These Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are perfect for tailgating season! With just a few simple ingredients tossed into the slow cooker, delicious slow cooked beef sandwiches are easy to make and serve for any game day gathering!
Tailgating season is one of our favorite times of the year. The weather has cooled down a little bit, and we get to enjoy party favorites – like sausage queso, sriracha shrimp, game day chili and of course Italian Beef!
This post is sponsored by Mirum, all opinions expressed are my own.
‘Tis the season for tailgating, friends and family! A favorite time of year for me filled with appetizers and all of my favorite snacks! This slow cooker Italian beef is a go-to with tender pulled beef and peppers. Simply pop it all in the slow cooker and let it cook while you enjoy the game! It’s great to prep ahead and transports well to parties!
Beef for Italian Beef Sandwiches
A typical Italian beef sandwich is made with sirloin however it wouldn’t hold up well in the slow cooker. I’ve opted for chuck roast as it’s tender and flavorful. A rump roast works well too!
The beef is seared on both sides to add flavor to the recipe and then it slow cooks until buttery and fork tender and is shredded (similar to pulled pork).
Seasonings: This recipe uses a packet of Italian dressing mix for a bit of zest and tang. The peppers I use are sliced pepperoncinis, if you can’t find sliced, whole will work too. They add a delicious, salty, briny flavor and just a hint of heat but don’t make this sandwich too spicy.
How to Make Italian Beef
- PREP: Brown the roast and add it to the slow cooker with Italian seasonings, broth and pepperoncini peppers.
- COOK: Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 9-10 hours until the beef is fork tender.
- SHRED: Using forks, shred the beef and return it to the juices. Stir to combine and let it warm for at least 20 minutes.
To Serve Crock Pot Italian Beef, stack it high on hoagie rolls or Italian rolls and top with with giardiniera (Italian pickled veggies) or more pickled peppers if you’d like to add a little bit of heat. Roasted Sweet green peppers are perfect on this too!
We also put out little slider rolls for parties or of course for game day since we have lots of other great foods on the table.
Don’t skip the juices!
It is important to make sure you get lots of the juices into the sandwich… maybe messy but definitely delicious (and essential to this recipe)! In fact, in Chicago they often dip the whole sandwich right into the au jus before serving it to you!
If you’d like to add cheese, provolone is a great choice!
More Delicious Italian Beef Sandwich Toppings
Pickled veggies complement this beef perfectly. We love adding refrigerator pickles and pickled jalapenos!
Other delicious additions include:
- Cheese – Provolone is great! Also try: mozzarella, monterey jack, or gouda.
- Bread – Italian rolls are hearty and hold up to the juices well. Hoagie rolls are nice and soft and easily available. And of course, slider buns are great if serving as an appetizer.
- Veggies – Giardiniera is traditional but crisp lettuce, tomatoes and red onions are great too
- Other additions – Pickles, olives, Italian dressing, pickled jalapenos
What To Make With Italian Beef
Because this beef is so fall-apart tender and so flavorful, it’s great on sandwiches with minimal additions! If you’re looking to make a roast beef dinner, Italian beef is delicious next to some mashed potatoes and a fresh Italian salad!
Storing The Leftovers
Slow cooker Italian beef will last up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Make sure it’s completely cooled before you seal it. Leftovers will last in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge, microwave, or oven!
If you have any leftover meat, try making enchiladas or tacos with it. A breakfast hash is also a delicious way to use leftover Italian beef!
More Crock Pot Beef Recipes
- Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff – weeknight favorite
- Easy Crock Pot Chili Recipe – hearty and delicious
- Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak – so easy
- Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes– another tailgate favorite
- CrockPot Beef Stew – a classic
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds beef chuck roast or rump roast
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 yellow onion sliced
- 1 packet Italian dressing mix 0.7 ounces
- 16 ounces sliced pepperoncini peppers with juice
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 12 hoagie rolls or 24 slider rolls
- spicy giardiniera or pickled vegetables for serving
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the roast to the pan and cook without turning until it is browned on one side. Flip the roast over and brown on the other side.
- Place onion in the bottom of a 6 qt slow cooker.
- Place the browned roast on top of onions. Sprinkle with Italian dressing and seasoning.
- Add broth and pepperoncini peppers with ½ cup of the juices.
- Cook on high 5-6 hours or on low 9-10 hours until beef is very tender.
- Shred beef using forks and return to the juices. Allow to cook an additional 20 minutes.
