• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dianne's Vegan Kitchen
  • Home
  • Meet Dianne
  • Health Coaching
  • Cooking Classes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Meet Dianne
  • Health Coaching
  • Cooking Classes
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Vegan Recipes

    Vegan Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches

    Published: Sep 24, 2019 · Modified: May 12, 2023 by Dianne · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Philly cheesesteaks get a healthy makeover in this easy recipe! Vegan Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches are the ultimate veggie-packed comfort food meal. With the combination of meaty mushrooms and creamy dairy-free cashew cheese, these tasty sandwiches are a lunchtime favorite in my house! They're great for a light dinner, too.

    Vegan Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwich with text overlay

    Philly Cheesesteaks

    I ate a lot of cheesesteaks in my younger years. Well, what I ate could probably barely pass for what we know as a cheesesteak, but that’s what I called it. My mom frequently bought frozen Steak-Umms, which were easy enough for a teenager to heat up. I would cook the thin slices of “meat” and then put them on a roll with American cheese, and that would be my meal.

    portobello cheesesteak sandwich in my hand

    Of course, I gave those disgusting sandwiches up after going vegetarian during college. There was a point in the mid-2000s when Tofurky was making cheesesteak-style slices, and I would cook them up and serve them with Tofutti cheese on a bun. Those sandwiches weren’t much better than the ones I ate as a teen, but there was a certain nostalgic quality to them.

    drizzling cheese sauce on sandwiches

    Vegan Cheesesteaks

    Since then, I’ve had cheesesteak sandwiches at various vegan eateries. Most of them have been seitan based, and all of them have been much tastier than those Steak-Umm sandwiches from my meat-eating days. I like to make them at home, and when I do, I often use hearty portobello mushrooms.

    Portobello mushrooms are a great substitute for meat when veganizing omnivore recipes. And they're loaded with nutrients, so they're a much healthier option! Portobellos are low in calories and fat-free, and they are a good source of copper, selenium, and vitamin B6.

    portobellos, peppers, onion, cheese sauce

    How to Make Vegan Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches

    These Portobello Cheesesteaks are super easy to make! You just slice your veggies and throw them in a pan!

    • First, you cook the onion until it begins to soften and brown.
    • Then, you add the mushrooms, peppers, and spices to the pan and continue to cook.
    • Once all of the vegetables are soft, you just place the mixture in rolls and top with cheesy sauce.

    It's that simple!

    cooked mushrooms and peppers

    Recipe Notes

    I like to use my Cashew Cheese Sauce in this recipe. It's easy to make, and it freezes well, so I often have some on hand. Veggie-Packed Vegan Cheese Sauce can be used, too. You can also use store-bought dairy-free cheese sauce, if you're short on time.

    close up of vegan portobello cheesesteak sandwich
    Subscribe banner horizontal
    two portobello cheesesteaks square

    Vegan Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches

    Dianne
    Philly cheesesteaks get a healthy makeover in this easy recipe! Vegan Portobello Cheesesteak Sandwiches are the ultimate veggie-packed comfort food meal. Paired with a side salad, they're terrific for lunch or dinner.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Sandwich
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 Sandwiches
    Calories 294 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 teaspoon neutral-flavored vegetable oil
    • 1 medium yellow onion sliced into half-moons
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 4 large Portobello mushrooms sliced into thin strips
    • 1 red bell pepper sliced into thin strips
    • green bell pepper sliced into thin strips
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • pinch red pepper flakes optional
    • 4 whole wheat or gluten-free submarine sandwich rolls
    • ½ cup Cashew Cheese Sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
    • Add the garlic, mushrooms, bell peppers, salt, black pepper, onion, garlic, and red pepper. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the mushrooms are fragrant, soft, and browned around the edges.
    • While the vegetables are cooking, slice and toast the rolls.
    • Divide the mushroom mixture evenly among the four rolls. Top each sandwich with 2 tablespoons of cashew cheese. Serve immediately.
    Calories: 294kcal
    Tried this recipe?Tag @diannewenz on Instagram!
    two vegan portobello cheesesteak sandwiches

    Other Mushroom Recipes You Might Enjoy Include:

    • Sloppy Joes with Tempeh and Mushrooms
    • Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
    • Roasted Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Shepherd’s Pie
    fork with a slice of shepherds pie
    « Peanut Satay Tofu Triangles from The 5-Ingredient Vegan
    Vegan Chickpea Tetrazzini Casserole »

    About Dianne

    Dianne Wenz is a Certified Holistic Health Coach, Vegan Lifestyle Coach, Plant-Based Diet Nutrition Specialist, and Plant-Based Chef, as well as the author of Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook.

    Subscribe banner horizontal

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Becky Striepe

      June 01, 2016 at 8:11 am

      Oh my gosh, that looks so good! I love that you're using homemade cheese sauce, too!

    2. Dianne

      June 01, 2016 at 9:47 am

      Thank you, Becky!

    3. Leinana Two Moons

      June 01, 2016 at 1:25 pm

      Those look amazing!!! I thought I was the only one who grew up making myself Steak-Umm sandwiches, I remember standing on a chair making them because I was too small to reach the stove!

    4. Dianne

      June 01, 2016 at 1:29 pm

      Thank you, Leinana! That's so funny! It's good to know that there's a fellow Steak-Umm survivor out there! 🙂

    5. Kristina

      June 01, 2016 at 3:38 pm

      mmm, I've been craving sandwiches like CRAY lately - this will have to be my next one!

    6. Dianne

      June 01, 2016 at 4:11 pm

      Enjoy!

    7. Cadry

      June 02, 2016 at 12:13 pm

      Wow, that is definitely my kind of sandwich! You've got to love a hearty sandwich that requires both hands for eating. 🙂

    8. Dianne

      June 02, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      Thank you, Cadry! Enjoy! 🙂

    9. Marzena

      February 28, 2021 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      We made this tonight and it was sooo good. It’s going into our rotation! Thank you so much!

    10. Dianne

      February 28, 2021 at 7:56 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Dianne in Kitchen

    Hi! I'm Dianne Wenz, a Board-Certified Health Vegan Health and Lifestyle Coach. I empower my clients to build new habits so they can reach their healthy living goals. I love to show others how easy it is to live a vegan lifestyle as well as how to cook deliciously easy plant-based meals. Contact me today to learn more and to schedule a complimentary breakthrough session!

    More about me →

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    The Big Book of Vegan Cooking

    Eating Vegan

    Truly Healthy Vegan Cookbook by Dianne Wenz

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Meet Dianne
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Updates

    • Get Updates from Dianne

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Health Coaching
    • Partner With Me
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Dianne Wenz. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission is strictly prohibited.