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These loaded Philly sandwich-inspired cheese-filled dough sticks turn a famous street food into handy, grab-and-go treats that work great for sports viewing parties, laid-back socials, or an interesting twist for dinner. Stuffing savory beef, cooked peppers and onions, and gooey cheese into warm pizza dough creates an amazing combo that blends two beloved comfort foods.
I whipped these stuffed sticks up for a football championship party once, and they vanished quicker than anything else I'd made. Now my sister's kid asks for them whenever the family gets together, saying they mix the tastiest bits of cheesesteaks and pizza into something amazing.
What You'll Need
- Pizza dough: Grab it pre-made to save time or use your own recipe for extra taste
- Thin ribeye slices: Gives the best flavor, but you can swap in flank steak or even sliced deli roast beef when you're in a hurry
- Onions and bell peppers: The classic veggie mix that adds a touch of sweetness and nice crunch
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a rich, deep flavor to the meat without taking over the whole dish
- Mozzarella and provolone mix: Makes everything gooey while keeping that authentic sandwich taste
- Butter and Italian seasoning: Gives you a beautiful golden outside that makes these way better than regular breadsticks
- Garlic powder: Adds great flavor without burning like fresh garlic might
Cooking Guide
- Cook Your Meat:
- Brown the beef quickly over medium-high heat just until it loses its pink color, around 2–3 minutes. Since the slices are so thin, they'll cook fast, so watch them closely. Take the meat out and set it aside so it doesn't get tough from cooking too long.
- Cook The Veggies:
- Toss your sliced onions and peppers into the same pan to soak up all that tasty meat flavor. Let them cook until they get soft and a bit brown on the edges, about 5 minutes. Well-cooked veggies bring out natural sweetness that works great with the meat.
- Mix Everything:
- Put the beef back in the pan and add garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, then stir it all together. Let everything mingle for just a minute or two on low heat before turning it off. Give the mixture time to cool down a bit so you can handle it easily.
- Cut Your Dough:
- Flatten your pizza dough into a big rectangle about 10×14 inches. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut it into 8 even strips. Make sure you've got plenty of flour on your counter so nothing sticks.
- Add The Filling:
- Put some meat mix down the middle of each dough strip, then sprinkle cheese on top. Fold the dough over lengthwise and pinch the edges really well so they don't open up while baking.
- Form Your Sticks:
- Gently roll each filled piece to make it nice and round, and place it seam-side down on your baking sheet. Leave some space between them since they'll get bigger as they bake.
- Finish The Top:
- Brush some melted butter on top and sprinkle with Italian seasoning and Parmesan if you want. This step makes them look amazing and adds extra flavor too.
- Bake Until Done:
- Pop them in your hot oven for 15–20 minutes until they puff up and turn golden brown. The cheese inside will be all melty and the dough should be fully cooked.
I really love eating these sticks with a slightly kicked-up tomato sauce. The tangy sauce goes so well with the rich filling. Whenever I make a batch for my family, I always double up because they warm up so nicely for lunch the next few days.
Prep Ahead Ideas
You can totally get these ready beforehand. Put them together up to a day before baking and keep them covered in your fridge. Just add a few more minutes to the cooking time when you're baking them cold. Or if you prefer, just make the filling up to three days early, which really cuts down your work on the day you want to serve them.
Easy Swaps
Though real Philly sandwiches use ribeye, you can easily change things up based on what you need or like. Ground beef works great if you want to spend less. Folks who don't eat meat can enjoy these with fake meat products or just load up on extra cooked veggies and mushrooms for a filling without meat. Non-dairy cheeses work pretty well here too, though they won't stretch out in strings like regular cheese does.
What To Serve With It
Make a complete dinner by adding a crisp green salad with vinegar dressing. The sour kick from the dressing helps balance out the richness. For game watching parties, set these out with buffalo chicken dip, stuffed jalapeños, and fresh cut veggies for an awesome spread. Try setting up different dips like tomato sauce, ranch, cheese sauce, and buffalo sauce so everyone can pick their favorite.
Everyone always loves these stuffed sticks at parties, and they bring amazing flavors together in a simple recipe that never fails.
Recipe Q&A
- → Can these Cheesesteak Breadsticks be prepped ahead?
Absolutely! Assemble the breadsticks up to the baking part and refrigerate them covered for up to a day. When it’s baking time, brush them with butter and pop them in the oven. If cold, they might need an extra 3-5 minutes to finish baking.
- → Which beef works best for this dish?
Ribeye is the go-to for its tenderness and rich flavor. Other options like flank steak, sirloin, or deli roast beef are good too. Just remember to slice the meat thinly and against the grain for the best texture.
- → Is freezing these breadsticks possible?
Totally! Both baked and unbaked versions freeze well. For unbaked, freeze individually on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen, adding 7-10 extra minutes. For baked breadsticks, let them cool, freeze, and reheat in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes to refresh them.
- → What are some tasty dipping sauce ideas?
Dippers like marinara, cheese sauce (like cheddar or Cheez Whiz), ranch, or garlic butter pair wonderfully. To go all-in Philly-style, a good cheese sauce made with American cheese is perfect!
- → How do I make these even cheesier?
Boost the cheese factor by adding a slice of provolone or American cheese to the filling. You can also make a quick dipping sauce by melting 1 cup of cheese with 1/4 cup of milk. For extra flare, sprinkle some cheese on the tops during the final baking minutes.
- → What’s the best way to warm up leftovers?
To keep them crispy, heat leftovers in the oven or toaster oven at 350°F for about 5-7 minutes. If you're short on time, microwaving for 30-45 seconds works, but they won’t stay as crisp that way.