- Serve over rolls and top with pickled vegetables or peppers.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
I accidentally used ranch dressing mix, do you think it will be okay? It’s too late now I noticed it after I put it all in.
I think it will change up the flavor but if you like ranch then it should be okay. I would love to hear what you think!
I need to cut the recipe in half. Would I still cook on low for 9-10 hours?
For a two-pound roast, it would probably take 4-5 hours on low. Before serving you will want to make sure it has reached an internal temperature of 145°F and that it shreds easily.
Have you ever doubled this recipe? Any changes to make if I wanted to double it?
Hi Katie, we haven’t tried doubling this recipe but I think it should work well. We would love to hear how it turns out!
Today is the 3rd time using this recipe. It is absolutely delicious. Thank you!
So happy you are enjoying it, Grams!
I’ve made this a few times. I generally follow a recipe exact the first time, then tweak it afterwards. I have not tweaked this recipe at all, until today when I got lazy and didn’t brown the beef or cut up an onion lol! I did add some onion powder so I do think it will turn out good still. I did cut the recipe in half today since there are only 3 of us at home. When I’ve made this before, it’s been for a friends get together and I’ve used slider buns. Today we’ll put it on hoagie buns with some sliced provolone cheese. Yummmmmmy!
That sounds delicious, Kim. Glad to hear you enjoyed them!
I found this recipe as-is to be bland. The only flavor I tasted was the subtle heat of the peppers. Once shredded, I added more dressing mix, salt, pepper and granulated garlic.
Sorry to hear that, CK! Your additions do sound delicious though. Thanks for sharing!
my daughter makes this and loves it but instead of italian seasoning she uses 2 pakets of Zesty Italian dressing mix. very good
I’ve made this about 3 times and each time it gets better. A few minor adjustments, I put a bit less pepperoncini juice in it. (more like 1/3 C juice) I think it comes out better on low for 8-10 hrs, so prep the night before and start first thing in the morning. Since I can’t get Giardiniera out west, I make my own and when I go to make the sandwiches I lightly broil the rolls with garlic butter and add provolone cheese, then top with beef and veggies. Sloppy but ex-cell-ent.
This recipe is awesome. Used chuck roast, very tender flavorful. I will mke this again. 5 stars
I accidentally used all of the juice from the Pepperoncini peppers. Do you think it will turn out okay?
I hope it’ll work for you. Let us know how it turns out Ken!
How do you brown the the roast?
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the roast to the pan and cook without turning until it is browned on one side. Flip the roast over and brown on the other side.
Love your recipe
Thank you Rose!
My mother used to make this whole made back in the day and my grandmother they would add green peppers with it I’m going to try this recipe and add green peppers with it to see how it works
The recipe says:
16 ounces sliced pepperoncini peppers with juice
2 cups beef broth
Then the instructions say:
Add broth and pepperoncini peppers with ½ cup of the juices.
What is the ½ cup of juices
½ cup of the pepperoncini juice. Enjoy!
Do you make the dressing & pour in or just use the powder in the packet over the meat?
In step 2, you sprinkle the dressing mix over the roast. It is not prepared. Enjoy Mary!
is it required to sear/brown the meat? or can i just throw it all in?
Searing adds extra flavor but you can skip this step if you’d like.
Can you cook the giardiniera in the slow cooker with the roast from the beginning?
I don’t see why not, it may lose it’s crunch but will add great flavor. Let us know how it works out for you!
This was delicious—my husband said it’s just like the Italian beef he loves to get from Portillo’s.
Great to hear you enjoyed it, Diana!
That’s what I was hoping for! Thanks for that review! Now I really want to try this!
Good
So yummy! Very versatile too. For my daughter, I put it into a grilled cheese sandwich. I’m on a no-low grain diet, and put the meat on a salad with feta and olives. My dressing was a pickle juice ranch (also found on Pinterest). Divine! So all you paleo & keto followers-you can enjoy Italian beef too!!!
Can this be made with pork roast?
While I’ve never tried it, I’m sure that would be delicious! I’d suggest adjusting the cook times to cook on high 4-5 hours or on low 7-8 hours. Let us know if you try it Heather!
This is also delicious with chicken breasts and all the remaining ingredients, cook the same way.
You have a picture in your Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches post that shows Omeprazole. Is this a secret intredient?
Omeprazole can provide relief to those of us that suffer from heartburn Karl :).