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+ servings
Crispy golden cutlet served inside a toasted roll with melted cheese peeking out.

Chicago Breaded Steak Sandwich

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Crispy breaded flank steak, rich marinara, and melted mozzarella cheese are wrapped in soft baguette rolls for a bold and comforting Chicago-style sandwich.
6 Servings

Ingredients

  • pounds flank steak cut into 6 large cutlets and pounded thin
  • 3 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 4 large eggs beaten
  • 4 cups shredded low-moisture whole milk mozzarella cheese
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce such as Rao’s
  • 2 soft baguettes cut into 6 sandwich rolls
  • Avocado oil for pan frying
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

Prepare the breading station:

  1. Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour combined with garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning; one with beaten eggs; and one with Italian breadcrumbs. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and place a wire rack nearby for resting the breaded cutlets.

Season and bread the steak cutlets:

  1. Season both sides of each pounded flank steak cutlet with salt and pepper. Working one piece at a time, dredge each cutlet first in the seasoned flour, then dip it in the beaten eggs, and finally coat it thoroughly in the breadcrumbs. Place the breaded steaks on the prepared wire rack.

Pan fry the breaded steaks:

  1. In a large skillet, heat approximately 1 inch of avocado oil over medium heat. Once hot, carefully add two steaks to the skillet and pan fry for about 2 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Adjust the heat as needed to prevent burning. Transfer the cooked steaks to the parchment-lined tray. Repeat the frying process with the remaining cutlets.

Warm the marinara sauce:

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the marinara sauce until it is hot and gently simmering.

Assemble the sandwiches:

  1. Submerge each fried steak in the hot marinara sauce, then transfer the steak to a sandwich roll. Top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Broil to melt the cheese:

  1. Place the assembled sandwiches on a baking tray and broil briefly until the cheese is melted and bubbly, watching closely to prevent burning.

Steam and serve:

  1. Wrap each sandwich in aluminum foil and allow it to rest for 3 to 5 minutes. This brief steaming process softens the bread and melds the flavors. Serve immediately.

Notes

To make this Chicago Breaded Steak Sandwich gluten-free, substitute the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and use certified gluten-free Italian-style breadcrumbs. Ensure that your marinara sauce and seasonings are also gluten-free, as some packaged blends may contain trace amounts of gluten or cross-contamination risk. Use gluten-free baguettes or sandwich rolls that are soft and steamable for best results.
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