Description
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches offer tender, juicy beef infused with robust Italian herbs and spices, slow-cooked to melt-in-your-mouth perfection. This easy, flavorful recipe is ideal for weeknight dinners or gatherings, featuring versatile options to serve as sandwiches, over pasta, or alongside veggies.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Seasonings
- 3–4 pounds chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning blend (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, sliced
Liquids and Vegetables
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup juice from peperoncini (optional)
- 1 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
Optional Toppings and Serving
- Peperoncini peppers or giardiniera, for topping
- Fresh sandwich rolls or hoagies (gluten-free options available)
- Provolone or mozzarella cheese slices (optional)
- Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the Beef: Trim any excess fat from your chuck roast to prevent greasiness, then pat it dry with paper towels. Optional: sear the beef in a hot skillet to add flavor and color.
- Build Your Flavor Base: Layer sliced onions, minced garlic, and roasted red peppers at the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle Italian seasoning evenly over the beef before placing it on top of the veggies.
- Add Liquids and Slow Cook: Pour beef broth and peperoncini juice over the roast to keep it moist and flavorful. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours until the beef is fall-apart tender.
- Shred and Assemble: Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Stir the shredded meat back into the cooking juices to absorb maximum flavor.
- Serve Warm on Rolls: Pile the shredded beef into fresh sandwich rolls. Top with your choice of peperoncini, giardiniera, or melted cheese for an authentic Italian beef sandwich experience.
Notes
- Sear the beef before cooking to enhance flavor and caramelization.
- Cooking on low heat yields more tender meat and prevents drying out.
- Retain the cooking juices to serve as a flavorful dipping au jus.
- Use sturdy bread rolls to prevent sogginess when soaked with juices.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing peperoncini, adding jalapeños, or choosing hot giardiniera.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 hours (low) or 4-6 hours (high)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sandwich
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg