12 Best Sides To Go With Philly Cheese Steaks

Whether you are a foodie wanting to try Philly Cheese Steak for the first time or a newbie cook trying to level up this dish, you certainly have to choose the best side that can complement this all-time East Coast favorite.

The Philly Cheese Steak, simply called cheese steak or cheese-steak sandwich, is arguably one of the most talked about and must-try dishes from Philadelphia.

It is a toasted sandwich or roll that is filled with thinly sliced ribeye steak and topped with mouthwatering melted provolone cheese.

It offers savory and cheesy goodness in every bite and can be enjoyed by people of different ages.

While Philly Cheese Steaks are already good on their own, there is no denying that they can even get better with a perfectly paired side dish.

A side dish, also called a side item, side order, or simply side, is a type of dish served on the side or separately along with the main dish.

It gives the meal more texture and flavor and makes the entire meal more attractive and appetizing. Additionally, it can add more nutrition, minerals, vitamins, and other substances that can be beneficial to the body.

The most famous side items for cheese steaks are usually anything deep fried like French fries and potato wedges.

These sides will never disappoint you but if you want a more exciting and enjoyable dining experience, you have to try matching this sandwich dish with other side dishes.

If you are looking for side items that you can order or make to complement your meal, this article is an absolute must-read for you. Today, we’ve rounded up the 12 best side dishes that can complete your Philly Cheese Steak meal.

Philly Cheese Steaks Side Dishes

1) Potato Sides

Nothing can go wrong with some potato side dishes like French fries, potato wedges, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, and potato salad.

These side dishes are popular all over the world and can go well with any of your favorite sandwiches, burgers, and even seafood! Potatoes are versatile and absolutely delicious.

They are also a good source of fiber that can help with digestion. However, eating large amounts of fried potato dishes can come with potential adverse side effects like weight gain, heart disease, and more.

So if you love French fries or potato wedges (like us), we highly recommend eating this side dish in moderate amounts. You can also try other healthier options next time.

2) Onion Rings

Next to French fries, this crispy, savory, and slightly sweet side is arguably a go-to choice for many. Onion rings can be fried, baked, and air fried depending on your preference.

They are easy to make with just sliced onions and some batter made from flour and seasonings. You can also just buy ready-to-cook onion rings in your nearby grocery stores.

If you are a big fan of onion, you may also try making blooming onion as a side.

Just like fried potato sides, fried onion rings and blooming onions can cause negative effects on your body because of the oil. So, if you want healthier onion sides, you can try to bake or air fry them instead.

3) Salad

If you are a health enthusiast or just trying to take a break from eating oily foods, opting for a salad side is definitely a good idea. Salads are naturally nutritious and attractive.

They can also give the dish additional texture that makes dining extra enjoyable. Moreover, they go along with tons of dishes and are very easy to make.

There are a variety of salad sides that you can choose from if you are in a restaurant and much more choices if you are making them at home.

The best salad sides you can try for cheese steaks are macaroni salad, potato salad, coleslaw, cucumber salad, and broccoli slaw. If you are feeling a little adventurous, you can make your salad side with ingredients other than vegetables like fruits, nuts and seeds, cheese, and more.

Still not sure what salad to make? How about this crunchy sweet and sour coleslaw from spend with pennies? Not only does this classic coleslaw recipe only need a few ingredients but also easy and fast to make!

4) Grilled Corn on the Cob

Grilled corn on the cob is probably the simplest side item you can ever eat with your chosen main course.

While it only requires minimal preparation and few ingredients, grilled corn on the cob can offer extreme flavors of sweet and smoky that are truly addicting.

Its vibrant color can also make the dish more attractive and appetizing. Ultimately, this dish is relatively healthy and good for digestive health.

5) Milkshake

We don’t know about you, but this drink brings us comfort. Pairing cheese steak with a creamy sweet beverage like a milkshake helps give the meal an overall balance of sweet and savory.

Any milkshake flavor can complement a cheese steak meal. Some popular milkshake flavors you can try are vanilla, cookies and cream, strawberry, and mint.

Feel free to mix and match your milkshake flavor so you can make your meal more personalized and special.

But before you down this drink, you have to take note that it can be unhealthy because of the sugar and fat. Hence, always drink your milkshake in moderation or according to the state of your health.

6) Fruit Cocktail

Fresh, sweet, and healthy, this is how we can describe a fruit cocktail as a side. A fruit cocktail is a combination of fruits with some cream and sweetener.

These fruits can be a combination of fresh, frozen, and even dried fruits. It is a fun way to give children and adults fruits that are full of beneficial nutrients.

You can make homemade fruit cocktails with your choice of fruits or buy ready-to-eat fruit cocktails. Like salads, they are easy to make and only require fruits and additional ingredients like cream or milk.

7) Root Beer Float

Root beer floats give your meal a fizzy twist that can surely level up the dish. This drink is made with root beer topped with ice cream and other toppings like fruits or chocolate syrup.

It can be a drink and dessert and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you haven’t done root beer float before, this recipe from sugar and soul can help you out.

