Philly Cheese Steak Toppings You Can’t Resist Sinking Your Teeth Into

Once you’ve got the steak and roll handled, it’s the toppings that take a Philly cheesesteak from average to something memorable!

I’ve used everything from sautéed mushrooms to cherry peppers, and I always recommend thin-sliced onions cooked low and slow.

The trick is to get your vegetables soft without browning them too hard—they should almost melt into the sandwich.

I like banana peppers for a little zing, or provolone layered in with onions while still on the skillet for a smoother bite.

Whatever extras you go with, the goal is balance—nothing that overpowers the steak, but enough to round it out!

1. Stack with Sweet Potato Fries

I bet you didn’t see this one coming.

Even if you did, you probably thought of regular French fries.

But I believe these sweet potato fries are just as good — if not better!

They’re crisp and caramelized on the outside, sweet and starchy on the inside with a buttery texture that melts on your tongue.

2. Spice Up with Jalapeno Peppers

For a peppery kick, pile some jalapeno peppers on your Philly cheese steak.

They’ll add an earthy flavor and mild heat!

3. Go Asian with Kimchi

Similar to this steak sandwich recipe, why not try loading your Philly cheese steak with kimchi?

This Asian fermented concoction offers a range of sour, umami, tangy, and spicy flavors that goes so well with rich beef.

Warning: you might get addicted!

4. Smear Cranberry Salsa

Besides adding an appetizing pop of color to Philly cheese steak, cranberry salsa also delivers sweetness and tartness that breaks the hearty and salty flavors of beef.

What’s even better is that it’s pretty easy to make.

You just need cranberries, garlic, jalapenos, brown sugar, and lemon juice.

5. Sprinkle Some Pickled Onions

We’ve all seen Philly cheese steak sandwich ideas where pickled cucumbers sit on top of the sandwich.

But I invite you today to try pickled onions instead.

They’re tangy, crunchy, and slightly sweet — everything you’d want on a beefy, cheesy meal.

6. Pile Fried Mushroom

Need a unique and yummy Philly cheese steak topping that also satisfies your fried food craving?

Meet fried mushrooms.

Easy to make and coated with delicious seasoning, these babies are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and all-around irresistible.

7. Load with Apple Coleslaw

I’ve seen people put coleslaw on burgers and meat sandwiches.

But apple coleslaw? Hardly.

This should change given the kick of fresh tartness that apples bring to the table.

Simply toss in some shredded Gala or green apples to your regular coleslaw recipe.

You’ll get all the creamy sweetness but with a tangy twist!

8. Pair with Goat Cheese Spread

Experimenting with different cheeses for Philly cheese steak has led me to this mouth-watering goat cheese spread.

Super grateful here!

Its mild, buttery, earthy, and tart flavors are simply heavenly with steak.

The added lemon juice rounds the meal with a flattering zest.

9. Get Creamy with Garlic Herb Butter

To amp up the fresh and creamy factor of your Philly cheese steak sandwich, try herb butter.

It’s fluffy, savory, and loaded with zippy flavors to boost your munching time.

You can make your own herb butter right at home! All you need is to mix butter with your favorite blend of herbs.

Cilantro, parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme, chives — the sky’s the limit..

10. Venture with Fried Cauliflower

Looking for a new veggie to answer “what to put on a Philly cheesesteak sandwich”?

Try adding fried cauliflower.

I love this recipe because the cauliflowers are crispy, light, and tender.

They offer hints of sweet nuttiness which are much appreciated on beefy sandwiches.

11. Smother in Avocado Paste

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love avocados.

The buttery texture and the nutty, earthy flavor just taste like a dream on top of cheesy and beefy meals such as a Philly cheese steak.

If I’m not layering slices of the fruit in my sandwich, then I’m smothering it with this garlicky, rich avocado paste.

12. More Depth with Blue Cheese

Hands down, blue cheese is one of the best Philly cheese steak toppings I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.

