Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are the perfect solution, requiring just a few ingredients and minimal prep time for a delicious meal! These roast beef sandwiches make an excellent choice for lunch or dinner, allowing busy cooks to enjoy hearty sandwiches without the fuss.
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With the slow cooker doing the heavy lifting, tender beef can be transformed into a mouthwatering filling that pairs perfectly with a crusty roll. The combination of seasonings brings out rich flavors, making these Italian beef sandwiches a hit at any meal.
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches Recipe
I have a large family, and sometimes pleasing everyone at mealtime can be very challenging. Thankfully everyone enjoys a good roast! Instead of going the “normal” slow cooker roast route, I decided to mix it up and try this delicious recipe for Italian Beef Sandwiches.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity. By cooking the roast in the crockpot you can start a delicious and filling meal in the morning, and come home a cooked meal later! Whether hosting guests or looking for a quick family dinner, these Italian beef sandwiches deliver satisfaction with ease. With minimal cleanup and maximum taste, this dish is sure to become a favorite.
Why You’ll Love This Roast Beef Recipe
- Set it and forget it. While you can’t really “forget it,” this recipe is so simple and easy that you just toss everything together in the slow cooker and let it simmer for several hours. Don’t worry, the incredible smell coming out of the kitchen will work as a great reminder that dinner is almost ready!
- Two words- Toasted Bread. Instead of just slapping some juicy meat and cheese between a fresh bun, we take an added step to quickly toast the bread under the broiler, and that really upgrades this meal into an unforgettable experience.
- It’s great for a variety of meals. Serve this meaty filling in sliced dinner rolls for easy slider appetizers or on hoagie rolls for a simple lunch or dinner option. This meal is great for tailgating and football parties too.
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Ingredients
Chuck Roast: You will need a 2-3 pound chuck roast for this recipe. This will give you enough meat for several sandwiches.
Italian Mix: Use 1 packet of Zesty Italian dressing mix to flavor the meat perfectly.
Beef Broth: One 14.5-ounce can of beef broth will make the meat juicy so that it doesn’t dry out (which is important for leaner cuts of meat).
Pepperoncini’s: Add in a wonderful depth of flavor by using ¾ cup pepperoncini peppers or Giardiniera Mix (Chicago-Style Italian Sandwich Mix). You can find these near the condiments in your grocery store, by the pickles.
Bell Pepper: You want 1 sliced bell pepper to give this dish more color and taste.
Rolls: This meat will produce enough to fill 6 hoagie rolls.
Cheese: 6 slices of provolone cheese should be sufficient as that will give you one slice of cheese per sandwich.
How to make Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Crockpot
Start by placing the roast into a crockpot. Then pour in the beef broth and sprinkle the meat with the packet of Italian dressing mix on top.
After that add in the pepperoncini peppers/Giardiniera mix (which has a variety of vegetables) and stir the contents around a bit.
Proceed to cook the meat on low for 9 hours.
Shred & cook
Now, remove the meat from the crockpot and transfer to a cutting board and use 2 forks to shred the meat apart.
Return the meat to the slow cooker. Then dice the bell pepper into thin slices and add the pieces to the meat mixture. Continue to cook the meat and bell peppers for an additional hour.
Serve
When you are ready to serve, slice the hoagie rolls in half and toast them under the broiler for 2 minutes until toasted to your desired level of doneness.
Proceed to pile the shredded meat and peppers on top, top each hoagie with a slice of cheese and return the sandwiches to the broiler for 1 minute to melt the cheese.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
Grass Fed Beef is Perfect For Slow Cookers!
I have to be hones, I had never actually tried Grass-Fed beef before, so I was really curious. You prepare grass-fed beef somewhat differently than you would regular beef simply because it has higher levels of protein and lower amounts of fat. It’s a leaner meat, so I found that low and slow is best, bring on the slow cooker. I also cooked a roast on a low heat in my Dutch oven, and it turned out incredible!
SLOW COOKER ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb chuck roast
- 1 packet Zesty Italian dressing mix
- 14 oz can beef broth
- ¾ cup pepperoncini peppers or Giardiniera Mix Chicago-Style Italian Sandwich Mix
- 1 bell pepper sliced
- 6 hoagie rolls
- 6 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Crockpot: Place the roast into a crockpot. Pour in the beef broth and sprinkle the meat with the packet of Italian dressing mix on top. Add in the pepperoncini peppers/ Giardiniera mix (which has a variety of vegetables) and stir the contents around a bit. Cook the meat on low for 9 hours.
- Shred: Remove the meat from the crockpot and transfer to a cutting board and use 2 forks to shred the meat apart. Return the meat to the slow cooker. Dice the bell pepper into thin slices and add the pieces to the meat mixture. Continue to cook the meat and bell peppers for an additional hour.
- Serve: When you are ready to serve, slice the hoagie rolls in half and toast them under the broiler for 2 minutes until toasted to your desired level of doneness. Proceed to pile the shredded meat and peppers on top, top each hoagie with a slice of cheese and return the sandwiches to the broiler for 1 minute to melt the cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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What cut of meat is Italian beef made from?
Italian beef usually comes from a chuck roast, but you can also make it with other cuts of beef. Some examples would be sirloin, top round, or even bottom round. All of these would produce tasty beef hoagies.
Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot?
Nope! While you can do this if you want to, we find that it isn’t necessary here. With the meat not getting browned in advance, we get an even soft texture from the beef with no surprising crunches from the crust/browned areas.
Are there any seasonings I can add for a more flavorful meat?
For authentic flavor, use a mix of Italian seasonings such as dried oregano, basil, and thyme. Adding garlic powder and black pepper enhances the taste. Don’t forget to include beef broth for moisture and richness during the cooking process.
What sides are good with Italian beef sandwiches?
Italian Beef sandwiches pair nicely with a variety of side dishes. Consider serving them with crispy fries, a fresh salad, or roasted vegetables. A side of potato salad or coleslaw also works well to balance the flavors. Potato chips and a simple Au Jus are also welcome too!
Should an Italian beef have cheese?
Versions of this sandwich do vary as some people choose cheese while others choose gravy. We like this sandwich with some melted provolone, but you may like it better with a mild cheddar or just a bowl of the juice left behind in the crockpot (it’s perfect for dipping in!)
Check out these other great crockpot recipes!
- HURST 15 BEAN SOUP
- SLOW COOKER BROWN SUGAR CINNAMON PORK ROAST
- SLOW COOKER PIZZA SOUP
- CROCKPOT SWEET AND SOUR MEATBALLS
- CROCKPOT GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN PASTA
- SLOW COOKER ROOT BEER BBQ CHICKEN
- CROCKPOT POTATO SOUP
- BBQ PULLED PORK IN THE CROCK POT
- CROCKPOT PULLED BBQ CHICKEN SANDWICHES
- CROCKPOT ANGEL CHICKEN PASTA
- SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCKPOT CHICKEN
- CROCKPOT HOT HONEY CHICKEN SANDWICHES
- SLOW COOKER FRENCH ONION SOUP
- EASY CROCKPOT HAM AND BEAN SOUP RECIPE
- SLOW COOKER PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES
- CROCK POT HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN THIGHS
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are made with simple ingredients & little prep work, to make the most flavorful hoagies perfect for lunch or dinner. These roast beef sandwiches are loaded with amazing filling between every roll!
[…] Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches […]