Italian Beef

Italian beef is a hearty and flavorful dish cooked slowly in a crockpot and served on crusty hoagie rolls.

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Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time8 hours hrs

Total Time8 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings4

Italian beef is a classic dish that simmers in your crockpot until tender before being served on crusty hoagie rolls with melted cheese. It’s an easy and delicious meal consisting of slow-cooked beef in a flavorful broth made with herbs and spices. 

Italian Beef Ingredients

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Italian beef is packed full of rich, savory flavors. The slow-cooked beef is tender and juicy, with a hint of spice from the herbs and spices used to make the broth. 

The combination of beef broth, Italian seasonings, and spicy pepperoncini peppers adds a delicious and unique depth to the dish. 

You’ll need:

• 3 to 4 pounds of boneless beef roast (such as chuck or rump)
• 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning blend
• 1 (0.7-ounce) packet of dry Italian dressing mix
• 1 (1-ounce) packet of au jus mix
• 1 cup of beef broth
• 1 cup of jarred pepperoncini peppers, plus more for serving
• 4 hoagie rolls
• 8 Provolone cheese slices

Substitutions And Additions

VEGETABLES: For a unique twist on the classic Italian beef recipe, consider adding fresh vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms, and onions to the slow cooker as well. 

PEPPERS: You can use giardiniera instead of pepperoncini peppers for a milder, slightly different version of this recipe.

How To Make This Italian Beef Recipe

The best Italian beef cooks slowly in the crockpot over low all day. For this recipe, you will place the whole roast in the slow cooker and add the remaining seasoning ingredients. 

Let the roast cook until tender before shredding it and serving it on fresh hoagie rolls. Our directions below will walk you through the process.

STEP ONE: Place the roast in the slow cooker.

STEP TWO: Sprinkle the Italian dressing mix, au jus mix, and beef broth. Pour the mixture over the roast into the crockpot.

STEP THREE: Add the pepperoncini peppers to the crockpot, including the liquid from the jar.

STEP FOUR: Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours or until the beef is tender and falling apart. This recipe can also be cooked on high for 6 hours. 

STEP FIVE: Using two forks, shred the beef in the crockpot, mixing it well with the cooking liquid.

STEP SIX: Toast the hoagie rolls and top each one with a generous scoop of the shredded beef mixture. I used about 1 cup of beef for each hoagie bun sandwich.

STEP SEVEN: If desired, top each sandwich with 2 slices of provolone cheese and place it under a broiler for 30 seconds or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

STEP EIGHT: Serve tender beef with additional pepperoncini peppers and the beefy jus on the side for dipping.

How To Serve

Crockpot Italian beef sandwiches make the perfect dish for a hearty meal. Serve them alongside some roasted potatoes, creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, or roasted vegetables. 

For lighter fare, add a Caesar salad or tomato cucumber salad on the side of your tender beef sandwich.

Our slow cooker pepper steak and slow cooker beef tips are two more slow cooker recipes that feature delicious beef cooked to perfection.

MORE ITALIAN RECIPES

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Meatball Subs

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Homemade Chicken Parmesan

Storage

In this section, we’ll guide you through how to store your Italian beef, whether it’s in the fridge or freezer, and provide tips on reheating to maintain its mouthwatering taste.

MAKE AHEAD: If you want to plan ahead or save time on a busy day, you can absolutely make this Italian beef recipe ahead of time. Simply follow the cooking instructions as usual, let the beef cool completely, and then transfer it to an airtight container. You can store the cooked beef in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze it for longer-term storage.

IN THE FRIDGE: Any leftover beef should be stored in a container in the refrigerator. You can easily remove any fat that has risen to the top once it is cold, then reheat it. 

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze slow-cooker Italian beef for up to three months in an airtight container. Defrost in the refrigerator before reheating.

Italian beef sandwiches are a delicious and comforting meal that can be enjoyed any time of the year. Cooked in the slow cooker, the beef always comes out tender with great flavor and is ready to be piled on top of crusty rolls with melty cheese. 

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Italian Beef

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Italian beef is a hearty and flavorful dish cooked slowly in a crockpot and served on crusty hoagie rolls.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4

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Ingredients

  

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• 3 to 4 pounds boneless beef roast, such as chuck or rump
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning blend
• 0.7 ounce dry Italian dressing mix
• 1 ounce au jus mix
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup jarred pepperoncini peppers, plus more for serving
• 4 hoagie rolls
• 8 Provolone cheese slices

Instructions

 

• Place the roast in the slow cooker.
• Sprinkle the Italian dressing mix, au jus mix, and beef broth. Pour the mixture over the roast in the crockpot.
• Add the pepperoncini peppers to the crockpot, including the liquid from the jar.
• Cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours or until the beef is tender and falling apart. This recipe can also be cooked on high for 6 hours.
• Using two forks, shred the beef in the crockpot, mixing it well with the cooking liquid.
• Toast the hoagie rolls and top each one with a generous scoop of the beef mixture. I used about 1 cup of beef for each sandwich.
• If desired, top each sandwich with 2 slices of provolone cheese and place it under a broiler for 30 seconds or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
• Serve with additional pepperoncini peppers and the jus on the side for dipping.

Notes

• Using slow cooker liners to line your insert makes clean-up a snap once dinner is finished.
• If you’re not ready to eat, you can leave the crockpot on warm for an additional hour or so if needed.
• Keep a close eye on the cheese while under the broiler, as it can quickly turn from golden brown to burnt.

Nutrition

Calories: 947kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 82g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 23g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 261mg | Sodium: 1619mg | Potassium: 1309mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 505IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 379mg | Iron: 19mg

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