It has a charismatically sharp, pungent flavor with a saltiness that pairs flawlessly with meat.

Sprinkle blue cheese crumbs to add depth to your meal.

If you want to mellow it out, add some melted provolone cheese.

13. Layer with Pastrami

This burger-pastrami beast of a meal inspired me to recreate the same effect with Philly cheese steak.

So go ahead and fit as much pastrami as you can in a pan and cook it until crispy.

Then, stack it on the sandwich and say hello to a mixture of spicy and briny flavors that resemble roast beef, bacon, and sausage all at once!

14. Go Tropical with Pineapple Salsa

If you’re into tropical vibes and looking for an unconventional topping, I recommend the tasty pineapple salsa.

I know it sounds out of place with a cheesy beef sandwich, but it really works!

Pineapple salsa offers a unique blend of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors that go great with Philly cheese steak.

Also, its chunky texture introduces an interesting mouthfeel and the colors are a fun touch.

15. Dollop Bacon Jam

Bacon jam is a unique, flavor-loaded topping.

Paired with a hearty Philly cheese steak? It’s simply phenomenal!

The caramelized sweetness and savoriness of this jam beautifully complement the cheesy richness of the sandwich.

It also does a nice job of breaking the salty and spicy flavors of the beef without overwhelming it.

Some types of bacon can also give you hints of smokiness or maple.

16. Coat with Provalone Cheese Sauce

The sauce is creamy, smooth, and adds more depth than plain sliced cheese.

It melts right into the meat, bell peppers and onions and makes every bite feel extra rich.

It’s rich, savory, and buttery — perfect for steak meals.

17. Pair with Walnut Romesco Spread

Although it delivers an explosive tasting experience, I rarely see walnut romesco among toppings on Philly cheese steak.

It’s slightly sweet but mostly fresh and tart.

It’s also smoky with hints of garlic and spice.

The flavors of walnut romesco brilliantly bring out the beefiness of the sandwich.

If you blend it into a chunky paste, you’ll even get some texture contrast.

Philly Cheese Steak Toppings: Serving Sides

If you’re particularly hungry, want to stack the table with extra food, or feel like making your Philly cheese steak meal more interesting, then you need some awesome side dishes!

The following are some of my favorite side dishes that go great with Philly cheese steak sandwiches.

Dips and sauces

The number 1 most popular side dish to accompany Philly cheese steak is a dip or a sauce.

There’s just something special about scooping a savory dip with your sandwich or smearing it with a spicy sauce.

To this end, options for Philly cheese steak sauces and dips are practically unlimited.

A few dips and sauces that I particularly enjoy include Irish spicy sauce (inspired by the Reuben sandwich) and serrano avocado dip.

There’s also Thai peanut dip for a unique kick and maple mayo sauce if you like some tangy sweetness.

Fried okra

I could go on and on about classic deep-fried side dishes such as French fries, onion rings, and fried pickles.

But you probably thought of these, and I like to encourage new experiences.

So, how about giving fried okra a go?

I know, okra isn’t your traditional Philly cheese steak topping and you may not be a fan of its usual slimy consistency.

But trust me, the deep-fried version of this vegetable will change your mind.

It’s crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside.

The batter also gives it a salty, rich flavor that’s perfect as a sidekick for a meaty, cheesy sandwich.

Beer chocolate milkshake

A side dish doesn’t have to be something you can eat — it can be a beverage to sip.

When it comes to Philly cheese steak, I can’t help but recommend a milkshake.

The epitome of comfort food, this duo usually involves a regular vanilla shake, but I like mine with a different twist.

I have two words for you: beer and chocolate.

I bet you can already taste how heavenly this combo is!

It gets even better; this drink calls for only 3 ingredients.

Simply pulse your favorite beer, chocolate ice cream, and milk in a blender, and voila!

You can also swap the beer with cookies for a yummy chocolate and cookies milkshake.