Best 3 Copycat Portillos Italian Beef Recipes

**Experience the Iconic Flavors of Chicago's Portillo's Italian Beef at Home with Two Authentic Recipes**

Savor the delectable taste of Portillo's Italian Beef, a Chicago culinary gem, in the comfort of your own kitchen with our curated collection of authentic recipes. Immerse yourself in the classic Italian Beef Sandwich recipe, a harmonious blend of tender beef, flavorful gravy, and a toasted bun, perfected over decades. Alternatively, embark on a culinary adventure with the Italian Beef with Peppers and Giardiniera recipe, where succulent beef meets sautéed bell peppers and tangy giardiniera, creating a symphony of flavors. Both recipes embody the essence of Portillo's Italian Beef, delivering a taste experience that will transport you to the heart of Chicago's culinary scene.

Let's cook with our recipes!

PORTILLO'S ITALIAN BEEF HACK

Portillo's Italian Beef Hack image

Most major cities in the U.S. have a sandwich that locals proudly claim as their own. For Chicagoans that sandwich is the Italian Beef. Thin-sliced roast beef is dunked in herbed gravy to soak up the flavor, then it's stacked on a warm Italian sandwich roll and topped with sweet peppers or spicy hot Giardiniera. The recipe may seem like a simple one, but if any component of this iconic sandwich isn't faithful to the Chi-Town original, true beef fanatics will cry "foul" quicker than bleacher bums at Wrigley field.

Provided by Todd Wilbur

Time 30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

1/4 pound beef fat trimmings
4 cups water
2 Knorr beef bouillon cubes (double-size cubes, or use 4 standard size)
1 1/2 teaspoons Kitchen Bouquet Browning & Seasoning Sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Pinch of MSG
4 Turano, Gonnella, or Amoroso sandwich rolls
1 pound roast beef, London broil or Italian style roast beef, sliced very thin
Marconi hot giardiniera --or--
Cooked sweet peppers

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Render the beef fat by chopping it into small bits (about the size of peas) with a food processor. Be sure the fat is very cold--it will chop better. If you don't have a food processor, you can chop the fat by hand. Use a sharp knife and cut it as small as you can. Heat up the fat in a sauté pan over medium heat until the bits are browned. Strain the solids from the fat and measure 1/4 cup of fat for the gravy.
Make the beef gravy by combining all of the ingredients, including the beef fat, in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When the mixture begins to boil reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, then turn the heat to low.
Make the sandwiches by heating up the rolls in the hot oven for 3 minutes.
For each sandwich, drop 1/4 pound of sliced beef (separate the slices) into the gravy for 2 minutes. Make sure the gravy isn't boiling. It should be around 180 degrees F. After the beef has soaked in the gravy, use tongs to arrange the beef on a warmed sandwich roll and top with your choice of hot giardiniera or sweet peppers. Or both. Spoon on some extra gravy just before serving.

COPYCAT PORTILLO'S ITALIAN BEEF RECIPE - (3.9/5)

Copycat Portillo's Italian Beef Recipe - (3.9/5) image

Provided by Susan52

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

5 lb. rump roast
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. onion salt
3 C. water
1 pkg. Italian salad dressing mix
1 cube beef bullion
one sprig fresh oregano
1 sprig fresh basil
2 cloves of fresh garlic

Steps:

In a saucepan over medium high heat, combine the water, salt, black pepper, oregano, basil, onion salt, garlic and salad dressing mix. Stir well and bring to a boil. Place roast in a slow cooker and pour mixture over the roast. Cover and cook on low for 10 to 12 hours. Shred meat with a fork. Serve on rolls.

PORTILLO'S ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES

Portillo's Italian Beef Sandwiches image

Portillo's restaurant, in Chicago, are famous for their beef sandwiches. This would be one of those dishes you could make for your family and freeze leftovers for another meal.

Provided by Miss Annie

Categories Lunch/Snacks

Time 12h15m

Yield 10-12 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon onion salt
3 cups water
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 bay leaf
1 (2/3 ounce) package Italian salad dressing mix
5 lbs rump roast

Steps:

In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine the water, salt, ground black pepper, oregano, basil, onion salt, parsley, garlic powder, bay leaf and salad dressing mix.
Stir well and bring just to a boil.
Place roast in a slow cooker and pour mixture over the roast.
Cover and cook on low setting for 10 to 12 hours OR high setting for 4 to 5 hours.
Remove bay leaf and shred meat with a fork.
Serve on Italian Rolls.

Tips:

Choose the right cut of beef. Chuck roast is the traditional cut used for Italian beef, but you can also use top sirloin or bottom round roast.
Slow-cook the beef. This will help to tenderize the meat and make it fall-apart delicious.
Use a flavorful broth. Beef broth, chicken broth, or even vegetable broth can be used. Just make sure it's something that you enjoy the taste of.
Add plenty of seasonings. Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder are all good choices. You can also add some red pepper flakes for a little heat.
Cook the beef until it's fall-apart tender. This can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, depending on the cut of beef and the cooking method.
Serve the Italian beef on a toasted bun. This will help to soak up all the delicious juices.
Top the Italian beef with your favorite toppings. Classic toppings include giardiniera, sweet peppers, and mozzarella cheese.

Conclusion:

Italian beef is a delicious and hearty sandwich that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. It's also a great way to use up leftover roast beef. With a few simple ingredients and a little time, you can easily make this classic sandwich at home.