Italian Beef Sandwich (Printable)

Tender slow-cooked beef on crusty rolls with giardiniera and au jus

# What You 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

# Steps:

01 - Pat beef chuck roast dry with paper towels and season generously 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, and bay leaf to the pot with the seared beef.
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. Alternatively, cook in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours.
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 pieces of fat, and return the shredded meat to the pot to absorb the juices.
06 - Split the Italian sandwich rolls in half. Optionally toast the cut sides lightly for added texture.
07 - Pile hot shredded beef onto the bottom half of each roll, spooning a small amount of au jus over the meat. Top generously with giardiniera and roasted sweet peppers if desired.
08 - Serve sandwiches immediately with extra au jus on the side for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The beef becomes impossibly tender after hours of slow cooking, practically falling apart under your fork
  • That au jus is liquid gold, worth making extra just for sopping up with crusty bread
  • One sandwich feeds your soul like a comfort food hug from someone who really knows their way around a kitchen
02 -
  • Always let the beef rest before shredding because cutting into hot meat makes all the juices run out onto your cutting board instead of staying in the meat
  • Giardiniera varies wildly in heat level so taste it before adding, and I always buy mild for family gatherings and hot for my spice-loving friends
  • The sandwich needs to be assembled right before serving because the bread will get soggy if it sits too long, but honestly I've never seen them last more than five minutes anyway
03 -
  • Dunk each roll half in the au jus for exactly two seconds before filling—it creates this incredible juicy crunch that authentic Chicago spots swear by
  • After shredding, let the beef hang out in the juices for at least ten minutes so every shred absorbs maximum flavor
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