Aug 26 2026
Restaurants›Vitos Famous Cheesesteaks›Cowboy Cheesesteak Recipe

Cowboy Cheesesteak Recipe

Inspired by Vitos Famous Cheesesteaks
Time35m
Serves4

This sandwich is smothered in BBQ sauce and drizzled with ranch on top of: Crispy onions ~ Ribeye steak ~ Bacon

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Ingredients

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Steak & Filling

Sauces & Finish

Crispy Onions & Toppings

Bread & Cheese

Method

Prep & Cook Bacon

  1. 1

    Cook bacon

    Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 6–8 minutes, flipping as needed. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. When cool, chop into bite-size pieces. Reserve 1 teaspoon bacon fat in the pan and discard excess, or use vegetable oil if none remains.

Sear Steak & Vegetables

  1. 2

    Prep steak

    If your ribeye is not already thinly sliced, freeze for 20–30 minutes to firm, then slice against the grain into very thin strips (about 1/8–1/4-inch thick). Pat the slices dry with paper towel.

  2. 3

    Season steak

    In a bowl, toss the sliced steak with kosher salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika until evenly coated.

  3. 4

    Sear

    Heat a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and the reserved teaspoon of bacon fat if available. Once shimmering, add the sliced steak in a single layer (work in batches if needed) and let sear undisturbed for about 45–60 seconds to get a bit of crust, then stir and cook until just browned but still juicy, 1–2 minutes more. Remove steak to a plate and set aside.

  4. 5

    Cook onions & peppers

    In the same pan, add the thinly sliced onion and bell pepper. Sauté over medium-high heat 3–5 minutes until softened and beginning to caramelize. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more. Return the steak and chopped bacon to the pan, toss to combine, and warm through, about 1 minute.

Sauce & Combine

  1. 6

    Add BBQ sauce

    Reduce heat to medium. Pour 3/4 cup barbecue sauce over the steak mixture and stir to coat thoroughly. Cook 1–2 minutes until sauce is heated and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust: add the optional teaspoon of mustard if you want extra tang.

  2. 7

    Combine with cheese

    Split the rolls and butter the cut sides. Heat a clean skillet or griddle over medium heat and toast the buttered cut sides until golden, about 1–2 minutes. Pile an even portion of the sauced steak mixture into the bottom half of each roll (about 1/4 lb steak mixture per sandwich). Top each portion with two provolone slices and cover briefly with the pan lid or a sheet of foil so the cheese melts, about 1 minute.

Assemble & Finish

  1. 8

    Top & dress

    Drizzle about 1 tablespoon ranch dressing per sandwich over the melted cheese. Sprinkle crispy fried onions liberally (about 1/4 cup per sandwich). Add pickled jalapeños and chopped cilantro/parsley if using.

  2. 9

    Serve

    Close the sandwich, press gently, slice in half if desired, and serve immediately while hot and melty.

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