Italian Beef Sandwich Chicago Style (Printer-friendly)

Tender braised beef on Italian rolls with giardiniera and au jus for dipping

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

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 thoroughly with kosher salt and black pepper on all sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear beef on all sides until deeply browned, about 3-4 minutes per side.
03 - Add beef broth, water, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and bay leaf to the pot.
04 - Bring to a simmer, cover, and transfer to a 325°F oven. Braise for 4 hours, flipping once halfway through, until beef is fork-tender and easily shreds.
05 - Remove beef to a cutting board and rest for 10 minutes. Skim excess fat from the cooking liquid. Shred beef with two forks, removing large fat pieces, then return to the pot to soak in juices.
06 - Split Italian sandwich rolls in half and toast lightly if desired.
07 - Pile hot shredded beef onto each roll, spooning au jus over the meat. Top generously with giardiniera and roasted sweet peppers. Serve immediately with extra au jus for dipping.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The beef becomes so tender it literally falls apart under a fork, no knife needed
  • That giardiniera kick against the rich beef is exactly the kind of flavor contrast that makes you pause between bites
  • Leftovers somehow taste better the next day, if they survive that long
02 -
  • Do not skip the searing step, that brown crust is where most of the flavor develops
  • Letting the beef rest before shredding keeps the juices from running out onto your cutting board
  • The bread will start soaking up juice immediately, so assemble right before serving
03 -
  • Make the beef a day ahead and refrigerate, then skim off the solid fat before reheating
  • Warm the giardiniera slightly in some of the jus before topping the sandwiches
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