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Why You Need My Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
How To Make Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
My Recipe Tips
Serving Ideas
Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe card
Recipe Reviews

This Philly cheesesteak casserole is my kind of comfort food: cheesy, flavorful, and packed with protein and veggies. If you’re a fan of the classic sandwiches, you’ll love my baked spin on them. I also love this dish for meal prep or feeding a crowd, because it makes a large batch. Make this recipe with me next time you’re craving something meaty and cheesy!

Why You Need My Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe

Classic cheesesteak flavors – Think tender beef, peppers, and onions enveloped in a creamy, savory sauce, all under a blanket of melty cheese. You won’t miss the bread!
Easy one-dish meal – I love turning sandwiches into casseroles (like my chicken bacon ranch casserole and Big Mac casserole ), because they make a healthier dinner all on their own. This one only takes about half an hour to cook, with simple ingredients you’d find at any grocery store.
Budget friendly – Most versions of Philly cheesesteak casserole use actual steak like a sandwich would, but mine uses ground beef to make it more cost-effective.

A cheesy, comforting Philly cheesesteak casserole in a baking dish with a wooden serving spoon. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my Philly cheesesteak casserole recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Ground Beef – I use 85/15 ground beef, which is flavorful without being too greasy. Ground turkey works well for a lighter swap. If you want to use actual steak, you totally can, but see my tips below on this.
Veggies – Thinly sliced bell peppers and half an onion. I used a mix of red, yellow, and green bell peppers, but any color is fine.
Seasonings – Italian seasoning , smoked paprika , and garlic powder . Simple but so delicious!
Broth – The base of the savory sauce. I usually have chicken broth on hand (either my homemade chicken broth prepped ahead or store-bought), but you can use beef broth for more beefy flavor. I’ve also done it with bone broth .
Cheeses – Cream cheese mixes with the broth for the sauce, and provolone gives you that melty finish on top. (You know I’d never recommend the processed Cheez Wiz some sandwiches use. 😉) Feel free to use other melting cheese if you like.
Sea Salt & Black Pepper

Labeled ingredients: ground beef, sliced bell peppers, onions, provolone cheese slices, cream cheese, broth, and spices. - 4

How To Make Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

Brown the beef. In a large skillet , cook it with salt and pepper, breaking up with a spatula. I don’t need oil when using a nonstick pan, but you can add it if your pan tends to stick.
Sauté the veggies . Toss the bell peppers and onions into the pan, season with the herbs and spices, and cook until they’re nice and tender.

Browned ground beef in a skillet with a wooden spoon. - 5

Veggies sauteed with the ground beef in a skillet. - 6

Make the sauce. Stir in the cream cheese and broth, until smooth and creamy.
Assemble and bake. Transfer the beef mixture to a baking dish (I use the larger one from this set , which is a bit smaller than your average large baking dish) and top with slices of provolone cheese. Bake the Philly cheesesteak casserole until melty and golden.

Casserole assembled in a baking dish and topped with provolone cheese. - 7

Baked Philly cheesesteak casserole recipe in a baking dish. - 8

My Recipe Tips

A meat chopper makes breaking up the beef easier. I use it for all my recipes that have ground meat.
If your ground beef is on the fattier side, drain off excess grease before adding the veggies. It keeps the cheesesteak casserole from feeling too heavy.
Make sure your cream cheese is soft before adding it. If it’s cold, it won’t melt in smoothly. When I forget to set it out ahead of time, I just microwave it to soften.
Adjust the cream cheese to your taste. Add an extra 2 ounces if you want it extra creamy.
Want extra umami flavor or some heat? You can saute mushrooms with the other vegetables, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce or coconut aminos to the sauce, or drizzle your plate with hot sauce at the end.
Want steak instead of ground beef? Cook sirloin steak separately—either sear it whole and slice against the grain after cooking or slice it thin and sauté quickly. Set it aside to keep it juicy while you sauté the veggies, then stir in seasonings, cream cheese, and broth. Add the steak back in before transferring everything to the casserole dish and finishing the recipe.
Want more browning? If the cheese doesn’t brown enough after baking your Philly cheesesteak casserole, pop it under the broiler for a couple minutes.

Plate of cheesesteak casserole on a plate next to casserole dish. - 10

Serving Ideas

One of the things I love about this Philly cheesesteak casserole is that it’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own!

