I grew up in Chicagoland where people take their beef very seriously. My favorite sandwich shop was a small green shack that did most of their business out of a takeout window. It was nothing fancy, but their Italian beef was perfect: crisp bun, perfectly seasoned meat laced with peppers and onions, and plenty of melty cheese. Learn how to make this classic sandwich in the recipe below.
Making Italian beef often involves a long ingredient list but gravy seasoning and Italian dressing mix are a fast and easy alternative that provide lots of flavor. If you're short on time you can cook this in high for 3 hours instead of low for 6.
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Pro Tip: To keep the bun crisp, butter the cut side and broil bread, open faced for 1-3 minutes, until lightly toasted, before adding meat. If you do this, separate the top from the bottom and do not re-toast the tops when melting cheese.