Skip to Content

Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak (15 Kinds of Bread)

Looking for the best bread for your Philly cheesesteak?

Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak

If you’re anything like us, you can’t stand when sandwich bread falls apart when you try to eat it.

Especially not when it’s supposed to hold together a juicy beef patty and melty cheese!

That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favorite breads to use for this classic sandwich.

Whether you’re looking for something traditional or want to branch out, keep reading.

Note: Looking for what meat to use for Philly cheesesteak? Then check out this post!

Or, check out this post if you need to know the best cheese for Philly cheesesteak!

What’s the Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak?

The best bread for Philadelphia cheesesteak is a sub roll, also known as an Italian roll. The sub roll is a long, round loaf of bread that’s perfect for sandwiches, and it has the perfect amount of heft to hold up to the juicy meat and gooey cheese.

Philly Cheesesteak

Still looking for more options?

Then keep scrolling!

1. Ciabatta

Ciabatta Bread

This Italian bread has a very open structure that allows for maximum flavor absorption, but it can be fragile enough that its crumbly texture won’t make too much of a mess when you eat it.

2. Sourdough

Warm Sourdough Bread

This hearty loaf is made with wild yeast instead of commercial yeast, which gives it extra-rich flavor and an especially chewy texture that holds together well without being too tough on the teeth.

3. Pain au Levain

Pain au Levain

This crusty French loaf is dense enough to hold up under all the weight of an overstuffed sandwich, but not so tough that it’s difficult to chew or swallow.

It also has a mild sourdough flavor that makes it perfect for soaking up any excess moisture from messy ingredients like tomato sauce or hot peppers!

4. Brioche or Pullman loaf

Brioche

These loaves are similar in texture to ciabatta, but they’re usually slightly sweeter and more buttery—which makes them great for sandwiches like this one!

They’ll still break down a little bit as you bite into them, but their delicate nature makes them a lot more manageable than traditional sandwich breads.

5. Sourdough rye

Sourdough rye
Source: https://heartbeetkitchen.com/

This hearty loaf is great for sandwiches because it contains both wheat flour and rye flour—which means more flavor and texture than just plain wheat bread.

Plus, since sourdough starters are fermented longer than regular yeast-raised doughs, they’re easier to digest.

6. Pumpernickel

Pumpernickel bread

This hearty German loaf has a dense, moist crumb with a slightly sour flavor that makes it perfect for soaking up all the juices from the meat, cheese, and onions in your sandwich.

It also has an almost crunchy crust that helps keep everything together as you bite into it.

7. Wheaten Baguettes

Wheaten Baguettes
Source: kingarthurbaking.com

You want something hearty and substantial for your philly cheesesteak so that it stays together when you bite into it—we recommend wheaten baguettes!

Their sturdy structure will give your sandwich staying power while still keeping things light enough that they don’t weigh down your stomachs after eating them!

8. Naan

Naan Bread

Naan is an Indian flatbread traditionally made with white flour, but if you find the right kind, it has a great texture that will hold up well during lunchtime—and won’t make too big of a mess if you don’t finish your sandwich in one bite.

9. Whole-wheat tortilla wrap

Whole-wheat tortilla wrap
Source: 100daysofrealfood.com

A whole-wheat tortilla wrap is also good for making sandwiches because it doesn’t fall apart easily and has just enough structure to hold together whatever ingredients are inside of it!

10. Focaccia

Focaccia bread

If you’re looking for something more soft, try focaccia!

This flatbread has much more flexibility than other types of breads and will hold up better than either ciabatta or sourdough if you prefer the traditional “pull-apart” style of eating philly cheesesteaks.

11. Pane Bianco

Pane Bianco
Source: kingarthurbaking.com/

Pane Bianco is an Italian bread that’s similar to ciabatta, but with a lighter crust and softer interior (and usually made from white flour).

Its airy texture will keep your sandwich intact while still letting the flavors of your ingredients shine through.

12. Pretzel Roll

Pretzel Roll
Source: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/

Because pretzel rolls are dense and don’t fall apart as easily as other types of bread, they’re the perfect choice if you’re looking for something sturdy enough to hold everything together while still being easy enough to eat in one bite.

13. Pita Bread

Pita bread

Because pita pockets are already open-faced, they’ll also soak up all the juices from your meat and cheese without crumbling apart as soon as you touch them with your fork—or even while you’re eating them!

And since they’re already pre-cut into slices, they’ll make your meal prep super easy and delicious.

14. Challah

Challah Bread

This Jewish bread is light and airy with just the right amount of chewiness, which makes it perfect for soaking up your favorite marinara sauce without getting soggy or falling apart.

15. Soft Pretzel buns

Soft Pretzel buns
Source: foodrepublic.com

Pretzels are already pretty soft on their own, so why not use them as buns?

These pretzel buns have an extra bit of crunch from being baked in saltwater before being browned in oil, but they’re also sturdy enough to hold up under all the juiciness of your favorite cheesesteak toppings—and even some extra sauce if you’re feeling saucy!

What Exactly Makes a Good Bread for A Philly Cheesesteak?

breads

First off, it has to be soft enough that it doesn’t tear when you bite into it. That’s pretty much a given.

But how soft is too soft?

It depends on your preference.

Some people like their bread super soft and squishy while others prefer a more firm crust.

It’s up to you!

Next up: texture and taste.

You want your bread to have some good chewiness without being too hard on your teeth or having tough little breadcrumbs stuck between them after eating the sandwich (gross).

It should also have some flavor—but not so much that you can’t taste anything else!

Finally: moisture level! This is where things get tricky because ideally we’d like our bread to be both moist and dry at the same time.

It should be moist enough that it doesn’t feel dry or stale in your mouth but also not so moist that it turns into mush when you bite into it.

Philly Cheesesteak with onions

Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak (15 Kinds of Bread)

If you're a Philly Cheesesteak fan, you know that bread is the most important part of the sandwich. But what if you could make your favorite sandwich even better?
We've got an idea: why not switch up the bread?
When you think about it, there are so many different kinds of bread out there that it makes sense to try something new. We've been experimenting with our own Philly Cheesesteak recipes lately and have found that switching up the bread can be a fun way to experiment with different flavors and textures.
For example, we tried making our favorite sandwich on a baguette—it was delicious! The crusty outside gave us extra crunch while still being soft inside. It also absorbed some of the delicious juices released by the meat as we ate it, making each bite even more flavorful than before.
So if you're looking for a new twist on your favorite sandwich or just want to mix things up a bit without losing any of your favorite elements from classic recipes like this one, consider giving baguettes or other types of bread a shot!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 350 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Ciabatta
  • Sourdough
  • Pain au Levain
  • Brioche or Pullman loaf
  • Sourdough rye
  • Pumpernickel
  • Wheaten Baguettes
  • Naan
  • Whole-wheat tortilla wrap
  • Pane Bianco
  • Pretzel Roll
  • Pita Bread
  • Challah
  • Soft pretzel buns

Instructions
 

  • Pick your favorite kind of bread from this list to use with your Philly sandwich.
  • Prepare the rest of your meal.
  • Be ready to munch on your sandwich in no time!
Keyword Best Bread for Philly Cheesesteak
CEO at Happy Muncher | benjamin@happymuncher.com | Website | + posts

Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.