Description
Hearty Chicago-style Italian Beef Sandwich brings robust flavors from slow-roasted beef and zesty giardiniera peppers. Juicy meat piled high on crusty bread becomes a mouthwatering meal that satisfies your deepest comfort food cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef:
- 3–4 pounds beef roast (chuck or rump roast)
- 4 cups beef broth
Seasonings and Vegetables:
- 1 large onion (sliced)
- 4–5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Accompaniments and Bread:
- 1 cup giardiniera (chopped)
- 1 cup sweet or hot peppers (sliced)
- 6–8 french rolls or italian bread
- 6–8 slices provolone cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Generously coat the beef with a blend of aromatic Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat a skillet over high heat and sear the seasoned beef on all sides until a rich, golden-brown crust develops, creating deep flavor layers.
- Transfer the seared beef to a slow cooker, pour in beef broth, and add bay leaves to infuse the meat with savory undertones.
- Set the slow cooker to low and allow the beef to tenderize and develop complex flavors for 8 hours, ensuring a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Once cooking is complete, use two forks to meticulously shred the beef, returning the pulled meat to its flavorful cooking liquid.
- Split crusty rolls and pile high with the succulent shredded beef, generously top with tangy giardiniera for a zesty crunch.
- Ladle a small portion of the rich, seasoned au jus from the slow cooker over the sandwich, enhancing its moisture and intensifying the overall taste profile.
Notes
- Choose a well-marbled cut like chuck roast for maximum tenderness and flavor in your Italian beef sandwich.
- Searing the meat before slow cooking develops a rich, caramelized exterior that adds depth to the overall taste profile.
- For a lighter version, swap traditional rolls with low-carb lettuce wraps or use whole wheat rolls to increase nutritional value.
- Customize heat levels by selecting mild or spicy giardiniera, allowing each person to adjust the sandwich’s kick according to their preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 45816
- Calories: 22 kcal
- Sugar: 0.2 g
- Sodium: 61 mg
- Fat: 0.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1.6 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 2.9 g
- Cholesterol: 8 mg