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Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Oct 12, 2022 · 21 Comments

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Collage with Crock Pot Italian Beef sandwich topped with melted provolone and giardiniera on top and shredded Italian beef in a slow cooker topped with fresh chopped parsley on the bottom, with the words "easy crock pot Italian beef" in the center

Juicy, flavorful Crock Pot Italian Beef sandwiches are slow cooked with simple ingredients until fall-apart tender then piled high on toasty buns and topped with gooey cheese. Super easy hands-off meal and great for game day too!

Italian Beef Sandwich topped with provolone and giardiniera on a black plate with a second sandwich sitting behind.

Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Living in the Chicago area, there's lots of amazing restaurants serving up equally amazing Italian Beef.  Italian Beef is a Chicago classic and favorite. So today, we're going to make it right at home (a mini food staycation, if you will.) There's just something about homemade food, isn't there?

So warm. So comforting. So filling to your heart.

 With just simple ingredients and seasonings, tossed into the slow cooker, you can have your own homemade Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches. Just dump, cook, and serve. They're easy to make, and sinful to eat.

These Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches are a bit different than traditional ones because the beef is shredded (all my fellow Chicagoans are gasping and fainting).  But I promise, PROMISE, the shredding does not affect the flavor and these are truly delicious.

For these sandwiches, the meat is slow cooked with seasonings until fall-apart tender, topped with gooey cheese, toasted, and dipped in au jus. Juicy, messy, and heaven in every bite.

Crockpot Italian Beef in a slow cooker topped with fresh chopped parsley with a wooden spoon sticking in it.

What Makes a Good Italian Beef Sandwich?

Currently living in the Chicago area, I can say with a certain degree of authority what makes a good Italian beef sandwich, and I can break it down into these # things.

  1. Tender beef - Even though this recipe is more for a home cook without a deli slices, I assure you that the meat itself will still be melt in your mouth tender.
  2. Great au jus - A dipped sandwich (one that's been dunked in au jus) is pretty much standard here. It makes the beef taste extra juicy, and the seasoning in the au jus gives the whole sandwich extra flavor.
  3. Chicago- Style Giardiniera - This is a Chicago sandwich topping, not to be confused with Italian giardiniera. It's made from pickled peppers and vegetables, and you can buy it in a range of spice from mild to spicy. It's great on sandwiches and hot dogs, and a must on Italian beef. Giardiniera is regional, so if you're not in Illinois, it might be a little harder to find. You can substitute more pepperoncini peppers or order it from Amazon here (I linked the big jug because the smaller jars were total rip-offs in price, and then you wont have to order more for next time)
  4. The bread - A nice sturdy, crusty bread is necessary for this sandwich since it will be holding lots of juicy meat and dipped in au jus. Find it in the bakery section of your grocery store. Toasted is even better, which brings us to our final element.
  5. The cheese - Both provolone and mozzarella are often added. Both are delicious, mild, creamy cheeses that won't overpower the beef. And I recommend broiling the sandwich for just a minute to quickly melt the cheese and toast the bread a bit to make it sturdier.

What is the Best Beef for Shredding?

First choice for slow cooking are chuck and rump roast. I find that briskets are a little too temperamental and dry out too fast.

The most important part about cooking beef for shredding though isn't the cut, it's realizing that you're not cooking the meat to make it tender. You're cooking down the connective tissue, which will make it tender and easy to shred. So your meat will be well past the traditional definition of "done" by the time it's actually done. But trust me. This is what makes it tender.

Italian Beef sandwich being dunked into a small bowl of au jus with a second sandwich sitting behind it

What to Serve with Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Topping these Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches with gooey melted mozzarella or provolone cheese is a must.  Broiling it for just about a minute so the cheese is melted and the bread is toasty is even better.

The juices leftover in the slow cooker are the au jus. So serve your sandwiches dipped or with a little cup of au jus.

Be sure to stir and ladle from the bottom because the grease from the beef will rise to the top and you don't want a bowlful of just grease.

Serve these tasty sandwiches with a side salad and fries as pretty traditional sides. Another favorite is this pizza pasta salad.

More Slow Cooker Recipes You'll Love

  • Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff - tender beef and warm noodles in a creamy sauce.
  • Mississippi Pot Roast - ridiculously easy to make and the best roast you'll ever eat.
  • Slow Cooker Meatloaf - best ever southern style meatloaf, made even easier in the Crock Pot.
  • Crockpot Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches - quick and easy fix-it-and-forget-it dinner that the whole family will love.
Italian Beef Sandwich topped with provolone and giardiniera on a black plate with a second sandwich sitting behind.

Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Juicy, flavorful Crock Pot Italian Beef sandwiches are slow cooked with simple ingredients until fall-apart tender then piled high on toasty buns and topped with gooey cheese. Super easy hands-off meal and great for game day too!
5 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: Crock Pot, Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches, Slow Cooker
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 8 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 sandwiches
Calories: 327kcal
Author: Michelle
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 3 pound beef roast
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar Chicago style Giardiniera
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar sliced Pepperoncini
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 8-12 French rolls or hoagie rolls
  • 8-12 slices Mozzarella or Provolone cheese

Instructions

  • Place beef roast in the slow cooker.
  • Top with Giardiniera, Pepperoncinis, broth, and seasonings. Stir to combine.
  • Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, until beef is cooked through
  • When beef is cooked through, remove from slow cooker and shred. Return to slow cooker in juices.
  • On a roll, add beef and a slice of cheese. Broil for about 1 minute, until cheese is melted and bread is slightly toasted.
  • Dunk sandwich in the au jus (the juices in the Crock pot) if desired, or serve sandwich with a side of the au jus.

