Description
Hearty slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches bring robust flavors straight from Italian-American kitchens to kitchen tables nationwide. Tender meat melts between crusty rolls, delivering savory comfort that connects families through delicious shared meals you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 3–4 pounds (1.4–1.8 kilograms) chuck roast or rump roast
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 packet (1 ounce/28 grams) Italian dressing seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Liquid and Additional Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) beef broth
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) pepperoncini juice
- 8–10 pepperoncini peppers (whole or sliced)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
- 6–8 crusty sandwich rolls or hoagie buns
- Sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese (optional)
- Giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables, optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Nestle the chuck roast into the slow cooker, positioning it centrally for even cooking.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by generously sprinkling Italian dressing mix, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes across the entire surface of the meat.
- Carefully pour beef broth around the roast, ensuring liquid covers the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Gently add pepperoncini juice and Worcestershire sauce to enhance the meat’s depth of flavor.
- Distribute pepperoncini peppers evenly around and on top of the roast, allowing their tangy essence to permeate the meat during slow cooking.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the roast to tenderize and absorb the aromatic seasonings for several hours.
- Once the meat is fork-tender and easily shreds, use two forks to pull the roast apart into succulent, flavorful strands.
- Let the shredded beef rest in its cooking liquid to maintain moisture and intensify the seasoning profile.
- Serve the Italian beef on soft rolls, spooning additional juice over the meat for maximum flavor and juiciness.
Notes
- Opt for a well-marbled chuck roast to ensure tender, juicy meat that falls apart easily after slow cooking.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes based on your spice tolerance, starting with a small amount and adding more if desired for a kick.
- For a lighter version, use a lean cut of beef and low-sodium beef broth to reduce overall calorie and salt content.
- Enhance the sandwich’s flavor by toasting the rolls and adding a slice of provolone cheese for extra richness and depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 68
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg