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Home » Ingredient » Beef

Beef

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Published: June 5, 2022   |   Updated: February 24, 2023   |   12 Comments

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These 5-ingredient slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches have mouthwatering chuck roast on a toasted hoagie roll with melted provolone cheese.

A slow cooker Italian beef sandwich being dipped into a bowl of au jus.

Today we’re making some slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches. These hot sandwiches deliver big on flavor with fork-tender chuck roast slow cooked with pepperoncini peppers and Italian seasoning. Serve them dry, wet, or dipped in au jus on crusty rolls with lots of melty cheese and some giardiniera, if that’s your thing.

I like to joke that these crock pot Italian beef sandwiches are like Mississippi pot roast and French Dip sandwich had a baby with its tangy broth and lots of sloppy sandwich action from all the au jus dipping. Make them for parties, game day, or just as fun, family meal.

It’s an easy 5-minute prep recipe with only 5 ingredients for the ultimate convenient meal. For more no-fuss recipes with 5 ingredients or less, try this meatball pasta bake, honey garlic chicken or shrimp, slow cooker three packet pot roast, or these slow cooker grape jelly meatballs.

Ingredients in Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Ingredients to make slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches in prep bowls.

Are Pepperoncini Peppers Spicy?

These Greek peppers, also known as sweet Italian peppers, are mild in flavor and usually found pickled. They are more tangy and zesty than spicy or hot.

Two slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches stacked on each other with pepperoncini peppers and a bowl of au jus.

SLOW COOKER ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES RECIPE TIPS

Cut of meat – A good chuck or rump roast works well with slow cooking.

Seasoning – You won’t need need to season the roast or use any additional salt for this recipe because there’s plenty of sodium in the Italian dressing mix.

Sear the meat – Searing the meat before putting it in the slow cooker is one of the best ways you can get a juicy, flavorful pot roast. It is highly recommended! Sear the roast for about 5 minutes per side until nicely browned. I have a 6 qt. Hamilton Beach slow cooker that lets me sear the meat in the insert directly to make things easier.

Side by side preparation shots of slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches in the slow cooker and on a baking sheet.

Browned bits – If you decided to sear the roast, you should have some leftover stuck-on bits in the pan. Use the beef broth to deglaze the pan and scrape off these yummy browned bits into the broth. These browned bits, also known as fond, will add a ton of flavor to your roast.

Slow cooker – For big roasts like these, you will need a 6 qt. slow cooker to comfortably fit all the ingredients.

Beef broth – You can substitute this with equal amounts of beef consomme. You can also use low sodium beef broth to cut down on sodium.

Italian dressing mix – This is the dry seasoning mix in the envelopes. I used the Good Seasons Italian Dressing & Recipe Mix which is about 0.7 oz per packet.

Several slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches on a baking sheet with pepperoncini peppers and a bowl of au jus.

Pepperoncini – I used the Vigo brand of pepperoncini peppers. These Greek peppers add a tangy bite to the meat and aren’t spicy at all. I got whole pepperoncini, cut off the stems and cut them into 1″ slices. I also added a little pepperoncini juice to flavor the broth; about 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup of pepperoncini juice should be enough without it being too overpowering.

If you want crisp pepperoncini to add to your sandwiches later, set aside a few of them from the jar. They tend to break down and lose their crispness and texture while cooking for a long time in the slow cooker.

Sandwich bread – Hoagies work great to make a sandwich but you can also use French or Italian rolls. I like buttering the rolls and toasting them to give the sandwich more flavor.

Several slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches on a baking sheet with pepperoncini peppers and a bowl of au jus.

Cheese – Any kind of melting cheese will work with the sandwich such as provolone, mozzarella, swiss, or Monterey Jack.

Giardiniera – Giardiniera is a medley of pickled vegetables like peppers, carrots, celery, cauliflower and gherkin in some vinegar and olive oil. I used a mild version of the brand Marconi, but they also have it in medium and hot.

Leftovers – Leftovers can be stored for up 4 days in the fridge.

Freeze – Leftovers can be frozen safely for up to 3 months.

