Home Kitchen Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwiches

I will never turn down a cheesesteak. Never.

As a kid I was a picky eater, so whenever I was at a sub place, I would get the steak and cheese. Simply steak and cheese and bread. No dressing, zero add-ins or toppings… truly nothing else. Fast forward several years and you’ll be glad to know that I now like peppers and onions, oh and mushrooms if they have it. As you may know, I’ve made more old-style cheesesteaks, however (!!!) and don’t come at me, but I these chicken cheesesteak sandwiches are my regular.

Picture this: a soft sandwich roll toasted, slathered with a hot giardiniera mayo filled with tender, thinly sliced seasoned chicken, peppers and onions and three types of cheese. Need I say more?

To Make These Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwiches Gather:

• sandwich rolls – Use your go-to!
• butter – Lets fat and flavor.
• mayonnaise – Use regular or, my personal regular, giardiniera mayo (Ayoh foods – not sponsored).
• american cheese – Lends smooth and gets ultra creamy once melted.
• olive oil or avocado oil – Use an oil safe for high temperature cooking.
• boneless skinless chicken thighs – Lends more flavor than white meat. Thigh meat is tender and moist without being overly fatty or oily.
• kosher salt – Enhances the flavors of the chicken/marinade.
• freshly ground black pepper – Adds some subtle bite and flavor.
• garlic powder – Adds flavor that’s sweeter yet milder than fresh garlic.
• yellow onion – Lends subtle sweetness and caramelized onion flavor.
• red and green bell pepper – Adds a pop of color, mild sweetness and satisfying tender crunch.
• seasoning salt – I use Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute.
• garlic paste – Use store-bought or grated fresh.
• parmesan cheese (freshly grated) – Gives additional nutty flavor, richness and some saltiness.
• provolone cheese – Mild, buttery and slightly sweet flavor.

Prep the Sandwich Rolls:

Butter the inside of 6 sandwich rolls.

Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and toast the buttered side of each roll. You may need to work in batches

Once toasted, smear each side of the toasted rolls with 1 to 2 tablespoons giardiniera mayo (or use regular mayonnaise) and top each one with American cheese that has been cut in half. Set aside while you make the chicken.

Make the Chicken:

While toasting the hoagies, place 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs onto paper towel. Use more paper towel to pat the chicken dry.

Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Once the hoagies are toasted, increase the heat under the skillet to medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and place the chicken thighs, smooth side down. Cook 4 to 6 minutes, depending on thickness. Season the exposed side with kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and garlic powder.

Use tongs to carefully turn the chicken thighs and continue to cook for 4 to 6 minutes more. Once fully cooked, transfer to a cutting board to let rest.

Cook the Peppers and Onions and Cheesesteak Filling:

To the same skillet, add 1 more tablespoon olive oil and add in a sliced red and green bell pepper, 1 large yellow onion, 1½ teaspoons seasoning salt (I use Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute) and 1 teaspoon italian seasoning.

Stir and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until simply about tender. Add 2 tablespoons water, and scrape the browned bits off of the bottom of the pan.

As the onions and peppers cook, use a sharp knife to thinly slice the chicken thighs.

Add in 1 teaspoon garlic paste (or freshly grated garlic) and stir to combine.

Add the sliced chicken to the skillet with the peppers and onions, tossing to combine. Then remove off of the heat.

Build The Chicken Cheesesteaks:

Preheat your griddle to 300°F (or 150°C) and use tongs to portion out 4 piles of the chicken and pepper mixture. My griddle isn’t big enough to do all 6 but if yours is, then form 6 piles.

Top each mound with 1/2 tablespoon of parmesan cheese and 1½ slices of provolone cheese.

Invert and place the mayo coated, toasted sandwich rolls on top of each pile of chicken and peppers. Cover with a domed lid and let cook until the cheese has melted.

Use a large spatula to scoop under one of the piles and carefully turn each sandwich, right side up and place onto a plate. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches.

Season with freshly ground black pepper and extra parmesan cheese on top and serve next to potato chips or French fries. Now only unhinge your jaw and insert the entire sandwich. Jk don’t do that.

Enjoy! And if you give this Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwiches a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!