Chicago Johnny's Italian Beef Recipe From the Home Kitchen (Chicago Style Italian Beef Sandwiches)

*Sidenote* Keep the garlic pulp from juicing your garlic, add 1/2 stick butter, and 1/2 cup olive oil, and 1 tea oregano, and pinch of salt (let sit a couple of hours). Brush on bread, shave Parmesan or Peccorino Romano, and bake for incredible garlic bread.

By far, this is the best recipe for authentic, home-style Chicago Italian beef on YT. Anyone using Portillo's as a comparison--go back to the suburbs. Any beef joint which keeps their beef slices sitting in the gravy doesn't know what their doing--you'll get rubbery beef. The trick is to do what's shown--thin slices dunked in the hot gravy for no more than 30 seconds. Also, make your own giardiniera and mince the veggies--or buy one you like and throw it in the food processor for a few seconds. As for the gravy, try throwing in some aromatic spices like a few cloves and some cumin.

Chicago has fantastic food. I lived there for 3 years and loved these italian beef sandwiches.

Man this just brought back memories of when I lived in Bellwood,Ill. God I miss this sandwich sooooo bad. I can't wait to try this.

Just made 10 pounds of Chicago Johnny's beef and when you follow his instructions to the letter it comes out perfect, and I mean perfect. Had many of his sandwiches when we lived in the burbs of Illinois but almost impossible to find in Sarasota Fl. area, so thank you Johnny for presenting that to us and hope others will make and enjoy. I truly miss your Italian lemonade though and have not found that anywhere down here. Thank you again.

Love you Josh Downey!! Thank you for your delicious recipes!

Man I miss the food back in Chicago. In San Diego they have a spot that makes Italian beefs. Good for what it's worth. They even sell pizza puffs.

Thanks so much for sharing your delicious italian beef sandwich recipe! As a former Chicagoan, I really miss a good tasting "Chicago italian beef" and have made my own using many of the same ingredients that you use, but something was always "missing". Then I watched your video and followed your recipe! Delicious!! This is the way I remember that great taste! Thanks again!

Of all the videos on youtube this is the only one that does the italian beef true justice.

Thanks for the recipe. Its terrific made it yesterday.

I will be making this. Thanks for the recipe

Thanks, second time I made it and its fantastic. Undercooked the beef and finished cooking it in the juice right before throwing it in the sandwich. Awesome! I’ll try to buy some of your giardiniera now!

It looks awesome. The problem with this is no one has a deli slicer, which discourages people from trying it. I have a cousin with giant front teeth but I cannot hold him still that long. Looks good though.

Anyone remember Thrifty Thirties located on the second floor of a long-gone building at the NE corner of Madison and Dearborn back in the early 80s? They made a great Italian Beef or Italian Sausage sandwich, and if you couldn't decide which you fancied, a "combo" that included both. But every Chicago beef joint was great. Have to give this a try. Looks good.

Thank you Josh! This is the real deal no doubt about it! So thankful that you shared your amazing recipe; made these 3 weeks ago for some hardcore Chicago folks (grew up in downtown Chicago-grandparents knew Al Capone) that liked portillos - now they like mine (yours!) Far far better! I'm actually cooking another roast in about 15 min. they loved it so much! Thanks again for sharing a phenomenal recipe! Hit it out of the park, Josh!

Will definitely try looks delicious

Man o Man I miss my city smh. So many memories and awesome food joints. I have tried to make my own but will be following this recipe to the T next time. I loved the combo beef n sausage on garlic bread. Thanks for sharing!

Looks so good

Just about as close to one as you can get from home. Nice Job!!

hey josh thanks for the recipe, and taking your time to show the video