Chicago and deep dish pizza are often considered synonymous. I couldn’t agree more; but have you ever had a Chicago Italian beef sandwich? Having grown up in a small suburb just outside of Chicago, if you weren’t Italian, then you knew plenty of people who were. Mom and pop Italian joints were everywhere and pizza, though delicious, wasn’t the only choice on the menu. One of my favorites has always been the Italian beef sandwich and I can’t even tell you how many of these I’ve eaten in my life time!!
Served on crusty Italian bread, much like French bread, but crustier, the beef is cooked to medium, sliced real thin, and then dropped in a big pot of warming Italian beef juice to simmer and cook the rest of the way.
You have a choice of wet or dry. Wet means more juice on the sandwich. You also have a choice of hot or sweet, that’s hot peppers or sweet peppers.
I always order dry and sweet, always!
You usually order an Italian beef to-go, and even if you don’t, most likely your order will come that way. Stuffed in a brown paper bag, the beef wrapped up in thin white paper and the fries tucked in either under or over the beef. Nothing fancy, it’s all about the taste!
I wouldn’t know exactly how to duplicate their recipe, and I’m not an ounce Italian, either, but here is very similar recipe that you really ought to try.
Crock Pot Italian Beef (5 ingredients or less)
2-1/2 – 4lbs beef roast, sirloin tip or rump roast
12 oz jar pepperoncini peppers or giardiniera (You only use ½ a jar) (draining is optional)
1 envelope Italian salad dressing (zesty Italian)
10 oz can beef broth
French or Italian bread or any type of buns will do
Place beef in crock pot / slow cooker. Combine ½ jar pepperoncini, dry salad mix and beef broth and pour over beef. Cook on low for 12-14 hours. Once meat is tender, use 2 forks to shred beef right in the pot. Serve on crusty bread or buns. Serves 8-15.
See all recipes, here.
Linking up at Inspiration Cafe, come check out all the international recipes!!
Danni@SiloHillFarm says
Oh Amy!! Now you’re making me homesick! I always tell all of my friends here that the thing I miss the most from the Chicago area is the Italian deli’s with the best beef sandwiches in the world! I’m absolutely making this just as soon as I get to the store this week! Yummmm! I also miss Boza’s Hot Dogs too…do you have a recipe for those???!!! (Do they even still have them there?) Thanks for linking up girl, you’re awesome!
Estelle says
Hi Amy, that sandwich looks sooooo yummy – my hub would definitely go for that!
Thanks for stopping by my blog – have a lovely day!
Estelle xx
Andi says
YUM! One of my faves! Of course, I’d probably smother it in cheese because I put cheese on everything. 😛 Visiting from IC. 🙂
-andi
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Yum! That looks fabulous!! I would probably do the opposite of sweet & dry…but it looked bad when I typed it so I’ll just leave it at that!!lol 😉
Nancy
Mary says
Hi Amy! I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love a good hot sandwich! I also love that it has only 5 ingredients (or less)! Pinned! Thank you so much for sharing this at the Inspiration Cafe Link Party!
heather f says
I am going to add this to my to make list! I want it dry, with a side of wet and hot and sweet.
Mel says
I grew up with a lot of Italian friends, oh my, you can not believe how much my mouth is watering right now! Thanks so much for sharing!
Maureen says
Think I could bribe my Italian son in law with this recipe? I’ll pin it just in case!
Natalie@NorthShore Days says
Wow – yummo Amy!!! This sounds awesome – thank you so much for linking up to Inspiration cafe”s first link party – so excited xx Nat
Natalie@NorthShore Days says
HI Amy – you’re being featured at the Cafe tomorrow – yay! xx Nat
Elena @ `a casarella says
As a former Chicagoan (and an Italian 😉 I love this!! Totally pinning!! 🙂
Elena
acasarella.net