Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

All the familiar flavours of a Philly cheesesteak are reworked here as a hearty pasta bake: tender strips of quick-cooked beef, softened onion and green pepper, and a creamy provolone sauce with a savoury lift from beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. Pasta shells make it feel more like a complete dinner than a sandwich filling, catching the sauce and small pieces of beef in every scoop. The casserole format is especially practical for weeknights, giving you the recognisable cheesy, beefy character of the classic in a bubbling, easy-to-serve dish that rests briefly before spooning out cleanly.
Cuisine style American comfort food
Cooking style Crowd-friendly • Make-ahead friendly • Freezer-friendly
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Savoury depth: Browning the beef first and then deglazing the pan with stock and Worcestershire sauce brings the steakhouse-style flavour into the sauce.
  • Smooth, cheesy sauce: Cream cheese, milk and provolone melt into a rich coating that clings well to the pasta shells.
  • Easy to serve: Turning the sandwich flavours into a casserole makes the dish simple to portion, reheat and serve for a casual dinner.

Get the most out of this recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Choose quick-cooking beef: Use a tender steak suitable for fast frying, and slice it as thinly as possible across the grain so it stays soft after baking.
  • Use a bake-friendly pasta shape: Shells work well because they catch the creamy sauce, but penne is a good alternative if you prefer a firmer bite.
  • Provolone gives the right character: Provolone adds the mild, savoury cheesesteak flavour; mozzarella makes the casserole stretchier and softer in taste.

Common mistakes

  • Do not overcook the beef: Brown it quickly, then remove it from the pan. It will finish warming through in the sauce and oven.
  • Keep the sauce gentle: Once the cream cheese and milk are added, lower the heat and whisk steadily so the sauce stays smooth.
  • Avoid soft pasta: Cook the shells only until just al dente, as they will soften slightly while the casserole bakes.

Make-ahead tips

  • Assemble ahead: The casserole can be assembled in advance, covered and refrigerated before baking. Let it sit briefly at room temperature while the oven heats.
  • Reheat gently: Reheat covered in a 180°C (355°F) oven until piping hot, adding a splash of milk if the pasta looks dry.
  • Freeze in portions: Cool completely, freeze in sealed portions, then defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Authenticity notes

  • A casserole take on cheesesteak: This is not a traditional sandwich, but it keeps the recognisable cheesesteak elements: thin beef, onion, green pepper and melted provolone.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
Print
  1. Heat the oven to 200°C (390°F). Bring a large pot of well salted water to the boil.
  2. Cook the pasta shells until just al dente, then drain well. Tip into a baking dish.
  3. Meanwhile, slice the beef as thinly as you can, then slice the onion and green pepper. Crush the garlic.
  4. Melt the butter in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. Add the beef, season with the black pepper, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until browned but still tender, then transfer to a plate.
  5. In the same pan, cook the onion and green pepper over a medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Pour in the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce, scraping up any browned bits, and simmer for 2 minutes. Lower the heat and whisk in the cream cheese and milk until smooth and creamy.
  7. Take the pan off the heat and stir in about half of the provolone until melted. Add the beef back to the pan, then pour everything over the pasta and toss to coat.
  8. Scatter the remaining provolone over the top. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until bubbling and lightly golden, then rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Made this recipe? Rate it — a comment is optional.

Recipe notes

Tips

  • For easier slicing, chill the beef in the freezer for 10 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.
  • Keep the sauce at a low heat once the cream cheese goes in so it stays smooth rather than splitting.
  • If serving anyone who is pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised, make sure the casserole is piping hot all the way through before serving.

Substitutions

  • Replace Provolone cheese with Mozzarella for a milder, stretchier topping.
  • Replace Beef stock with Chicken stock for a lighter but still savoury sauce.
  • Replace Pasta shells with Penne for a similar bake-friendly shape.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool completely, then refrigerate in a sealed container. Reheat in a 180°C (355°F) oven, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes until piping hot; add a splash of whole milk if it looks dry. Freeze in portions for up to 2 months and defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Ratings & reviews

Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.

Tried this recipe?

Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.

If you leave a comment, use 10–500 characters.

Stay inspired

Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 4 servings
  • Total time: 50min (25min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: American
  • Allergens:
    Gluten Milk Wheat
Beginner friendly Freezer friendly Kid friendly

Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.

Add to meal planner

Equipment you'll need

Advertisement

Recommended tools for this recipe

Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance

Got ingredients left?

Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.

Find recipes with these ingredients →

Make this recipe easier next time

Advertisement

These tools help you get better results with less effort.

Best overall

Misen Carbon Steel Nonstick Frying Pan 12 Inch

Versatile induction-ready pan
  • Works on all stovetops
  • Naturally nonstick when seasoned
  • Requires seasoning and maintenance
Best value

T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan 12 Inch

Best value nonstick pan
  • Excellent price-performance
  • Thermo-Spot heat indicator
  • Not induction compatible
Top quality

All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Fry Pan 12 Inch

Premium nonstick performance
  • Top-tier build quality
  • Excellent heat distribution
  • Expensive

Browse alphabetically

Looking for a specific recipe? Choose a letter below to jump directly to recipes starting with that letter or number.

Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?

Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.

Add JustRecipes to Google

Every recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.