This easy Italian Beef recipe is smoked right on the Traeger Pellet Grill, but any pellet grill (or even regular grill) will do. Cooked medium-rare and then sliced thin and drenched in the au jus that cooks with the roast, you don't need to go all the way to Chicago to have a killer Chicago-style Italian beef.

Italian Beef Sandwich

The first time I had an Italian Beef was a few years ago, after hearing from my husband about how amazing they were, and how one of his best friends swears by the double-dipped sandwich at Portillo's.

In recent times, this sandwich has come back into the spotlight with the exploding popularity of the show, “The Bear”, on Hulu. It is a show that brings back all kinds of memories for those of us who cut our teeth in the service industry and features the iconic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich, much like the one featured here.

Worth every single step it took to get there, and every.single.bite.

I didn't quite make it to Portillo's the last time I was in Chicago, but I did get an authentic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich, and it was worth every single bite.

What is an Italian Beef?#

The Chicago-style Italian Beef sandwich is a unique culinary offering known for its juicy and flavorful characteristics. While every restaurant may have its own twist on this Windy City classic, there are generally three primary ways it's served:

Dry: The beef is allowed to drip off excess juices before being put on the roll. This leaves the roll drier and may be preferred by those who don't want their sandwich too soggy.
Wet: The beef is placed on the roll along with some of its cooking juices. This makes the sandwich considerably juicier and gives the bread a nice soak.
Dipped: The entire sandwich—bread, beef, and all—is dunked into the au jus before it's served. This results in a very moist and flavorful sandwich but can be a bit messy to eat.

The sandwiches can be further customized with the addition of “sweet” or “hot” peppers. “Sweet” generally refers to sauteed bell peppers, while “hot” usually means giardiniera, a spicy mix of pickled vegetables.

More Easy Traeger Recipes here!

Recipe Shopping List

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here's the list of items you'll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Chuck Roast – Well-marbled and perfect for shredding after a long, slow cook.
Beef Broth – Forms the base of the flavorful cooking liquid. Use low sodium if you want more control over salt levels.
Italian Dressing Mix – Adds a zesty, herby punch that builds instant flavor.
Pepperoncini Peppers (With Juice) – Tangy, briny, and just a little heat. Don’t skip the juice! It's key to the sandwich’s signature flavor.
Garlic Powder – Adds an extra layer of savory depth.
Onion Powder – Rounds out the flavor of the broth and roast.
Hoagie Rolls – Sturdy enough to hold all the juicy meat and fixings.
Provolone Cheese (Optional) – Melts beautifully and adds a creamy finish to the sandwich.

Try our Chopped Italian Sandwich too!

How To Make This Recipe

There are as many answers to this question as there are Italian Beef shops in Chicago, and most of them are probably right.

Season the Roast
Rub the chuck roast all over with the Italian dressing mix, garlic powder, and onion powder. Let it sit while you preheat your Traeger to 180–200°F for a good smoke session.
Smoke the Beef
Place the seasoned roast directly on the grill grates and smoke for about 2 hours. You’re building flavor here, don’t rush it.
Braise Low and Slow
Transfer the roast to a disposable pan or Dutch oven. Add the beef broth, full jar of pepperoncini peppers (including juice), and cover tightly with foil. Turn the Traeger up to 275°F and cook for 4–5 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender and easy to shred.
Shred and Simmer
Remove the roast from the smoker and shred the meat directly in the juices. Let it sit and soak for 15–30 minutes to absorb even more flavor.
Assemble and Serve
Toast your hoagie rolls if you want some crunch, pile on the shredded beef, and top with provolone if you're using it. Serve hot with a little extra juice on the side for dipping.

Try our Hot Roast Beef Sandwich Boats too!

Recipe Tips

Buy good beef – The better the beef the better the end result.
Be patient – A good beef roast takes time.
Don't overcook it – This isn't the slow-cooked, shreddable style of roast beef. If you want to make one of those you definitely CAN but it is shredded beef and not sliced and there's a big difference there.
Cook to temp and not to time – See ~~rant~~ recommendations on that below.

FAQ

Is this recipe just like Al's or Portillo's?

The Italian beef recipe you see here is a classic that is based on the famous Al's beef and the equally famous Portillo's sandwiches. Having tried the former, I can say that it is a relatively close approximation.

If you don't think so, my apologies. Sometimes with legendary copycat recipes, the memory is better than the reality. Either way though, you're going to end up with a delicious sandwich that I definitely would not have a problem serving to family or company or a potluck or tailgating party.

What cut of meat should you use for an Italian Beef?

The key to good Italian beef is how tender it is. Since Italian Beef sandwiches are cooked to a perfect Medium-rare before being sliced, and then spend a good amount of time soaking in their own juices to further tenderize the meats, you don't have to spring for a rib roast or a tenderloin just to have super tender meat. A sirloin roast works really well, or even a round roast would be great.

What kind of seasonings are best for Italian Beef?

I'm sure it'll come as a surprise to exactly no one, but my favorite thing to use on an Italian beef roast is Italian Seasoning. The same kind of seasoning mix I'd typically put into a big pot of spaghetti sauce. Something with garlic, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, etc.

