Italian Beef Recipe-Quick And Easy Chicago Style

Quick Chicago styled Italian Beef recipe is a delicious and healthy way to get dinner on the table in 10 minutes. Whole-food ingredients, a little time and you have a family friendly meal everyone with love. 

Chicago style Italian Beef in a white bowl and topped with green onions

Chicago Style Italian Beef

If there is one thing I miss most about living near Chicago, besides family of course, is the Chicago style Italian beef. And the place to go is Portillos.

I wanted to recreate my favorite Chicago meals to enjoy in good ‘ole Oregon. Friends, there is a difference a difference in this type of recipe depending on where you are in the country, ok! 

Long long ago in college I ordered a Italian beef sandwich while another friend ordered a prime rib sandwich. My sandwich came and I was like… “uhhh what is this? This is not Italian beef!”

My friend that ordered the prime rib, who was also from Chicago, agreed that my sandwich didn’t look right and her sandwich looked much more like the sandwich we were used to.

Another friend, who was native to the college town, was like “what are you talking about? That is totally it!”

This debate went on for awhile, and we came to the conclusion that Chicago style is very very different than other places.

What makes Chicago’s version different? The beef is shaved/sliced rather than shredded, and of course the flavor.

Since sliced steak is used in this recipe, the cooking time is so fast. You can have the whole meal ready from start to finish in about 10 minutes.

While the broth is heating up throw some rolls in the oven for a few minutes to get nice and warm, and cook another veggie as a side. Then toss in the meat and cook for a few minutes. Top your bread with the meat and juice and enjoy your tasty dinner.

Talk about a healthy weeknight meal. It would take you longer to run through the drive through.

Tips for making Italian Beef

  • Don’t eat bread? No worries, you can add some of this recipe to a bed of rice, add some peas. Did it for lunch today with the leftover from dinner last night. Yum
  • Throw the rolls in the oven right after you put the beef in the broth. Heat them up for a few minutes until the beef is cooked.
  • Use homemade beef broth or store-bought.
  • This can be cooked in a pot or use your Instant Pot as a pot.

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Italian beef recipe in a bowl on top a blue napkin with antique forks

Tools You Will Need:

Is Italian Beef Healthy?

This homemade Italian Beef is healthy since it is made from real food ingredients. Beef is a good source of protein, B vitamins (B12, B6, B3), iron (the more bioavailable kind), zinc, and much more. It also contain CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) which is beneficial to our health and may help with weight loss. (Source)

Some restaurant sandwiches are really high in sodium and contain other not so good ingredients like msg. Making it at home is a cheaper and healthier option.

How To Make Italian Beef Video

Want more easy dinner recipes? Check out our family favorite!

Italian Beef Recipe – Chicago Style

Try this recipe and love it? Come back and give it 5 stars and pin it! Please and thank you.

Italian beef recipe in a bowl on top a blue napkin with antique forks

Italian Beef Recipe

Quick and easy Chicago Style Italian Beef
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Author: Amy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1 lb shaved steak
  • 3 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbs Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste

Instructions

  • In a pot over medium high heat, add in all the ingredients except the shaved steak.
  • Mix and bring to a boil.
  • Add in steak and cook for 3-5 minutes until the steak is completely cooked and has gone from pink to gray.
  • Serve over bread.

Notes

This recipe can be made in the Instant Pot using the saute function or just a regular old pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 1311mg | Potassium: 417mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2.7mg
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Italian Beef, Italian Beef Recipe
Tried this recipe?Mention @ablossominglife or tag #ablossominglife!

What version are you used to?

2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Not exactly Chicago Italian beef, but darn tasty. Super easy to make, barely cook at all using the shaved beef. Must add the cooked green peppers in juice and gardinere ala Chicago style. I used stock rather than broth, richer flavor. Very good.

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