My salmon cheesesteak recipe is perfect for pescatarians and red meat lovers alike! This spin on sheet pan Philly cheesesteak turns onions, green and red bell peppers, and provolone cheese into a delicious Cajun salmon sandwich. Learn how to make cheesesteak with salmon, get the scoop on Philly cheesesteak sauce, and more. You’ll love how easy it is to whip up salmon Philly cheesesteak for dinner!

What is salmon cheesesteak? A salmon Philly cheesesteak is just what it sounds like- a cheesesteak made with salmon instead of beef. Some may argue salmon cheesesteak rolls aren’t “real” cheesesteaks, and indeed, it’s a divisive topic in Philadelphia.

That said, there are a lot of people who want a seafood cheesesteak because they don’t eat red meat. If you’re looking for the best salmon cheesesteak in Philly, I’d try Bella’s Breakfast & Lunch, the restaurant that invented the salmon cheesesteak (source). (They appear to be temporarily closed, but I’d keep checking back!)

Anyhow, I was recently searching for salmon cheesesteak near me, and came up empty-handed. The nearest salmon cheesesteak restaurant mentioned was in Philly, which isn’t local to me. So, I decided I needed to make homemade cheesesteak with salmon.

The result was this amazing combination of flaky salmon seasoned with Cajun spices, veggies, and cheese in a toasted roll. It’s much cheaper than taking a train into Philly, and pure heaven to my taste buds!

🐟 What goes on a salmon cheesesteak?

Here are the salmon cheesesteak ingredients:

• 2 large yellow onions
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
• 2 teaspoons Cajun spice
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1½ lb salmon (4 skin on, boneless, ¼-inch thick filets), about 680 grams
• 7 ounces provolone cheese slices
• 6 sub or hoagie rolls (toasted)
• Lemon wedges (for serving, optional)
• Salt and black pepper

You can use wild caught salmon or farmed salmon in this recipe. I recommend using salmon pieces that are of uniform thickness for even cooking.

If you don’t like Cajun spices, feel free to substitute with your favorite seasonings. Consider Old Bay seasoning, steak seasoning, or make a Jerk salmon cheesesteak recipe.

Double the amount of cheese I’m using if cheesesteaks for you are all about the cheese. I’m assuming most who want salmon cheesesteak want a lighter version, heavy on veggies, and moderate on cheese. That’s what’s I’m offering up today, but feel free to modify things for your taste buds.

Here are a few other things you need to make this salmon cheesesteak recipe:

• Large sheet pan (12×18 inch or 30×46 cm)
• Parchment paper
• Knife
• Silicone pastry brush
• Spatula
• Meat thermometer

Using a dark sheet pan may lead to a shorter cooking time.

➕ How to Make Salmon Cheesesteak

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making salmon cheesesteaks:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (218C). Line sheet pan with parchment paper.

2. Peel the onions and cut them in half. Slice them into thin half-moons. Remove the seeds from the bell peppers and thinly slice them as well.

3. Season the veggies with salt and pepper, and drizzle with one tablespoon oil. Place veggies on lined sheet pan and roast on a rack 1/3 down from the top of the oven for 18 minutes.

4. Brush remaining tablespoon of oil on the skinless side of the salmon using a pastry brush. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

5. After cooking time for veggies is up, use a spatula to push them to the edges of the sheet pan. Place the seasoned salmon fillets in the middle of the tray. Return the pan with the salmon to the oven, and bake 8-10 minutes more. Use a meat thermometer to check the salmon for doneness (the safe internal temp is 145F or 63C).

6. Once the salmon is cooked, turn the oven off. Carefully remove the salmon from the pan and chop it into bite-size pieces. Return the salmon to the hot pan and mix with the veggies. Top the salmon and veggies with the slices of provolone cheese.

7. Return the pan to the hot (but off) oven. Allow the cheese to melt (it will only take 1-2 minutes). Serve the salmon cheesesteak filling in toasted hoagie rolls with fresh lemon wedges for squeezing.

To toast hoagie buns, I air fry them cut side up for 2-4 minutes at 400F (200C). Toasting the rolls is important to help keep them from getting soggy.

⭐ Salmon Cheesesteak Sauce Recipe

Authentic Philly cheesesteaks don’t include sauce (except maybe Cheez Whiz), and we’re sticking to the classic formula on that front. If you do want Philly cheesesteak sauce, however, there’s no reason you couldn’t add some remoulade sauce or cheese sauce.

Philly sauce is a creamy cheese sauce made with cheese, milk, and only sometimes flour. I used cheddar cheese in my keto cheese sauce recipe, but you can experiment with adding other cheese too. Provolone cheese sauce, Gruyere, Swiss, Parm, mozzarella, or even pepper jack would be a nice flavor twist.

🍟 What to Serve with Salmon Philly Cheesesteak

Potato chips or fries are classic side dishes for cheesesteak. Here are some foods that go with salmon cheesesteak:

• Waffle Fries in Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
• Air Fryer Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
• Vegan Spinach Salad
• Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables (try broccoli)

One more idea is to use the filling to make salmon cheesesteak sliders instead of sub sandwiches and serve with grits.

️🌡️ How to Store Salmon Cheesesteak

This salmon cheesesteak sandwich is best enjoyed freshly made. Keep leftover cheesesteak filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 days. Reheat in a microwave-safe bowl for about 1 minute on high, and serve in freshly toasted sub rolls.

📋 Salmon Cheesesteak Calories

This salmon cheesesteak recipe has 578 calories, 44.7 grams net carbohydrates, and 44.2 grams protein per serving. Nutrition information will vary depending on the hoagie rolls used, and number of servings you split the recipe into. To make the recipe gluten free, use your favorite GF sub rolls and seasoning.

FAQs

What makes an authentic Philly cheesesteak?

An authentic Philly cheesesteak uses sliced ribeye steak, cheese, and optional fried onions on an Italian roll. Provolone, Cheese Wiz, or American cheese are the types of cheese used in an authentic cheesesteak.

What kind of meat is best for Philly cheesesteak?

Geno’s Steaks in Philly says that all agree that ribeye steak is best for cheesesteak.

What kind of sauce is good on a Philly cheesesteak?

The original Philly cheese steak doesn’t have any sauce, except perhaps Cheez Whiz. If you want sauce on your cheesesteak, cheese sauce, tomato sauce, or garlic aioli (mayonnaise) are good.

What is the difference between Italian cheesesteak and Philly cheesesteak?

Some call the Chicago cheesesteak (a sandwich with roast beef and giardiniera) an Italian cheesesteak. Others call an Italian cheesesteak a sub with steak, cheese, onions, peppers, and marinara sauce. Both of these differ from the classic Philly cheesesteak filled with just steak, cheese, and optional onions.

😋 More Salmon Recipes

Looking for more ways to cook salmon? Try these tasty recipes for salmon:

• How Long to Bake Salmon at 375
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon
• Costco Stuffed Salmon
• How Long to Smoke Salmon at 200
• Air Fryer Salmon Patties

You may also enjoy this Air Fryer Philly Cheese Steak Recipe.

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