8) Fried Pickles and Okra

Fried pickles and Okra may not be the most popular side dishes but you certainly got to try these sides even once in your life!

Fried pickles are briny and salty crunchy sides that are best paired with some BBQ sauce. Nowadays, fried pickles are available in restaurants and you can even make some fried pickles at home.

The main ingredients for fried pickles are pickles and batter made with flour and seasonings.

If you want to try making fried pickles at home, this recipe from the food network will give you a detailed guide to perfecting this dish.

If you are in the mood for a mildly tasting dish with a slight sweetness and grassy notes, fried okra is a fantastic side for you. Like fried pickles, fried okra is also easy to make at home.

For the most part, you will just need okra and a batter made with flour, eggs, and seasonings. If you are interested in making fried okra at home, you should check out this easy recipe from Allrecipes.

9) Nachos

Nachos are a versatile food item that can be paired with the meat and vegetables of your choice.

They can be a complete meal, appetizer, snack, or side order. You can find nachos from almost all local food retailers and restaurants nowadays.

Nachos have a plain salty taste that can make any dish taste better. But if you are looking for more flavors, you can add extra ingredients to level up this all-time Mexican favorite.

Some ingredients you can add to your tacos are vegetables, meats, beans, pico de gallo, and more condiments like mayonnaise, hot sauce, or cheese.

While nachos can be a treat, most of their ingredients are processed making them high in calories and low in beneficial nutrients like fiber and vitamins.

Because of this, we recommend eating this dish along with fresh healthy ingredients like vegetables.

To help you incorporate more vegetables into your nachos, here is a loaded vegetable nachos recipe you can try from cookie and kate.

10) Mozzarella Sticks

Who wants more cheese in their cheese-steak? We do! Mozzarella sticks are probably one of the most commonly picked sides for a meal because of their cheesy flavor and firm and chewy texture.

They are also easy to make and only require a few ingredients.

To make mozzarella sticks, all you have to do is cut your mozzarella block into sticks, freeze the sticks for about one to two hours, dip the sticks in egg and bread crumbs, and deep fry.

You may freeze your mozzarella sticks again after breading so you can have a future supply of ready-to-cook mozzarella sticks.

You can eat mozzarella sticks without any condiments or enjoy them with some tomato or marinara sauce.

11) Sautéed Mushrooms

Are you looking for a side that is fat-free, low in sodium, fiber enriched, and packed with vitamins and minerals? If yes, then sautéed mushrooms are for you.

From its name, sautéed mushrooms are mushrooms fried quickly in hot oil or butter.

Depending on your preferred taste, you can add various ingredients to your sautéed mushrooms such as garlic, rosemary, olive oil, and other seasonings.

You can also use any kinds of mushrooms you like or whichever is available.

Sautéed mushrooms are easy and quick to make and only require a few ingredients. Mushrooms are also relatively cheap and easy to find so you won’t need to break a sweat to enjoy a healthy yummy side.

12) Baked Beans

Baked beans are one of the classic side items that you can always see on a restaurant menu. This dish gives any meal sweet and tomato-like flavors that can make the meal more appealing.

It is easy to make and only requires a few ingredients as well. If you don’t like cooking from scratch, you can also just use canned baked beans that are available in many grocery stores and retailers.

Canned baked beans also come in different flavors that you and your family can enjoy.

Although canned beans are very convenient to just open and serve on a plate, you can always upgrade this dish to make it extra special.

We particularly like to level up our canned baked beans with some brown sugar and onion. If that is too basic for you, you can try this Kicked-Up Canned Baked Beans recipe by fromachef’skitchen. com.

Alternatives

Do you have no time to make a side dish? Are you not in the mood for some sides? That’s totally fine! If you prefer to skip the sides but you feel like a cheesesteak sandwich is too plain for you, you can always go for additional toppings and condiments instead of side items.

The best toppings you can add to your cheesesteak meal are

Pickles
Caramelized or fresh onion
Sweet and spicy peppers
Banana peppers
Mushrooms
Grated cheese
Pepperoni
Bacon
Fresh toppings like lettuce and tomatoes

For condiments, you can opt for

Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Steak sauce
Hot sauce
Horseradish sauce
Pizza sauce
Cheese sauce
Tomato sauce

Making a Side Dish

Unlike cooking, making a side dish only requires minimal cooking skills and effort.

They typically only take a couple of minutes and are also relatively cheap to make. Moreover, there are now more recipes available online or in published papers so you can make any side you want a lot easier.

Some sides are available pre-made or pre-cooked in many supermarkets as well so you can just purchase and serve. Some of our favorite store-bought sides are salads, baked beans, and nachos.

We also like sides that are ready to cook like frozen fries, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and more.

If making or buying a pre-made or ready-to-cook side is still not suitable for your busy schedule, you can always have them delivered to your home.

For the past couple of years, food delivery services have become a sought-after service and an efficient way to satisfy cravings. So if you have no time and energy to make a side, just click and order.

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