BUDGET FRIENDLY PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SANDWICH

Guys!  Check out my budget-friendly Philly cheesesteak sandwich made with ground beef and sautéed onions and peppers. I combined the classic flavors of the traditional Philly cheesesteak with a wallet-friendly twist. Using ground beef instead of steak not only saves money, but also adds a great texture to the sandwich.  It's a budget-friendly sandwich that will have you coming back for seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb lean ground beef

• 2 tbsp butter

• 1 onion, diced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 green bell pepper, diced

• 1/2 jalapeño or more depending on your spice tolerance, seeded and diced (optional)

• 1 cup diced mushrooms (optional)

• 2 tablespoons ketchup

• 1 1/2  tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1/2 teaspoon each of salt & fresh ground black pepper

• 1/4 tsp red chili flakes

• 1 tablespoon  cornstarch

• 1  cup beef broth

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 tsp dried parsley

• 1/2 tsp paprika

• Provolone Cheese Slices or any other cheese you prefer

• 6 soft sub or brioche buns

DIRECTIONS

1. Add the ground beef to a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat.  Press down and allow to cook untouched for 3-4 minutes until a deep brown crust appears on the bottom before turning it up in chunks. Press it down again and then let it cook untouched for another 2-3 minutes until a crust again forms on the meat. Continue to cook this way until half of the meat is crispy brown.  This adds delicious depth of flavour and texture to this dish. 

2. With a slotted spoon, remove the beef to a separate bowl.  If there is a lot of fat remaining, drain all but a couple tablespoons and add the butter to the pan.  Add the onions, bell peppers, jalapenos and mushrooms and brown for 3-5 minutes stirring occasionally.  Stir in the paprika, oregano, parsley, red chili flakes and salt & pepper.

3. Add the cooked ground beef back into the pan.

4. In a small bowl or cup, blend the cornstarch into the beef broth and pour into the beef.

5. Add the ketchup, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, to the beef and stir to combine.

6. Cook over medium low heat for 3-6 minutes until liquids are thickened and absorbed. 

7. Spoon over toasted garlic buns (recipe below) and top with provolone or any other cheese you prefer.
   

TOASTED GARLIC BUNS

Blend together:

1/2 cup softened butter

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

2 cloves minced garlic 

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp parsley

Cut buns open and spread garlic butter over each side.  Broil or grill until nicely toasted.