Last week I asked my Facebook and Twitter friends if they’d like to see a crock pot recipe on the blog this week. 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 exactly one beef crock pot recipe on the blog – Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce.
- 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!
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?!
Ben 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 was 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 Hy-Vee’s 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 brands for both, which is gluten free.
I’d never had Chicago-style Giardiniera, a type of relish made with pickled olives and vegetables that’s packed in herbs and oils, but Ben insisted it go into this dish. I’m so glad he did because OH MY GOSH it is so good! It’s supposed to go over Italian beef sandwiches, but I could have eaten forkful after forkful all by itself.
Because it’s packed in oil though, which would add unnecessary fat to the dish, I scooped out the mix with a fork and let it drain away. You can get Giardiniera that’s packed in vinegar, but I found 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 can be easily shredded with a fork, shred with two forks then slip the meat back into the slow cooker to cook in the juices for 1 more hour on low. 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!
More Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love
- Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Crock Pot Mojo Pork with Cuban-Style Black Beans
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup
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Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Description
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are the 5-ingredient crock pot version of the popular hot sandwich recipe. This easy dinner recipe is a crowd-pleaser!
Ingredients
- 3lb chuck roast, trimmed of visible fat and cut into large hunks
- 1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix (see notes)
- 8oz pepperoncini pepper slices + splash of juice, plus extra for serving
- 8oz Giardiniera (Chicago-Style Italian Sandwich Mix,) drained, plus extra for serving
- 14.5oz can beef broth
- provolone cheese slices
- hoagie buns
Directions
- Place chuck roast into the bottom of a 5.5 - 6 quart crock pot then sprinkle with salad dressing mix. Add pepperoncini peppers plus a splash of juice, 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 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. Top with additional pepperoncini peppers and Giardiniera, if desired, then serve.
- Leave a comment and star rating if you loved the recipe! Thank you for considering!
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.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
This is one of my favorite crock pot recipes to date. Could not have been easier to make and the flavors from the pickled vegetables, pepper rings, and Italian dressing mix really made the beef sing. SO GOOD. Hope you’ll give it a try sometime!
21 Delicious 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes - Ecfluo News 02.10.2015
[…] You’ll also need cheese and bread for serving, but all you need to make the deliciously tender beef is chuck roast, pre-mixed seasonings, pepperoncinis, and some beef broth. Recipehere. […]
21 Delicious 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes - Alrighty Then 02.10.2015
[…] You’ll also need cheese and bread for serving, but all you need to make the deliciously tender beef is chuck roast, pre-mixed seasonings, pepperoncinis, and some beef broth. Recipehere. […]
21 Delicious 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes - Whatevers 02.09.2015
[…] You’ll also need cheese and bread for serving, but all you need to make the deliciously tender beef is chuck roast, pre-mixed seasonings, pepperoncinis, and some beef broth. Recipehere. […]
21 Delicious 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes | Uber Trends 02.09.2015
[…] You’ll also need cheese and bread for serving, but all you need to make the deliciously tender beef is chuck roast, pre-mixed seasonings, pepperoncinis, and some beef broth. Recipehere. […]
21 Delicious 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker RecipesThe NEW N!FYmag 02.08.2015
[…] iowagirleats.com […]
21 Delicious 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes - Seatbelt Guitar 02.08.2015
[…] tender beef is chuck roast, pre-mixed seasonings, pepperoncinis, and some beef broth. Recipe here […]
Fran 02.06.2015
Excellent recipe. I’m from the Chicago area and winter in Florida. Sure had a hard time finding Giardiniara. Finally found it at Fresh Market but only the hot variety.
Rick 02.01.2015
I too was, surprisingly, unable to find the giarniniera at my grocery store. My family likes spicy foods so I added the (mild) pepperoncini and then some sliced hot cherry peppers. It’s in the crockpot now. Perfect Super Bowl Sunday meal!
Gender Gab and Nursery Notes | Apple of My Ivy 02.01.2015
[…] enjoy her rambunctious stage shows! We are just having a few people over and I’m making italian beef sandwiches, buffalo chicken dip (my sister’s recipe), mexican layer dip, and deviled eggs, of course! I […]
Beef | Pearltrees 01.30.2015
[…] Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches – Iowa Girl Eats. Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are a 5-ingredient version of the popular hot sandwich recipe! […]
Jenny 01.29.2015
I want to make this for my super bowl party of 20! If I tripled the recipe (and used a larger crock obviously) do you still think 9 hours is sufficient cooking time? P.S. I am obsessed with your blog and recipes!! Thank you for existing!!
meals for the week 12.6-12.12 12.08.2014
[…] crock pot giardinera beef […]
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[…] –Crockpot skinny veggie lasagna […]
Stacey 10.22.2014
I love this recipe! I made it for the first time two weeks ago and my husband LOVED it!! And I’m a terrible cook. I’m always in a hurry due to my two kids!!! So I love crock pot recipes. I’m making this again today and we are so excited to eat it again!
23 Easy Five-Ingredient Dinner RecipesZociall | Zociall 10.11.2014
[…] Roast beef + broth + Italian seasoning mix + pepperoncinis + relish. (Plus, anything you’d like to pair it with, like hoagie rolls and cheese, or a side of fresh veggies.) Get the recipe. […]
Bev 09.30.2014
My family loves these. I use both beer and broth; the more liquid the better for us. I love mine served as an open sandwich drowned in the delicious sauce.
Erin Clark 09.29.2014
I made this recipe over the weekend and it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! My husband is originally from Chicago and says this is the best Italian Beef he’s had in 20 years! A real Chicago-style Italian Beef has a very particular flavor and this recipe nails it. Can’t wait for to make this again!
Pam 09.20.2014
Chicken didn’t take quite as long to cook. I used 3lbs and cooked on low & it was done in about 4 1/2 hrs.
Pam 09.20.2014
Thank you so much for sharing. I put a spin to it and used chicken. Yum yum yum.
Amy 09.08.2014
I can’t find the Mezzetta sandwich giardiniera anywhere! :( I’ve tried Target, Randalls (Tom Thumb), World Market… no one has it. If anyone reads the comments and lives in Texas or the surround states, PLEASE let me know where you found this!