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Looking for great Chicago Italian recipes? Here you find the BEST compilation of both classic and americanized Italian recipes that come from the great city of Chicago. From mostaccioli to Italian beef and deep dish pizza, these recipes are sure to bring all the love and comfort Italian food has to offer.
This post was originally published in July 2022 and has been updated for content.
Italian immigrants started to come to Chicago between the late 1800s and early 1900s in search of work. By 1970, Italian Americans accounted for nearly 3% of the population in the city.
Chicago has some of the best Italian restaurants around and is still known today for its delicious Italian cuisine today. Chicago Italian dishes are not only comforting but ones that have become staples for family gatherings and celebrations.
Jump to:
- Deep Dish Pizza
- Italian Beef
- Italian Sausage
- Hearty Pasta Dishes
- Chicken Vesuvio
- Authentic Italian Pasta Dishes
- Classic Chicago Food
Deep Dish Pizza
Chicago deep dish pizza is probably one of the most iconic of all of the Chicago Italian recipes. Originating from two Italian descendants in 1943, this hearty pizza recipe is actually more like a pie than a slice a pizza.
This inverted style of pizza is baked in a round steel pan similar to a cake or pie pan. This creates a deep bed for thick layers of cheese and meat that are topped with tomato sauce.
Here are some best Chicago Italian recipes for deep dish pizza that you can make right in your very own kitchen.
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza
Make authentic-tasting Chicago deep dish pizza, complete with the buttery crust, slightly sweet tomato sauce, and a thick layer of cheese.
The Best Chicago Deep Dish Pizza
Thisclassic deep dish pizza is perfect, beautiful, and oh-so-delicious. Learn how to makethe best Chicago Deep Dish Pizzain thisauthentic, step-by-step recipe.
Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Recipe
Loaded with pepperoni, sausage, peppers, cheese and topped with tomato sauce, this Chicago-style deep dish pizza will convince you you’re at Lou Malnati’s.
Italian Beef
The Chicago Italian beef sandwich dates back to the early 1900s. Immigrants would slow roast tougher cuts of beef and cut it in thin slices on a meat slicer to be placed on loaves of Italian bread for sandwiches.
Italian beef sandwiches can be served with pepperoncini peppers, sweet peppers, hot giardiniera or just simply au jus.
While everyone will argue what the best Italian beef sandwiches are, here are some of the best and easy recipes to serve for dinner or to feed a crowd.
Italian Beef Sandwiches
You can make Chicago style Italian beef sandwiches at home, using your crock pot to make this tender, slow cooked, flavorful beef.
Slow Cooker Italian Beef
These warm and hearty Italian beef sandwiches are made in the slow cooker and are perfect for sharing!
Italian Beef Au Jus Recipe
This easy Italian beef au jus recipe is made in the slow cooker with minimal prep. Seasoned to perfection, this slow cooked beef is served with the best au jus, on french rolls with your favorite giardiniera.
Instant Pot Italian Beef
This instant pot Italian beef is a flavorful shredded beef for classic Italian beef sandwiches.
Slow Cooker Hot Beef Sandwiches
These are the BEST slow cooker hot beef sandwiches made with pepperoncini peppers and onions. Cooked low and slow, these shredded beef sandwiches are super tender and topped with homemade horseradish sauce.
Italian Sausage
Italian sausage is another dish that Chicagoans are obsessed with. Whether it is served on french rolls with sweet peppers as a whole sandwich, in red sauce for Sunday dinner, or on your favorite deep dish pizza, this ingredient is at the heart of some of Chicago's great recipes.
Here are a few recipes for Italian sausage that you can add to your Chicago Italian recipes repertoire.
Italian Sausage and Potatoes
Try this tasty Italian sausage and potatoes for an easy weeknight meal. Sweet Italian sausage, baby yellow potatoes, sweet bell peppers and red onions are cooked all together on a sheet pan for easy prep and easy clean up.
Italian Sausage Sandwich
Spicy peppers and sausage mingle with savory Italian spices and sweet balsamic vinegar for the best lunch or quick dinner.
Baked Sausage and Peppers
Baked sausage and peppers is one of the best sheet pan dinners that is perfect for busy weeknights. This easy sausage and peppers recipe is great with marinara sauce on sandwich or on it's own and only takes 10 minutes to prep!
Instant Pot Italian Sausage & Peppers
Instant Pot Italian sausage and peppers is a quick & easy recipe that are great for sandwiches or just on their own.
Easy Sausage and Peppers in the Oven
These easy sausage and peppers are roasted in the oven on a sheet pan for the best sausage and peppers ready in under an hour.
Hearty Pasta Dishes
Hearty pasta dishes are another staple in Italian-American cuisine. Things like mostaccioli, baked lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs are some of the most beloved Italian dishes.
Try these hearty Chicago Italian recipes that are sure to bring warmth to your soul and a smile on your face.
Baked Mostaccioli con Ricotta
This easy baked mostaccioli con ricotta recipe is one of the best pastas for Sunday dinner or the weeknight. This cheesy layered pasta is made with Italian sausage, red sauce and three different kinds of cheese!
