Did you guys see that ALDI is now carrying Buona Italian beef in their freezer section? My store had a little 24 oz tub on sale for $4.99 yesterday. (This is interesting in and of itself, because I know they were doing those trials of the big tubs at Costco but didn’t realize that the smaller tubs had made it into grocery stores!)
Buuuuutttt wait. I haven’t actually purchased frozen Italian beef in years, ever since realizing how much easier and tastier it is to make it in the Crock-Pot. Seriously. It’s insanely good, and insanely easy. So instead of buying a 24 oz frozen tub of Italian beef for $4.99, I bought an $8 chuck roast, a $1.49 jar of peppers, and used broth and garlic I already had in the house. (A can of broth is $.49 at ALDI and if I’d bought the garlic there and used one head, it would have been another $.33 — so a little under $10.50 for the batch.)
Was this more expensive than a $4.99 tub of Italian beef? Yes, but: Since the frozen tubs of Italian beef are largely juice, I would have have to buy at least two of them to feed my family of four — I can’t find specific info for the Buona, but the Papa Charlie’s site shows a 24 oz tub as feeding 1-2 people. For about the same cost and fresh-made taste, I fed four with leftovers (even after meat-loving MashupDad and High School Guy went to town on it), plus I ended up with garlic and peppers to use to garnish the sandwiches.
Tonight I’m going to saute & spice up some mushrooms and onions I have in the fridge. With the rest of the Italian beef, a pack of tortillas, and some avcacados + cheese + sour cream, that’s a recipe for some pretty good fajitas or quesadillas.
Although I haven’t yet tried the Buona, the stuff in the tubs generally also tastes a little off to me, like, weirdly sweet? Maybe it’s just me, but: If you want to try your hand at making your own, too, here’s the easy Four Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef recipe. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Do you agree?
What do you guys think? Make Italian beef… or buy it?
Joey Baldereli
Thursday 13th of February 2020
Nice recipe! While most frozen Italian beefs don't do it for me, Buona is actually really good. The frozen quality is very similar to the store quality especially if you follow the instructions and cook it low & slow. I feel like if you let the gravy boil it will burn up all the spices and make the flavor more bland. Good recipe though. I would still take the frozen Buona tubs over this but I would choose this recipe over any other retail brand. Thankfully i'm in Chicago and I can just go to Buona!
ChuckIL
Wednesday 6th of February 2019
I prefer my wife's home made Italian beef, but I did try the frozen Buona beef from Aldi. It's really good. Better than the takeout pack from Portillo's. One tub makes about three sandwiches. My Aldi also has Turano French roles. Pop those in the oven for three minutes, heat up the beef to 165 degrees, add some pepperoncinis, and you've got a really good sandwich.
Joey Baldereli
Thursday 13th of February 2020
agreed! you really need to have good French bread for any style Italian Beef. Turano is my favorite as well
Nancy
Friday 16th of December 2016
I got my Italian beef recipe from a friend. I buy a big chuck roast and put it in the crock pot with beef broth and 1 envelope of Italian seasoning and one envelope of Zesty Italian seasoning (we skip the peppers but you can add peppers too). Cook in the crock pot until it practically falls apart. Super easy and super tasty.
ellen
Friday 16th of December 2016
If I find a pot roast on sale I throw it in the crockpot with Italian seasonings and shred it when its done. For sliced Italian beef I use a top round and roast it in the oven till med rare . I have been buying really small ones at target or jewel and after they cook I am able to use a mandolin to make the slices super thin. I add water and Italian spices to the drippings and make ajus with that. I actually roasted one this morning before work. The ones I make that way taste closer to the beef stand sandwiches I think. If we are having a family party with lots of people I order out. Ain't nobody got time for that!
DON OCONNELL
Friday 16th of December 2016
The home beef recipe is one of my all time favorites as well as those i have turned on to the recipe. I cant describe how fantastic these sandwiches are. I had these sandwiches just yesterday and omg I want more already.... a must try and keep imho