My favorite of all of the Italian Seasoning mixes that I've tried is the Spiceology Italian Seasoning. You can click below to check it out and get some sent to you, or you can use your favorite Italian seasoning blend or make your own.

How long should you cook an Italian Beef Roast?

The Italian Beef roast itself should only be cooked until it is medium-rare. In order to get accurate results, you cannot cook by the time – you have to cook to temp. That means you cook the roast until it reaches 125-130°.

Once the roast is cooked, it is cooled completely before being thinly sliced. If you don't have a meat slicer, this cooling process is even more important. You could even stick it in the freezer and partially freeze it to get thinner slices. That's a personal preference though, so do whatever you'd like.

Get my easy Side Dish recipes!

FAQ

Can you cook an Italian Beef in the oven?

Yup! If you don't have a Traeger or pellet grill you can cook your roast in the oven following largely the same process.

You won't get the wood-fired flavor that a pellet grill would provide, but you do get a delicious sandwich loaded with slow-cooked beef sooooooo I'd still call it a win.

Can I Make This Ahead Of Time?

Yes. This recipe is actually ideal for making ahead. Cook and chill the roast as directed, then slice and store it with some of the reserved gravy. When you're ready to serve, gently reheat the meat in warm broth just before assembling the sandwiches.

What's The Best Cut Of Beef For Italian Beef Sandwiches?

Chuck roast is the go-to for this recipe. It has enough marbling to stay tender and flavorful after roasting and slicing. Just make sure to cook it to temp and slice it thin for the best texture.

How Do I Slice The Beef Thin Enough?

Chilling the roast after cooking is key. Use a meat slicer if you have one, or a very sharp knife to get thin, clean slices. Thinner slices soak up more gravy and make for a better sandwich.

What Can I Use Instead Of Giardiniera?

If you’re not into giardiniera, try sliced pepperoncini, banana peppers, or even sautéed bell peppers and onions. It’s your sandwich! Build it how you like it.

How Should I Store Leftovers?

Keep the sliced beef in the gravy in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll hold up for 3–4 days. Reheat gently in the gravy over low heat until warmed through.

More BEEF recipes here!

Serve this with…#

These sandwiches are pretty hearty on their own, but the side options are abundant. Here are some options you might want to consider.

French fries – These extra crispy potatoes would be great in a heaping pile next to one of your loaded Italian beef sandwiches.
Coleslaw – Crisp, cold coleslaw always makes a good match with a sandwich, and this one is no exception.
Grilled Brussels Sprouts – The best way to make these much-maligned vegetables, in my opinion.
Caesar Pasta Salad – Count this one as a vegetable because it has lots of crisp green romaine in the mix. Includes a recipe for homemade Caesar dressing! Get some!
Grilled Loaded Mashed Potatoes – These potatoes are EPIC, much like these sandwiches.

More Sandwich Recipes

Blackstone Smashed Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
Blackstone Steak Sandwich
Homemade Hot Roast Beef Sandwich
Chopped Italian Sandwich
Traeger Grilled Steak Sandwich
Traeger Reuben Sandwich

Yield: 6 sandwiches

Grilled Italian Beef Sandwich

This easy homemade Chicago-style Italian beef is going to be a repeat around here for years to come.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 3 hours

Chill Time 3 hours

Total Time 6 hours 20 minutes

Ingredients

3-4 pound beef roast (Eye of Round beef roast, chuck, etc)

Rub

1 1/2 tablespoons coarse black pepper
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 tablespoon granulated garlic
2 teaspoons dry oregano
2 teaspoons dry basil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

OR OMIT THE ABOVE RUB AND USE

3 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1 teaspoon Salt, Pepper, Garlic blend

Gravy

8 cups beef broth

Sandwiches

8 Italian rolls
Giardiniera

Instructions

Preheat your pellet grill to 325°. If using a gas or charcoal grill, heat it to medium heat and make sure there's a large area of indirect heat for your roast.
Rub the roasts with the rub ingredients, and place on a roasting rack that is inside a high-sided pan (it needs to fit 8 cups of liquid so test it out with water before-hand if you aren't sure.)
Place the pan on the grill, and pour in the beef broth to the pan.
If you have a temperature probe, place it now and set your alarm to 130°.
Let the roast cook until it reaches 130°. Depending on the thickness and cut you choose, this can take 1-2 hours on average. Always cook to temp and not to time.
Carefully remove the roast from the grill and chill until it is cold. This makes it easier to slice.
Set the gravy aside in the fridge, and skim any excess fat that rises to the top of the container. You want to leave some, but if you had a particular fatty roast you may want to remove a bit so the dip isn't too greasy.
Using a meat slicer or very sharp knife, slice the roast as thinly as you possibly can while still maintaining full slices.
When ready to serve, warm your rolls in the oven on low heat. Place the gravy in a pan and heat to just below a simmer. Ideally you don't want it over 180° so it doesn't toughen the meat.
Put in as much meat as you'll be piling on the buns into the hot gravy and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Heap on the buns and top with giardiniera (or not) as you wish. Also optionally put some provolone on top, and adding extra gravy to the sandwich. You can even go so far as a dip, if you're into that kind of thing.

Traeger Italian Beef Sandwiches