Notes

Nutrition facts do not include bread or cheese.
  • You can substitute au jus seasoning and Italian seasoning (in the packet) instead of the listed spices and seasonings if you're in a time crunch.
  • Be sure to use sturdy bread to hold up these juicy sandwiches! I recommend looking for hoagie rolls in the bakery section of your grocery store.
  • Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove-top with a little bit of au jus added to keep the meat tender.
  • Freezer Directions: To freeze before cooking, add all ingredients to a freezer bag. Seal and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before transferring to the slow cooker and following the remaining recipe. To freeze cooked meat, let beef cool completely. Transfer to a freezer bag or container with juices. Label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the microwave or on the stove.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 1150mg | Potassium: 503mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?I love seeing your creations. Snap a quick photo and mention @TheGraciousWife or tag #thegraciouswife on Instagram! Leave a STAR rating below!

UPDATE INFO: This recipe was originally published in October 2015. It was republished in October 2022 with new photos, video, and tips. Also, because one of the seasonings I originally recommended was difficult to find and expensive to buy outside of the Chicago area, I experimented with seasonings to find a perfect combination that everyone has in their pantry. It's just as good, just easier to get all of the ingredients!

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Beef, Crockpot, Dinner, Freezer Meals, Recipes Beef Recipe, Crockpot Recipe, Dinner Recipe, Slow Cooker Recipe

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. lorraine williamson says

    October 31, 2015 at 10:54 am

    love all things crock pot yummed thanks for sharing happy halloween

    Reply
  2. Shadi says

    November 03, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Looks so delicious! And so easy to make! If I had known this sandwich was this easy to make, I would have made it all the time! And that melting cheese on the top!

    Reply
  3. Amberlee Warner says

    January 30, 2017 at 8:07 am

    Do you use all the juice in the jar of Pepperoncini? Thanks,

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      January 30, 2017 at 8:36 am

      Yes, I just dump the whole thing in.

      Reply
  4. Jodi says

    January 02, 2018 at 2:29 pm

    What’s the serving size for this? I’m making these for 15 people and I’m not sure if I should double or triple the recipe.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      January 02, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      I can usually make about 8-10 sandwiches from the 3 lbs of meat.

      Reply
  5. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

    October 19, 2022 at 1:11 pm

    It was so delicious and everyone loved it! Thank you for this amazing recipe!

    Reply
  6. Beth says

    October 19, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    Fantastic recipe. I love Italian beef. There's so many ways you can serve it up!

    Reply
  7. Mirlene says

    October 19, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    Loved all the flavors of the beef and it was juicy and tender. Made the sandwiches for my kids and they loved it.

    Reply
  8. Jess says

    October 19, 2022 at 2:19 pm

    I love that these are made in the crockpot. So easy!

    Reply
  9. Ruth Franzen says

    November 13, 2022 at 4:46 pm

    My husband grew up in the Chicago area, so he really knows good Italian beef sandwiches. I just made this delicious recipe. The comment I got, as my husband was devouring the sandwich was, "OH, yeah... ". He was in sandwich heaven. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Kelley says

    December 05, 2022 at 2:39 pm

    These sandwiches were so good and tender and loaded with flavor! Thanks for a great recipe.

    Reply
  11. Tayler Ross says

    December 05, 2022 at 2:43 pm

    We had these beef sandwiches for dinner last night and they were amazing! And so easy to make!

    Reply
  12. Charles says

    December 05, 2022 at 2:43 pm

    Ah, Crockpot Italian Beef! My kids are in Chicago and I’m sure they’ll love this!
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Carrie Robinson says

    December 05, 2022 at 3:03 pm

    Oh yum! This sounds so flavorful! 🙂 And I just love that this is made using the slow cooker.

    Reply
  14. Jess says

    December 05, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    So easy when using the crockpot to make these delicious sandwiches!!

    Reply
  15. Angela says

    August 23, 2023 at 8:09 am

    Love this recipe! Super easy to make and great for feeding a crowd. Can't wait to make these for football season.

    Reply
  16. Kate says

    August 23, 2023 at 8:14 am

    SLow cooking the beef made it not only super tender, but so easy too!

    Reply
  17. Kristen says

    August 23, 2023 at 8:53 am

    My family loved these sandwiches! The beef was so amazingly tender!

    Reply
  18. Andrea says

    August 23, 2023 at 9:10 am

    This looks and sounds incredible. The addition of the pepperoncino and Giardiniera gives this meat such fantastic flavor. I can't wait to bite into one of these sandwiches.

    Reply
  19. Beth says

    August 23, 2023 at 9:37 am

    This is so good! I took a trip to Chicago a few years ago, and I discovered what real Italian beef sandwiches tasted like. This recipe delivered all of that!

    Reply

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Hello! I'm Michelle!
I'm a comfort food lover and self-taught cook with five amazing kids and a firefighter husband, surviving mostly on coffee. I love to create easy and delicious family recipes, and share creative family tips I've learned along the way.
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