Easy Crock Pot Baked Ziti
Make this easy classic comfort food in your Crock Pot! Crock Pot Baked Ziti is cheesy, gooey and delicious in every bite.
Classic Italian Lasagna Recipe with Ricotta Cheese
This classic Italian lasagna with ricotta cheese is layered with oven-ready noodles, a hearty meat sauce, and two different kinds of cheese. A tasty comfort food recipe, this is the best lasagna recipe for a cold winter night or Sunday dinner with the family.
Oven Baked Italian Meatballs Recipe
This oven baked Italian meatballs recipe is perfect for Sunday dinner! Made with a combination of ground pork and ground beef, these baked meatballs are super juicy and have great flavor.
Chicken Vesuvio
Chicken Vesuvio is another one of the delicious Italian recipes Chicago gave birth to. While the origination is unknown, the dish is thought to be popularized by the Vesuvio Restaurant in the 1930's.
This dish is made from bone in chicken with wedges of potato baked until crispy in a sauce made from olive oil, white wine, garlic and lemon juice and thought to be named after Mount Vesuvias volcano near Naples.
Chicken Vesuvio Recipe
This chicken vesuvio recipe is a Chicago classic. Chicken pieces are seared until golden brown and baked with roasted potato wedges and green peas in a lemon garlic and white wine sauce. A delicious meal the whole family will love!
Classic Chicago Chicken Vesuvio
This classic Chicago chicken vesuvio recipe is a lovely dish that is bright and zesty while still rich and succulent.
One Pot Italian Chicken Vesuvio
A succulent and garlicky ONE PAN roasted Italian chicken recipe with white wine, fresh herbs and sinfully delicious potatoes to mop up the sauce with!
Chicken Vesuvio
This chicken vesuvio is tender chicken thighs and potato wedges that are roasted until golden brown, then served in a white wine sauce.
Authentic Italian Pasta Dishes
Authentic Italian pasta recipes are also widely seen in dining room at Italian restaurants in Chicago. Many of these dishes are simple, but delicious. They are a great way for home cooks to bring the Italian tradition right into their very own kitchen.
Dishes like cacio e pepe, carbonara and aglio e olio are well known in Italian cooking. They lean on the use of classic Italian ingredients to bring together delicious flavors with simple ingredients.
Authentic Homemade Italian Manicotti Recipe
This authentic homemade Italian manicotti recipe is one of the best out there! With manicotti shells made from crepes and a rich ricotta cheese filling, this comforting pasta dish is perfect for Sunday dinner or the holiday season.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
With only 5 ingredients, Spaghetti Aglio e Olio may sound too good to be true, but it’s an Italian classic bursting with simple flavors.
Authentic Bucatini Cacio e Pepe Pasta Recipe
This authentic bucatini cacio e pepe is the best light Italian pasta recipe. Made with freshly grated pecorino romano cheese and cracked black pepper, this easy pasta is made in just 15 minutes!
Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe
Authentic Italian Spaghetti alla Puttanesca Recipe takes only 20 minutes to prepare. It is rich in flavor with little effort.
Quick and Easy Creamy Carbonara Pasta Recipe
This quick and easy creamy carbonara recipe is the perfect Italian pasta dish made with just 5 ingredients. Spaghetti is mixed with crispy pancetta and a creamy egg and cheese sauce for the best Italian comfort food.
Authentic Pasta fa*gioli Recipe
This authentic pasta fa*gioli recipe is made with cannelini beans in a dutch oven. Serve this Italian comfort food with crusty bread for one of the best soup recipes that the whole family will love!
Classic Chicago Food
From the Chicago hot dog to sandwiches made with whole pork chops, here are some quintessential Chicago food that is iconic to the windy city. While not all of these are Italian, they are all definitely worthy of bringing the spirit of Chicago right into your very own kitchen.
Chicago Hot Dog Recipe
This classic Chicago hot dog recipe is a must-try! This authentic recipe will bring the taste of Chicago into your very own home.
Italian Chicken Cutlets
These crispy Italian chicken cutlets are coated in a seasoned breading and fried until perfectly crispy. This is the perfect recipe for a main dish with your favorite pasta or for sandwiches and salads!
Pepper and Egg Sandwich
Sautéed peppers and fluffy eggs are cooked in olive oil and combined with Italian cheeses in this quick, no-frills pepper and egg sandwich.
Italian Chopped Salad
This classic Italian chopped salad uses romaine lettuce, ditalini pasta, chicken, bacon, blue cheese, honey mustard and more!
Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan
This easy oven baked chicken parmesan recipe is the ultimate comfort food. Perfectly crispy and topped with a hearty sauce and melty mozzarella, this dish is perfect for Sunday dinner!
Pork Chop Sandwich
An easy and delicious recipe for a mouthwatering Chicago Style Pork Chop Sandwich that can be made in under 30 minutes!
I hope you enjoyed this list of some of the most classic and iconic Chicago Italian food recipes. Make sure to check out all of my Italian recipes for more delicious inspiration!
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