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Savory, deeply seasoned, and built on shredded king oyster mushrooms that fool people into thinking there’s meat in the sandwich, this vegetarian Philly cheesesteak is the real deal. Melted provolone, sautéed peppers and onions, and a soft hoagie roll round it into something that transports you straight to South Philadelphia.
save this recipe!Two things make this vegetarian cheesesteak work. First, the mushroom. King oyster mushrooms have a dense, fibrous structure that shreds into long strips with a fork, mimicking the pulled texture of thinly sliced steak in a way most plant-based substitutes can’t touch.
Second, and just as important, the seasoning has to do real work. Soy sauce and vegan Worcestershire build a savory depth that makes the mushrooms taste like they belong in a cheesesteak rather than next to one.
- Ready in 25 minutes from start to finish
- Easily made fully vegan with a cheese swap
- Leftovers reheat well for up to four days
Reader rating
“Seriously!!!! Who knew you could still have a steak and cheese sub while being vegetarian?! This totally did it for me and was so fast and easy!!! Couldn’t tell it was mushrooms and picked up the flavors perfectly!!” —Erin
here’s what you’ll need
This is just an overview! Jump to the recipe for measurements and instructions.
- King Oyster Mushrooms: By shredding king oyster mushrooms roughly with a fork, you get thin, meaty pieces of mushroom perfect for replacing beefsteak. They can be found in most health food or Asian grocery stores.
- Peppers and Onion: Cooked separately from the mushrooms so they retain some bite rather than turning fully soft. Adding them back in at the end keeps the texture varied throughout the sandwich.
- Cheese: It’s not a cheesesteak without a few slices of provolone or American cheese! Both melt well and deliver the classic cheesesteak finish. Provolone has a sharper, more distinct flavor; American melts the smoothest and most evenly.
- Hoagie rolls: A soft roll with enough structure to hold the filling without falling apart is essential. Toast lightly before filling for the best texture contrast.
Make Them Vegan
You can make these mushroom cheesesteak sandwiches by substituting the cheese for a cashew-based vegan cheese sauce, either store-bought or homemade.
“What if I can’t find king oyster mushrooms?”
King oyster mushrooms aren’t always easy to find. If your grocery store doesn’t carry them, maitake and portobello are the closest substitutes, though neither shreds quite as cleanly. King oyster mushrooms have a dense, fibrous structure that pulls apart into long strips with a fork, which is what gives this cheesesteak its meaty texture.
Check Asian grocery stores if your regular grocery store doesn’t carry them. They’re more consistently stocked there and often cheaper too.
Viral Vegetarian Cheesesteak (with Oyster Mushrooms!)
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp olive oil, divided, 30 mL
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
- 4 king oyster mushrooms
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 15 mL
- 1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce, 5 mL
- ½ tsp each smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 2 to 3 slices provolone or American cheese*
- 2 to 3 soft subs or hoagie rolls
Instructions
- Pepper and Onions: Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add 1 green bell pepper and 1 medium white onion (both sliced), cooking until soft and fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes.
- Shred Mushrooms. Meanwhile, shred 4 king oyster mushrooms with forks into rough strips.
- Cook Mushrooms: Remove pepper and onions from pan. Heat remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil then add mushrooms, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings. Cook over medium/high heat until mushrooms are soft and moisture has all cooked out, about 10 minutes.
- Cheese It: Add pepper and onions back into the pan, mixing into the mushrooms. Shape into 2 or 3 mounds then top each with cheese. Cover and cook until cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Serve: Transfer to rolls or buns and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!what to do with leftover king oyster mushrooms
If you have leftover mushrooms, you can use them to make any of these other meat copycat recipes.
- Easy Mushroom Carnitas: This vegan recipe can be used on nachos, in tacos, burritos, or bowls.
- Fried Oyster Mushrooms: These seriously taste like chicken with the most light and crispy breading!
This was really good. I really felt like I was eating a Philly Cheesesteak! Great flavor. Definitely a do over.
How many ounces are the 4 King Oyster Mushrooms? I bought sliced ones
Each mushroom should be about 2 to 4 oz.
My family and I enjoyed this recipe. I substituted white mushrooms for the king oyster mushrooms, and I added thinly sliced tofu as well. I wish I would have added liquid smoke like another reviewer did. I think that would have elevated this a little. Great tasting dish!
I’m so happy to hear it, Sara! It sounds delish with tofu! 😀
We made these for dinner tonight but I added spinach to the veggies and mayo, mustard and tomato to the toasted rolls. We will definitely make these again but I think it would be good for all the veggies to be coated in the soy sauce and vegan Worcestershire sauce but I’m not sure it maybe over powering.
This was super tasty! Building off a technique I saw on NYT Cooking, I “dry brined” the mushrooms for 30 minutes by adding the salt and all the spices to the raw mushrooms, tossing, and then letting them sit. Paid off with a lot of flavor—although I didn’t try the original version, so I don’t know if this created an improvement. Put it all on a soft toasted pita—YUM.
Love that idea! Thanks for trying it and so happy you enjoyed it!
This looks so good but I’m allergic to mushrooms. Is there something else I could use instead?
We haven’t tested this one with anything else because mushrooms are really at the center of the recipe, but I think you could try shaved tofu as an alternative!