Sauté sliced steak with seasonings, cook peppers and onions, layer over waffle fries with cheese, and bake for 10 minutes until bubbly.
Ingredients
→ Main ingredients
Ultimate Philly Cheese Fries
Philly Steak Cheese Fries are a crave-worthy comfort food that brings the full flavor of a classic Philly cheesesteak right to your fry basket in the most satisfying way possible. Packed with tender seared steak, gooey American cheese, sweet bell peppers, and crisp waffle fries, every bite delivers a medley of richness and crunch that's guaranteed to have friends and family reaching back for more. This recipe pulls together authentic diner vibes and game-day energy for a seriously crowd-pleasing platter that disappears faster than you can make it.
I remember making these for a backyard movie night and everyone stood around the pan scraping up the last bits of cheese and crispy fries until nothing remained. It has become my absolute go-to whenever I need something that guarantees empty plates and satisfied smiles from everyone at the table.
Authentic Philly Ingredients
- Thinly sliced ribeye steak: Choose quality cut with good marbling for the juiciest, most flavorful results. Ribeye or sirloin delivers that authentic taste
- Garlic salt: Enhances the natural beefiness while providing well-rounded savory depth that complements without overwhelming
- Fresh ground black pepper: Brings gentle underlying heat that awakens all the other flavors without being too spicy
- Green bell pepper: Pick one that feels hefty and glossy for sweet crunch that stays slightly crisp during cooking
- Yellow onion: Adds mellow sweetness when properly cooked that balances the rich steak and cheese perfectly
- White American cheese slices: Nothing melts smoother or creamier for true Philly cheesesteak texture. Choose deli counter quality over processed
- Waffle cut frozen fries: Extra surface area allows cheese to melt and stick better. Use straight from freezer for optimal crispness
- Extra virgin olive oil: Healthy fat for browning steak and softening vegetables while helping unite all the flavors beautifully
Complete Cooking Process
- Setting Perfect Oven Foundation
- Set your oven to 425°F to ensure the fries turn out perfectly crisp and golden by the end of the cooking process. Position the rack in the center for even heat distribution that cooks everything uniformly without burning the delicate cheese layer on top.
- Creating Flavorful Steak Base
- Heat an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until properly warmed throughout. Add olive oil, then gently lay in the thinly sliced steak, spreading it evenly across the pan surface. Sprinkle generously with garlic salt and black pepper, stirring to ensure every strip gets properly coated with seasoning. Cook until the steak browns beautifully but stop before it becomes dry or overcooked, then transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Building Vegetable Foundation
- Keep about one tablespoon of the precious steak juices in the skillet for extra flavor depth that money cannot buy. Add sliced green bell pepper and onions, stirring well over medium heat until they begin to soften and caramelize. The bell pepper should retain slight crispness while the onion becomes tender and sweet, creating perfect texture contrast. When vegetables reach ideal tenderness, remove and set aside with the steak.
- Mastering Strategic Layering Technique
- Remove the skillet from heat and create the foundation by laying half the frozen waffle fries evenly across the bottom. Cover completely with four cheese slices, then distribute the cooked steak and sautéed vegetables evenly over the cheese layer. Add the remaining fries and top with remaining cheese slices. This strategic layering ensures melty cheese throughout while anchoring all the toppings securely.
- Achieving Perfect Oven Finish
- Transfer the loaded skillet to your preheated oven and bake for eight to ten minutes, watching carefully for the cheese to bubble and melt into golden perfection. Do not walk away during this crucial stage as the difference between perfect and overcooked happens quickly. The top should look beautifully golden with appealingly gooey edges throughout.
- Serving At Peak Perfection
- Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven using proper oven mitts and let it cool for just a moment so the cheese sets slightly without losing its molten appeal. Serve straight from the pan for maximum visual drama, or heap generously onto individual plates. Encourage everyone to dig in while everything remains hot and irresistibly cheesy.
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