The Best Philly Cheesesteak Sides
Philly cheesesteak is one of our household favorites. It makes a great, filling meal that’s relatively easy to make.
We love making sandwiches differently and rotating them for meals because it seems like they never get boring. One of the best things is, you can easily change up the sides that you serve to keep it interesting as well.
It’s easy to get into a funk and feel like you always serve the same things the same way. When you start to get into these cycles, it’s time to tear down the walls and get creative.
Changing up the side dishes for your meals can almost change the meal completely.
So, what are the best Philly cheesesteak sides? Some of the classic options to serve with Philly cheesesteak are fries and onion rings. Anything fried, like pickles, okra, or avocados, are great options in general. Other options include salads, chips, and even nachos.
In this guide, we will share with you some of our favorite sides to serve with Philly cheesesteaks. We have a good selection of options for you and maybe some that you hadn’t ever considered before.
We hope this will give you some new inspiration to work with!
What Is On a Philly Cheesesteak?
A Philly cheesesteak can be made a lot of different ways, but there are some traditional ingredients that should always be present.
The traditional way to make a Philly cheesesteak is with shredded steak, caramelized onions, peppers, and provolone cheese.
There are different ways to enjoy a Philly cheesesteak and there are a number of ingredients that have become quite popular for making them.
Here are some things you might want to try on your Philly cheesesteak:
- American cheese
- Ketchup and mustard
- Spicy or stone-ground mustard
- Hot peppers
- Mushrooms
- Banana peppers
- Jalapenos
- Bacon
- Mayonnaise
The 7 Best Philly Cheesesteak Sides
We could go through sides all day, but at some point, you might get tired of reading them.
So, we’ve narrowed them down to our top picks to share with you. We won’t be sharing full recipes here, but we will give you all of the details and inspiration so you know just what your side options are and how to put them to good use.
1. French Fries
Fries are a classic side. You probably already know this option, but we’re going to spend some time on it anyway.
This is probably one of the most common sides you will ever see or hear about when it comes to Philly cheesesteaks, and with good reason.
There’s just something about those salty, crispy, golden potato wedges that make us go craving crazy.
It’s almost like hamburgers. You just serve them with fries. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, right? Here’s the thing. There are so many different types of fries!
While you can just use frozen fries and toss them in the oven or air fryer, or even get microwave fries for a quick side, the best option is to make your own homestyle fries however you like them!
From here, you can also season your fries or load them up with toppings as well. Cheese fries or garlic parmesan fries are some delicious options that pair nicely with Philly cheesesteaks.
If you really want to change it up, you can make all kinds of different fries out of other foods, such as pickles, okra, avocados, and sweet potatoes.
Deep-fried avocados, in particular, offer a unique and fresh taste that compliments the flavors of Philly cheesesteak wonderfully.
Some people even make Philly cheesesteak fries instead of sandwiches, creating a side dish and main dish all in one delicious, cheesy package.
2. Coleslaw
Coleslaw is another popular side with Philly cheesesteak. Many times, you can get the best of all 3 worlds at restaurants that serve fries and coleslaw together with their Philly cheesesteaks.
Coleslaw has vinegar in the sauce and the combination enhances the flavors of a Philly cheesesteak.
The refreshing, crisp, and light flavor of coleslaw is also a nice respite for your taste buds from all the heavy flavors of cheese and steak and caramelized onions.
Some people even like to add coleslaw to their sandwiches rather than as a side dish.
Coleslaw is nice because you can make or purchase a large batch at once, but it also doesn’t take a lot of effort to make. It doesn’t require any hot oil or frying in order to prepare it, either.
If you want to keep it simple, coleslaw is a great option for you.
3. Onion Rings
Onion rings are yet another classic option where you can’t go wrong. Your Philly cheesesteak will most likely have onions and peppers on it, but onion rings are a whole different option and bring a new flavor to the table.
Onion rings can be fried or baked. You can purchase them already prepared or you can bread them and make them from scratch on your own; it’s totally up to you.
We have a few recipes of our own for you to check out, one for onion rings without eggs and one for onion rings without milk.
Prepare your onion rings to a crispy, golden brown, and that crunch will pair nicely with the Philly cheesesteak you’re preparing as well.
If you’re going to use onion rings as a side, you probably don’t need anything else except your favorite dipping sauce. If you want a little something else, keep it light and simple. Maybe add a salad or a slaw.
4. Nachos
Mmmmm… who doesn’t love nachos? Can you really get any better than a delicious Philly cheesesteak and a side of nachos? Probably not!
The nice thing about nachos is you can load them with whatever toppings you like or keep it simple and just use some nacho cheese.
It’s really that easy. Nachos are pretty simple to make and they are very customizable to your preferences.
If you really want to change things up, forget making the nachos a side dish and just make Philly cheesesteak nachos instead. Yum!
Don’t take our word for it, though. Give it a try and let us know how you like it!
5. Chips
Chips are a great old reliable side. They are simple and effective. Chips go nicely with Philly cheesesteaks because they have that salty flavor and crunchy style.
They’re a winner for many of the same reasons that things like onion rings and fries are.
What kind of chips? It really doesn’t matter. Use what you have on hand, make your own chips, or try a new flavor of chips. Try to use a flavor that will complement Philly cheesesteaks.
We recommend sea salt and vinegar, something with a cheesy flavor, or perhaps a BBQ option.
One of our favorite chips to pair with Philly cheesesteaks is a kettle-style chip. You can have them flavored or just plain and they are so perfect for a side dish.
Whether you purchase a bag of chips or make some of your own homemade, this is a classic side that will work really well.
6. Potato or Macaroni Salad
If you want to change it up a bit and stay away from the fried foods, try using a potato salad or macaroni salad for a side. If you don’t like to make them, you can visit your local deli and buy some already made.
However, if you like to prepare your own sides, these are pretty simple to make and, again, you can change up the flavors or make them to your own taste.
Both potato salad and macaroni salad can be made in a lot of different ways and a little goes a long way.
This is a simple side that doesn’t require extensive effort and you can serve it chilled. You can make it ahead and not have to worry about whether it will still be fresh and tasty when you’re ready to serve the Philly cheesesteaks.
7. Salad
If you want to keep your side a bit on the healthier side, a salad is always a great option. Make a side salad and keep it simple. Most Philly cheesesteaks are going to have veggies in them, so you don’t need to go all out.
You can use some of the same veggies from your sandwiches or you can stick to simple things like lettuce, spinach, carrots, and tomatoes. It’s really up to you!
We recommend using a creamy type of dressing or something with vinegar. These will contrast well with a Philly cheesesteak and complement the flavor, melding all of the parts of the meal into perfect harmony for your enjoyment.
