly cheesesteak ingredients? ›

Although the original cheesesteak started with steak, onions, and provolone, we now consider provolone and Cheez Whiz sandwiches as classic cheesesteaks. Same with green peppers – some cheesesteak lovers can't live without them.

How do you get the most flavor out of peppers? ›

Searing a pepper until the skin is charred develops the flavor of the pepper's flesh, caramelizes some of the sugars to concentrate their sweetness, and adds a touch of smokiness. It's a flavor profile that is unique, delicious, and useful in a variety of cuisines and dishes.

Why are my peppers not spicy? ›

Over caring for your peppers through excessive amounts of water and fertilizer will cause the peppers to be over sized and the capsicum in the membranes to become diluted, thus resulting is a milder tasting pepper. Just remember that to get hot chili peppers, you want healthy looking fruit, not big fruit.

How do you keep stuffed peppers from getting watery? ›

How to Prevent Watery Peppers
  1. Pre-cook Peppers. When you bake peppers that are not pre-blanched or cooked, it is normal that they release their natural water – which can be easily avoided by pre-cooking beforehand. ...
  2. Use Leftover Rice. Does this tip sound familiar to you? ...
  3. Save Cheese for the Topping.

Is there mayo on a Philly cheesesteak? ›

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

What kind of bread do you use for Philly cheesesteak? ›

Bread – we used a crusty baguette for this recipe, but you can also serve the filling over a Hoagie roll. If you to make an authentic Philly cheesesteak, you should use Amoroso roll, although you may have some trouble finding them if you're not from Philadelphia. Salt and pepper – for seasoning.

What kind of cheese do you use for cheesesteak? ›

The cheese is typically American cheese, provolone or melted Cheez Whiz. Fans of cheesesteaks sold by particular outlets — think Pat's, Genos, Jim's, or Tony Lukes — usually point to the meat or the source of the eatery's bread as a reason for their loyalty.

Should I pre cook my peppers for stuffed peppers? ›

Depending on your stuffing recipe, you don't need to pre-cook peppers at all. However if you feel you need to par-cook them first, I'd suggest blanching them in a pot of salted, boiling water, then shocking them in an ice water bath. This way they're partially cooked, but still perfectly cool to handle.

Why do my stuffed peppers fall apart? ›

And while pre-softening them to some degree isn't a bad thing, it's easy to go overboard and end up with a mushy mess. Your best bet is to let the peppers spend a limited time pre-cooking at a high heat.

Why are my stuffed peppers mushy? ›

Roasting lightly oiled peppers at a high heat gives the outside a chance to release some moisture so they can brown a bit, and placing the cut peppers face-side down allows that moisture to drain out rather than making them sit in their own liquid and get mushy.

What is on a true Philly cheesesteak? ›

Sandwiches served in Philadelphia and elsewhere that include steak, cheese, onions, and other toppings like hot or sweet peppers and mushrooms are considered cheesesteaks (there are plenty of variations as well, like the pizza cheesesteak with tomato sauce and mozzarella).

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

However, the main difference between the two is that a Philly cheesesteak is a specific type of cheesesteak that originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is made with thinly sliced ribeye steak, grilled onions, and melted cheese, typically served on a hoagie roll.

Do you put mayo on Philly cheesesteak? ›

Add steak back to pan along with ¾ cup cheddar, 1 tablespoon Spiced Mayonnaise, pimientos (optional). Stir just until steak is warmed through and cheese begins to melt, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread each top and bottom half of hoagie roll with Spiced mayonnaise.

Do real Philly cheesesteak have peppers? ›

Peppers are not uncommon on Philly cheesesteaks but usually not the green bell peppers that most outsiders think off. Most locals ask for “sweet peppers” or “hot peppers” or both. These are multicolored marinated peppers of either no heat or jalapeño heat, often in fact jalapeños but not so named.

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