If you prefer a starch, it’s wonderful over a base of air fried potatoes or rice. Or if it feels too heavy, add my artichoke salad or cucumber tomato salad on the side.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

2 lb Ground beef ▢
2 tsp Sea salt ▢
1/2 tsp Black pepper ▢
3 large Bell peppers (sliced into thin strips; I used red, yellow, and green) ▢
1 large Onion (cut in half, sliced into thin slices) ▢
1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning ▢
1 tsp Smoked paprika ▢
1/2 tsp Garlic powder ▢
4 oz Cream cheese (cut into pieces and softened at room temperature) ▢
1/4 cup Chicken broth, reduced sodium ▢
6 slices Provolone cheese (~4 oz) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C).
Place the beef into a large saute pan over medium-high heat and break up with a spatula. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes , stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
Add the bell peppers and onions to the pan. Season with Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Saute for 10-15 minutes , until vegetables are tender.
Add the cream cheese and broth. Stir together until smooth and melted.
Transfer the mixture to a large baking dish (I use the larger one from this set , which is a little smaller than most large ones). Arrange the provolone slices on top, overlapping slightly.
Bake the Philly cheesesteak casserole for 10-15 minutes , until cheese is melted and golden brown.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 cup (slightly heaped), or 1/6 of the entire recipe

Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you break up the beef more easily, get a smooth and creamy sauce that isn’t greasy, how to ensure a golden brown top, and variations for more umami flavor or to use steak instead of ground beef.
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
Meal prep: You can cook the beef and slice the veggies in advance, or assemble the entire casserole and refrigerate.
Reheat: Pop individual servings in the microwave, or warm the entire casserole in the oven (20 minutes at 350 degrees F).
Freeze: Assemble without baking, wrap in foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat like above. To bake from frozen, cover with foil to prevent burning the cheese and double or triple the baking time.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Keto Freezer Meal System , 30 Dinners In 30 Minutes , Keto Ebook Bundle , and Winter Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

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Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Understanding Macros
Keto Food Swaps
Keto Food List
Electrolyte Basics
Keto Diet Types
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 12

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A Protein	Pick A Veggie	Add Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison	Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery	Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Pancakes	Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
Oatmeal	Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rolls	Fathead cinnamon rolls
Cereal	Keto nut granola
Muffins	Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
Donuts	Almond flour donuts
Scones	Almond flour scones
High-sugar smoothies	Smoothie with berries or avocado
Hash browns	Cauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casserole	Breakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whites	Whole eggs
Turkey bacon	Bacon
Waffles	Chaffles

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Bagels	Fathead bagels
English muffin	Almond flour English muffin
White bread	Keto white bread
Multigrain bread	Coconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wraps	Coconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shells	Cheddar cheese taco shells
Burger buns	Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
Breadsticks	Cauliflower breadsticks
Biscuits	Almond flour biscuits
Cornbread	Almond flour cornbread
Croutons	Parmesan crisps
Rice	Cauliflower rice , konjac rice

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Breaded wings	Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultry	High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoes	Mashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoes	Roasted or fried radishes
Tacos	Taco salad
Pizza	Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
Lasagna	Eggplant lasagna
Potato salad	Cauliflower “potato” salad
French fries	Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater tots	Cauliflower tots
Wraps	Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
Sushi	Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fish	Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
Spaghetti	Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Nachos	Cheese crisps
High-sugar fruit	Berries & other keto fruits
Crackers	Almond flour crackers
Hummus	Cauliflower hummus
Soft pretzels	Fathead pretzels
Popcorn	Puffed cheese
Granola bars	Grain-free granola bars
Jam	Sugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurt	Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressing	Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
Ketchup	Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauce	Sugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butter	Natural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayo	Avocado oil mayo
Maple syrup	Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chips	Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds

Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 16

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Sugar	Monk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugar	Powdered monk fruit or allulose
White flour	Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewy	Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
Breadcrumbs	Pork rinds or almond flour
Margarine	Butter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oil	Olive or avocado oil
Bananas	Banana extract
Chocolate chips	Sugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour roux	Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrup	Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat

Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 17

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Lemonade	Water with lemon
Soda	Flavored sparkling water
Milk	Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
Latte	Butter coffee
Coffee creamer	Heavy cream
Sweet wine	Dry wine
Beer	Ultra light beer
Mixed drinks	Hard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 19

Foods To Eat On Keto

Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Avocados
Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
Almond flour and coconut flour
Eggs
Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

White flour & sugar
Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
Cereal
Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 20

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Sodium	Magnesium	Potassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles	Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens	Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!