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.
Hi. Can you please share what brand of bread you used? I’ve never seen any gluten-free rolls that look like them before. I would love to try and find some.
Hi Johanna! I developed this recipe before I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease and so those are “regular” buns. We eat them now with Canyon Bakehouse GF sub rolls which I toast under the broiler. You can see them in the recipe video if you’d like to see how they turn out!
I would LOVE to find gluten-free hoagie rolls that are big enough to even make a cheesesteak/or hot beef sammie!! #sadceliac
Have you tried the Canyon Bakehouse sub rolls? That’s what we use!
I’d love to make this recipe and freeze leftovers for my daughter and son-in-law who just had a baby. Do you think this would freeze well after cooking?
That’s so thoughtful of you — YES, this freezes very well after cooking!
easy and unbelievably delicious. My kids–20 and 23 went crazy over this. As a widower it was great to have an easy to make meal that was great.Will be a game day staple for sure
Oh I’m so happy to hear this recipe was a hit with you and your kids, Bill! Truly thrilled for you. :)
I love this recipe so much!!!! Made it multiple times but I was wondering if you can use Round Roast instead of Chuck Roast?
I’m so glad to hear it, Linsey! Round roasts typically have less fat than chuck roasts, so I’d check on it earlier to make sure it isn’t drying out.
I have made these many times, the first was for my book club and everyone devoured them and there were zero leftovers. I have been making this recipe for my family and it is a big hit as well. I add only the pepperoncini to the crock pot and we add the Giardinera at the table- I like a lot more than the rest of my family. Highly recommend!!!
I always go heavy on the giardiniera on my portion too ;) SO glad this was a hit for your bookclub! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Fantastic recipe! Easy and flavorful. We made it for a crowd before the high school football game. Lots of thumbs up!
SO glad you loved it! We just had it this weekend too — so good. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Italian Olive salad is the same thing as Chicago Sandwich Mix, my favorite comes from New Orleans, Central Groceries Brand. We also use Galic Mayonnaise. Delicious. https://louisianapantry.com/products/central-grocery-new-orleans-muffaletta-olive-salad-32oz?variant=42451503480991&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9rSoBhCiARIsAFOiplnSJqoPWcHA5Z6pBkV4fTyDRI5NOYz5uHPKzXQYM9Milp6jvJG6mV0aAoA5EALw_wcB
This product appears to be a muffaletta-type spread (there are no olives in the Chicago Sandwich Mix) but could be a great alternative!
Has anyone used the Instant Pot instead of the crock pot? Curious to know how it turned out.
Hi Herbie! I believe someone tried 90 minutes with a natural release and it worked well. I haven’t personally tried!
Hi! My husband and younger son can’t tolerate spice. I have mild banana peppers. Would that work and which would I swap it for? Thanks!
Mild banana peppers are perfect – this recipe isn’t spicy at all so that’s just fine! :)
Really really good
I’m thrilled to hear that, Char!
I just did that a few days ago. Result was very good.
Thanks a lot!
I’m so glad you loved it, Shaheen! Thanks for your feedback!
My family really enjoys this recipe! And I love how easy it is to make!! I have never been able to find the sandwiches mix on our area. But the recipe still tastes amazing!
I’m SO glad your family loved this dish, Miranda! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!