Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are a 5-ingredient crock pot recipe version of the popular hot sandwich recipe. This easy dinner recipe is a crowd-pleaser!
“All I can say is WOW!!!! … My husband, who doesn’t get all that worked up about food and doesn’t care for roast, LOVED this recipe!! After we finished our dinner, he asked me if I could make it again soon for his men’s group!”
Recently I asked my Facebook and Instagram friends if they’d like to see a crock pot recipe on the site sooner vs later. There were so many exclamation marks in the comments, which I took to mean, ‘heck yes!’ that I immediately started brainstorming.
Everyone knows crock pot recipes are a busy person’s best friend but many of them can be heavy and unappealing at times. While brainstorming a new and interesting crock pot combo I decided the recipe would have to meet the following criteria:
- Beef-based, as I have many chicken-based crock pot recipes already.
- Easy. Nobody likes crock pot recipes with several cooking steps before you even plug the dang thing in.
- Very delicious, unique, and not gloopy whatsoever.
With the aforementioned criteria in mind, I settled on Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches. A mouthwatering, 5-ingredient flavor combo that has just the right amount of zip and zing!
Watch How to Make It
Slow Cooked Italian Beef
Chuck roast is slow cooked for 10 hours in a mixture of pepperoncini peppers, Giardiniera, Italian dressing mix, and beef broth then shredded and served on a chewy hoagie bun with melted provolone cheese.
Crazy (CRAZY) good, and did I mention that it’s made with just 5 ingredients?!
My husband was skeptical about eating the crock pot version of one of his favorite sandwiches, which is typically made with thinly sliced beef.
“Oh…I’ve never heard of a shredded Italian beef sandwich before…” he said in a tone that I knew meant, I am definitely going to hate this.
But guess what? He didn’t! While I stood eating the shredded beef straight out of the crock pot like the refined woman that I am, he inhaled an entire sandwich in under 2 minutes. That is to say, this dish is a total hit!
How to Make Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches:
Start by trimming any large pieces of fat off a chuck roast then cut the roast into seven or eight big hunks and place them in the bottom of a 6 quart crock pot.
Next sprinkle in a packet of gluten free Italian Dressing Mix like Good Graces brand, or Simply Organic. If you don’t need to eat gluten free, you can use Good Seasons Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Mix.
Add sliced pepperoncini peppers plus a splash of pepperoncini juice, and Chicago-Style Giardiniera which you can find in the olive/pickle aisle at the grocery store. I love Mezzetta brand for both, which is gluten free.
If you’ve never had Chicago-style Giardiniera, a type of relish made with pickled olives and vegetables that’s packed in herbs and oils, you are in for a treat! It’s typically served over Italian beef sandwiches, but I love infusing the beef with the mixture from the get-go.
Because this style of giardiniera is packed in oil, drain the mixture using a fork or fine mesh sieve before adding to the crock pot. You can get Giardiniera that’s packed in vinegar, but I find this style to be a real treat.
Finally, add beef broth then place a lid on top of the crock pot and let it cook on low for 9 hours, or until the beef can be easily shredded with a fork.
Once the roast is extremely tender, shred with two forks then slip the meat back into the slow cooker to cook in the juices for 1 more hour on low.
Lastly, scoop the meat onto hoagie buns then slap a slice of provolone on top to melt from the heat of the beef. Serve with extra pepperoncini peppers and Giardiniera, and you’re set!
This is one of my all-time favorite crock pot recipes. Could not be easier to make and the flavors from the pickled vegetables, pepper rings, and Italian dressing mix really made the beef sing. SO GOOD. Enjoy!
More Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Crock Pot Mojo Pork with Cuban-Style Black Beans
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lb chuck roast, trimmed of large pieces of fat then cut into large pieces
- 1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix, see notes
- 8 oz pepperoncini pepper slices + splash of juice, plus extra peppers for serving
- 8 oz Chicago-Style Giardiniera, drained, plus extra for serving
- 14.5 oz can beef broth
- provolone cheese slices
- buns
Directions
- Place chuck roast into the bottom of a 6 quart crock pot then sprinkle with salad dressing mix. Add pepperoncini peppers plus a splash of juice, drained Giardiniera, and beef broth then lift up chuck roast pieces to get broth underneath. Place a lid on top then cook on low for 9 hours, or until meat shreds easily with a fork. Shred then place meat back into juices inside crock pot and cook on low for 1 more hour.
- Split buns in half then scoop the shredded meat mixture on top and add provolone cheese slices (if using gluten free buns, toast/broil first). Top with additional pepperoncini peppers and Giardiniera, if desired, then serve.
Notes
- I like Simply Organic or Good Grace’s gluten free Italian Dressing Mix. Good Season’s Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Mix is a good option if you do not need to eat gluten free.
- Adapted from Pioneer Woman
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Absolutely fabulous!! This is now my all time favorite crockpot recipe!! Best roast beef sandwiches I’ve ever eaten, hands down! Oh, I’m 62, so I’ve had several over the years.
LOVE to hear this, Colleen!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
This is delicious! My family loves this one.
So happy to hear this, Susan! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
This was absolutely delicious! Instead of sandwiches i also made it over rice last time. However, I forgot to buy rice this time. Would over pasta work?
Ooo, I love that, Amy! Yes, absolutely you can serve it with pasta. Will likely be similar to this recipe in terms of the eating experience: https://iowagirleats.com/short-rib-ragu-made-in-the-oven/
Do you think I could make this in crockpot on Wednesday and refrigerate and warm up for Saturday at Sunday with no issues
I do!
I’d like to make this for our family of 3. Do you think halving the recipe would still work out with the liquid ratio in the crockpot? It looks so delicious.
Yes that should be fine!
can this be made in a pressure cooker? How long would the cooking time be?
Hi Bobbie! I’ve only tested this recipe in the slow cooker, not a pressure cooker.
This is so tasty! I didn’t have Giardinera or Italian dressing mix. I used a homemade Italian dressing mix (one way to avoid gluten if you need to), chopped some onions, and added a few sliced jalapenos along with the pepperocinis. I thought I should have added some sliced bell pepper, but that thought came when it was close to being ready, so too late. I used a small frozen rump roast and set the slow cooker on high for about 5 hours. Took the roast out and sliced it up and then cooked for about 4 more hours. My husband raved about it. We served ours on a baked potato. 😋
I’ve made your recipes before and they are always good. I actually stumbled upon this one looking for some gluten free treat recipes to make and then went down the recipe rabbit hole. This is a keeper!
Love to hear this, Lyndy!! And I like that you served the meat over baked potatoes – I haven’t tried that before. Sounds delicious!! So glad to have you. :)
How much meat would be required for 40 people ?
Maybe 15-20? I haven’t cooked this recipe for that quantity of people so I can’t say for sure.
Kroger brand Italian salad dressing mix is also gluten free! Where did you find/what brand are those lovely gluten free sandwich rolls? These are on the menu for next week.
Hi Rebecca! Those are wheat-based rolls – I shared this recipe prior to having to go gluten free. These days I use Canyon Bakehouse Sub Rolls, and toast them first. You can see what they look like in the video!