Why You’ll Love This this Homemade Chicken Philly Sandwich
This sandwich brings all the classic Philly flavors right to your kitchen, no trip to Philadelphia required.
The combination of tender chicken, melted provolone, and perfectly sautéed peppers and onions creates that authentic cheesesteak sensation we all crave.
Plus, it’s way easier than you might think – just one skillet, some basic ingredients, and you’re basically a sandwich artist.
Ingredients List
You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to create this restaurant-quality sandwich at home.
- 4-5 chicken breasts, cooked and sliced into 1-inch strips
- 1 green pepper, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder (or 2 cloves crushed garlic)
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 8-10 slices provolone cheese
- Salt and pepper
- Buns or hoagies for serving
A few things to keep in mind about these ingredients:
- This recipe uses olive oil instead of butter, which gives you those heart-healthy fats we’re always hearing about
- You’re getting plenty of protein from the chicken, plus some fiber and vitamins from the peppers and onions
- The cheese does add some saturated fat, but hey, life’s too short for sad, cheese-less sandwiches
- You can easily swap in whole grain buns if you want to sneak in some extra fiber
- Consider using low-sodium seasonings if you’re watching your salt intake
Step by Step Directions
Making this Chicken Philly Sandwich is straightforward and takes just minutes in one skillet.
- Heat olive oil, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large skillet with cover over medium heat.
- Add the cooked chicken strips to the hot oil and mix well to coat all pieces.
- Stir and cook the chicken until it starts to brown on all sides.
- Add the sliced green pepper and onion to the skillet.
- Turn heat down to medium-low and cover the pan.
- Continue stirring every few minutes until the vegetables are heated through and tender.
- Place the provolone cheese slices around the pan over the chicken and vegetables.
- Remove the skillet from heat immediately after adding cheese.
- Cover the pan and let the cheese melt completely.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve the mixture on buns or hoagies while hot.
For even more consistent mixing results when preparing ingredients beforehand, consider using a professional stand mixer to blend seasonings or prepare any homemade sauces.
Substitutions and Variations
• Bread options – Sure, hoagie rolls are traditional, but crusty French bread, kaiser rolls, or even a good sourdough slice can hold all that melty goodness just fine.
Toast them lightly first if you want some extra crunch.
• Add some heat – A few dashes of hot sauce mixed right into the chicken, or some crushed red pepper flakes, can transform this from mild-mannered sandwich to something with serious personality.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This sandwich is pretty hearty on its own, but sometimes you want a little something extra on the side to round out the meal.
- Classic fries – Whether they’re crispy shoestring, thick-cut steak fries, or those crinkle-cut ones that somehow taste better than they should, fries are the obvious choice here. The salty crunch pairs perfectly with all that melted cheese.
- Onion rings – Because if you’re already going full indulgent with a cheesy sandwich, why not double down? Those golden, crispy rings add another layer of onion flavor that complements what’s already happening in the sandwich.
- Simple side salad – Sometimes your conscience needs a little green to balance out all that deliciousness. A basic mix of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber with whatever dressing makes you happy will do the trick.
- Pickle spears – The tangy bite cuts through the richness beautifully, and to be frank, pickles just belong with sandwiches. It’s like they were made for each other.
- Coleslaw – Creamy or vinegar-based, both work well here. The cool, crunchy texture gives your mouth a nice break between bites of warm, melty sandwich.
- Potato chips – Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one. Grab whatever flavor speaks to you, or keep it classic with plain salted chips that add that satisfying crunch.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
Making this sandwich isn’t rocket science, but a few little tricks can turn it from good to absolutely irresistible.
- Cook your chicken ahead of time – Whether you grill it, bake it, or even use rotisserie chicken from the store, having it pre-cooked saves you time and prevents that awkward moment when you’re wondering if the chicken is done while your vegetables turn to mush.
- Don’t crowd the pan – If you’re doubling the recipe or working with a smaller skillet, cook in batches. Cramming everything together just steams the ingredients instead of giving them that nice caramelized flavor we’re after.
- Slice your vegetables uniformly – I know, I know, it sounds fussy, but when your peppers and onions are roughly the same thickness, they cook at the same rate. No more burnt onion bits mixed with crunchy pepper chunks.
- Let the cheese do its thing – Once you’ve arranged those provolone slices around the pan, resist the urge to peek under the lid every thirty seconds. The trapped heat needs time to work its melty magic, and patience here pays off in stretchy, gooey cheese heaven.
- Warm your buns – A quick toast in a dry pan or under the broiler for a minute makes all the difference. Cold bread against hot filling just feels wrong, like wearing socks with sandals.
- Season as you go – Don’t wait until the end to add salt and pepper. Season the chicken when it hits the pan, then taste and adjust before serving because under-seasoned food is just sad food wearing a disguise.
Nutritional Facts
This hearty sandwich packs a solid nutritional punch with lean protein and vegetables, though the cheese and oil do add some calories to take into account.
- Calories per serving: Approximately 520-580 calories (based on 6 servings)
- Protein: 35-40 grams from the chicken breast and provolone cheese
- Carbohydrates: 8-10 grams mainly from the vegetables and any added bun
- Fat: 12-15 grams from olive oil and cheese
- Fiber: 2-3 grams from the peppers and onions
- Sodium: 800-900mg, primarily from the cheese and any added salt
- Vitamin C: Good source from the green peppers
- Calcium: Significant amount from the provolone cheese
- Iron: Moderate amount from the chicken
- Saturated fat: 6-8 grams mainly from the cheese
- Cholesterol: 90-100mg from chicken and dairy
*Nutritional values are estimates and will vary based on portion sizes, specific ingredients used, and bread choice. Values shown are for the filling only, excluding the bun.*
Fun “Did You Know?”
While Philadelphia claims fame for the iconic cheesesteak, you’ll find that the original sandwich was actually created without cheese at all!
Brothers Pat and Harry Olivieri invented it in 1930 using only steak and onions on Italian bread. The cheese addition didn’t happen until the 1940s when they started using Cheez Whiz.
I love how this sandwich evolved from a simple hot dog cart experiment into America’s most beloved sandwich.
Today’s chicken version provides a lighter twist while maintaining those classic Philly flavors.
You’re fundamentally enjoying a piece of culinary history with every bite you take!
