Description
Rich Italian beef sandwich brings hearty Chicago flavors to your dinner table. Tender slow-cooked beef nestled in crusty rolls creates a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 to 4 lbs (1.4 to 1.8 kg) beef chuck roast
- 4 cups (1 liter) beef broth
- 6 to 8 Italian rolls, split
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 sweet bell peppers, sliced and sauteed
- 1 cup giardiniera
- 8 slices provolone cheese (optional)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps Italian seasoning
- 2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup red wine (optional)
- hot banana peppers (optional)
- mushrooms (optional)
- horseradish sauce (optional)
- roasted garlic (optional)
- fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare a large pot over medium-high heat, drizzle olive oil, and carefully sear the beef chuck roast on all surfaces until a rich golden-brown crust forms, then transfer to a plate.
- In the same pot, caramelize onions until translucent and fragrant. Add garlic and quickly toast for 60 seconds, releasing its aromatic essence.
- Incorporate Italian seasoning, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes, bay leaves, salt, and black pepper, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Pour beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and optional red wine into the pot, creating a deeply flavored braising liquid.
- Reintroduce the seared beef, ensuring it’s fully submerged, then cover and reduce heat to low, allowing the meat to slowly tenderize for 3-4 hours at a gentle simmer.
- Once beef reaches fall-apart tenderness, remove from liquid and methodically shred using two forks, separating the meat into delicate strands.
- Return shredded beef to the aromatic broth, allowing it to absorb additional moisture and flavor for maximum succulence.
- Split Italian rolls lengthwise and generously layer with the succulent beef mixture.
- Embellish sandwiches with zesty giardiniera, sweet sauteed peppers, and optional melted provolone cheese.
- Customize with additional toppings like hot banana peppers, sauteed mushrooms, or a dollop of horseradish sauce, finishing with fresh parsley garnish.
Notes
- Customize the spice level by adjusting red pepper flakes or adding hot sauce for extra kick.
- Opt for lean chuck roast to reduce fat content while maintaining rich, tender meat texture.
- Slow cooker method works perfectly if you prefer hands-off cooking approach.
- Consider gluten-free rolls or lettuce wraps for low-carb alternative to traditional Italian bread.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg