Chicago-Style Italian Beef Sandwich (Print Version)

Slow-cooked beef on crusty rolls with giardiniera and au jus

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef Preparation

01 - 3 lbs beef chuck roast
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Cooking Liquid

05 - 2 cups beef broth
06 - 1 cup water
07 - 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
08 - 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning
09 - 1 tsp garlic powder
10 - 1 tsp onion powder
11 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
12 - 1 bay leaf

→ For Serving

13 - 6 sturdy Italian sandwich rolls or hoagie rolls
14 - 1 1/2 cups hot giardiniera, drained
15 - 1 cup roasted sweet bell peppers
16 - Extra au jus from the pot for dipping

# How-To Steps:

01 - Pat beef chuck roast dry with paper towels and season evenly with kosher salt and black pepper on all sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or slow cooker insert over medium-high heat. Sear beef on all sides until deeply browned, approximately 3–4 minutes per side.
03 - Add beef broth, water, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes if using, and bay leaf to the pot.
04 - Bring liquid to a simmer, then cover. Transfer to a 325°F oven and braise for 4 hours, flipping once halfway through, or cook in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours until beef is very tender.
05 - Remove beef to a cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes. Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid. Shred beef using two forks, discarding any large fat pieces, then return shredded meat to the pot to absorb the juices.
06 - Split Italian sandwich rolls in half and toast lightly if desired.
07 - Pile hot shredded beef onto each roll, spooning a bit of au jus over the meat. Top generously with giardiniera and roasted sweet peppers if using.
08 - Serve sandwiches immediately with extra au jus on the side for dipping.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The meat becomes impossibly tender after hours of slow cooking, practically falling apart at the mere mention of a fork
  • That spicy crunch from giardiniera cuts right through the rich beef, creating this perfect balance thats honestly addictive
  • The leftover gravy in your fridge means tomorrow lunch is already sorted and possibly even better
02 -
  • Slicing the beef against the grain before shredding makes an enormous difference in texture
  • The rolls need to be sturdy enough to handle dunking without completely disintegrating into your hands
  • Resting the meat before shredding keeps all those juices where they belong instead of running onto your cutting board
03 -
  • Always buy extra giardiniera because you'll want it on everything once you discover how good it is
  • Set up a dipping station with small bowls of extra au jus so everyone can control their own mess level
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