Portillo’s is known for their delicious Italian beef sandwiches, hot dogs, and other classic Chicago-style fare. Their sandwiches often contain crisp sweet peppers that add a perfect tangy crunch. But what kind of sweet peppers does Portillo’s actually use in their iconic recipes? Let’s take a closer look.
The Origins of Portillo’s Sweet Peppers
Portillo’s was founded in 1963 by Dick Portillo in a small trailer in Villa Park, Illinois. From the beginning, Portillo’s used sweet peppers on their Italian beef sandwiches to add flavor, texture, and vibrant color. According to Portillo’s own company history, the original sweet pepper recipe was inspired by the peppers used in Italian cooking.
In particular, Portillo’s based their recipe on a mix of roasted red and green bell peppers. These larger, sweeter pepper varieties were likely chosen over spicier peppers to complement the bold flavors in their Italian beef. The charred, smoky peppers paired perfectly with the seasoned, thinly sliced beef.
The Peppers Today
Over the years, Portillo’s has grown from a single hot dog stand into a massive restaurant chain with over 60 locations across several states. But they’ve kept their original sweet pepper recipe intact throughout the expansion.
Today, Portillo’s uses a proprietary blend of roasted red, yellow, and green peppers. According to the company, they roast the mixed peppers over an open flame to caramelize the natural sugars and achieve that perfect char-grilled taste.
The Peppers by Color
- Red bell peppers – Bright, sweet flavor with subtle grassy overtones
- Yellow bell peppers – Mildly sweet with notes of honey
- Green bell peppers – Crisp pepper flavor with grassy, herbaceous spice
This balanced combination of red, yellow, and green peppers creates a blend of sweet and savory flavors with different textures. The mix ensures every bite of an Italian beef or other sandwich pops with a delicious medley of roasted pepper tastes and aromas.
How Portillo’s Prepares and Uses the Peppers
Portillo’s roasts peppers daily to maximize freshness and flavor. They roast whole peppers over an open flame, charring the skins completely black. After blistering the skins, they steam the peppers in sealed bags to loosen the charred peel. Finally, they rub off the blackened skin and slice the tender roasted peppers into thin strips.
These freshly roasted pepper strips are used across the Portillo’s menu. They’re added to Italian beef and other sandwiches, used as a garnish for hot dogs, and included in salads. The peppers add a perfect counterpoint of sweetness and heat to rich, savory menu items.
Popular Menu Items with Peppers
| Menu Item | Peppers |
|---|---|
| Italian Beef | Pepper strips within sandwich |
| Chicago Dog | Pepper strips on top |
| Chopped Salad | Diced peppers mixed in |
Why Portillo’s Peppers Are So Tasty
There are a few key reasons why Portillo’s proprietary pepper blend has remained a customer favorite for over 50 years:
- The mix of red, yellow, and green peppers provides a complex blend of sweetness and light spice.
- Roasting over an open flame caramelizes natural sugars for deeper, richer flavor.
- Strips of roasted peppers have great texture contrast to other sandwich fillings.
- Peppers are roasted fresh in-house every day for peak flavor and crunch.
Conclusion
Portillo’s secret sweet pepper recipe combining yellow, red, and green bell peppers has been a core part of their menu since the very first day in business. Their dedication to time-honored preparation methods like open flame roasting ensures those crispy, tangy peppers continue to complement their sandwiches and enhance their legendary Chicago flavor. When you taste those amazing peppers in your next Portillo’s sandwich, you’ll know exactly why they’ve stuck with this original recipe for over 50 years.