And that’s about it. Enjoy your sandwiches and let me know how you liked them in the comments below!

MORE MEATY SANDWICHES TO TRY

  • Homemade Sloppy Joes
  • Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich
  • Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
  • Instant Pot French Dip Sandwich

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A slow cooker Italian beef sandwich being dipped into a bowl of au jus.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches


★★★★★

5 from 4 reviews

  • Author: The Cooking Jar
  • Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8 sandwiches 1x
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Description

These 5-ingredient slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches have mouthwatering chuck roast on a toasted hoagie roll with melted provolone cheese.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3–4 lbs. chuck roast
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 (0.7 oz.) packet dry Italian dressing mix
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 (16 oz.) jar pepperoncini with juice, stems removed and cut into 1” slices

SANDWICH ASSEMBLY

  • Hoagie rolls
  • Butter
  • Sliced provolone/mozzarella cheese
  • Giardiniera (optional)

Instructions

  1. [Optional step] Over medium-high heat in a skillet, sear the roast in some oil on both sides until browned, about 4-5 minutes per side. Pour some beef broth or wine to deglaze the pan and scrape the yummy browned bits to mix in with the rest of the broth.
  2. Add the roast to a 6 qt. slow cooker and sprinkle with the dry Italian dressing mix and Italian seasoning.
  3. Add beef broth, sliced pepperoncini and 1/2 cup of pepperoncini juice.
  4. Cover and cook for 8 hours on low heat or 4-5 hours on high heat.
  5. Remove cooked roast to a cutting board. Shred into bite-sized pieces with two forks and discard any fatty bits.
  6. Split the rolls lengthwise and butter them. Add some provolone cheese and toast or broil until the cheese has melted.
  7. Top with shredded beef and pepperoncini peppers then dish and serve hot with/without the au jus and giardiniera(see notes for three ways to enjoy the sandwich)
  8. Enjoy!

Notes

Three ways to enjoy the sandwich:
Dry – Let most of the juice drip off from the meat before putting it on the roll.
Wet – Top the roll with meat still dripping in juices. You can also spoon some au jus over the sandwich before serving.
Dipped – The sandwich is dipped into the au jus for a soggy but delicious sandwich.

  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 8 hours

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below or share a photo of the recipe on Instagram by tagging @cookingjar

posted in: Beef, Main Dishes, Popular Recipes, Slow Cooker

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Margie says

    February 8, 2023

    Yum

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      February 18, 2023

      Thank you, Margie! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Grammasue says

    February 5, 2023

    We have been making these since the late 1970s. They are so good and so easy to make. I sometimes make it in the oven bc my crockpot is very small. It works just as good and a lot quicker. I also add one thinly sliced yellow onion. Th e au jus is to die for! Leftovers are great also. (if there are any left )

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      February 5, 2023

      I had no idea this was such a vintage recipe! Thank you for sharing and I’m with you on the au jus. It’s such a good dippable sandwich.

      Reply
  3. Todd says

    January 19, 2023

    I’m making this now and the liquid is at the top of my roast. Should there be that much liquid? Seems like it’s just goiy to boil.

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      January 19, 2023

      If you used 2 cups of beef broth and 1/2 cup of pepperoncini juice it should be fine. You’ll want the liquid to dip your sandwiches into later.

      Reply
      • Todd says

        January 19, 2023

        Perfect, thank you for the reply.

        Reply
        • The Cooking Jar says

          January 19, 2023

          Absolutely. I might add some process step-by-step photos so people can see how much liquid they should have to start with. Just incase they have the same question!

  4. Ronesha says

    December 31, 2022

    This was absolutely delicious! I made it for my boyfriend and he loved it! I will definitely make it again 🙂

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      January 2, 2023

      That’s fantastic 🙂 I love that he enjoyed them too. Thanks, Ronesha!

      Reply
  5. Brittani says

    December 30, 2022

    Delicious! My toddler loved this recipe as well. Easy to make and will make again.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • The Cooking Jar says

      January 2, 2023

      Wow, your toddler has adventurous tastes! I love it 🙂

      Reply

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