These crockpot Italian beef sandwiches are one of the most delicious things I make in my crockpot. Slow-cooked, fall apart, shredded beef is cooked for hours with Italian seasoning, giardiniera, and pepperoncini peppers.
Then that beef is piled high, topped with melty cheese, more giardiniera, and pepperoncini nestled on a buttery, toasted roll.
Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches
This crockpot Italian beef sandwiches recipe can feed a crowd! Easily!! Think of Holidays, Sunday suppers, tailgating, Game Day parties…any time you gather with family and friends. This recipe will be your best friend! When you making it for a family dinner, use a 3-pound roast, and when you’re feeding a group grab a 5 pounder!
The flavor of the cooked beef is really ah-mazing. With all the intensely flavored ingredients that go into the crockpot while it’s cooking, you know the flavor profile of the beef will be perfect.
What’s not to love about crockpot cooking! With this recipe, you don’t even need to brown the meat on the stovetop! Literally, all you do is dump everything in the crockpot and let it do its magic. Then shred the beef, toast your hoagies or french rolls, assemble your sandwiches, and pop them under the broiler to melt the cheese. Et voila.…sandwich magic just hit your kitchen!
Just saying the words slow cooker pot roast or slow cooker beef stew makes my mouth water! Now take that slow cooking goodness and mash it together with pulled pork sandwiches and add just a hint of French dip sandwiches, and you’ll be close to the tastebud-tantalizing, napkin-destroying, family-pleasing dinnertime madness that is crockpot Italian beef sandwiches recipe!
Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches Video Tutorial
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Recipe Notes
Chuck Roast: What, exactly, is a chuck roast, and why is it important you get this type of beef? It has a high collagen level which works great when slow cooking — that collagen breaks down over time, giving you the signature tender beef you’re looking for! When it’s all cooked it’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Rolls: I use either sourdough rolls, french rolls, and hoagie rolls depending on my mood and what looks best at the market. The important thing is to butter them up and toast them before you toast them.
Good Seasons Zesty Italian salad dressing mix: If I’m making this recipe with a large roast, like over 5 pounds, I open up another envelope of Good Seasons Zesty Italian salad dressing mix and add half of the second envelope.
Larger Roast:Â if you use a roast larger than 5 pounds, cut it up into large chunks, before adding it to your crockpot.
How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Once fully cooked, your meat will last up to four days in your fridge. If you are planning to store leftovers, only make full sandwiches that you’re planning to eat right then. The meat and bread will very quickly turn soggy, which isn’t good for leftovers!
Can You Freeze This Recipe? Yes! Freeze the cooked beef, thaw in the fridge overnight, and assemble your sandwiches. Beef does very well in the freezer. Store it in airtight containers and let it sit in your freezer for up to three months.
Make-Ahead Tips: Slow cooker recipes are made for make-ahead! Start this process up to eight hours before serving, then just assemble your sandwiches when dinner’s on. It’s got make-ahead magic built right in!
What’s The Difference Between This and French Dips
They look so much alike, right? Well, both sandwiches have their own distinct flavor and of course, yumminess! They both use beef chuck.
French Dip is usually served with caramelized onions while Italian Beef with giardiniera. French onion soup for the other, and Italian salad dressing mix the other one.Â
Step By Step How To Make
- Place the chuck roast in a crockpot. Pour in beef broth, salad dressing mix, Italian seasoning, pepper, Giardiniera, and pepperoncini. Top with butter slices. Cover and cook for 8-9 hours.
- Shred the beef and place it back to the crockpot.
- Spread butter over buns and toast in the oven.
- Scoop out the meat and peppers and drain the juices. Spread it on the individual rolls. Top it with Provolone. Broil the sandwiches.
- Serve extra cooking juice in individual bowls. Top the sandwiches with extra Giardiniera and pepperoncini.
Serving Recommendations
My favorite thing to serve with this crockpot Italian beef sandwiches recipe is my copycat KFC coleslaw. Other types of salad also work great choices. My strawberry spinach salad, my pea salad, or my classic macaroni salad are wonderful choices!!
More Game Day Recipes
Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3-5 pounds chuck roast
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 (.7 ounce) envelope  Good Seasons Zesty Italian salad dressing mixÂ
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (16 ounces)jar, plus more for serving Giardiniera (Chicago-style Italian sandwich mix), drained
- 8 ounces, plus more for serving pepperoncini, drained
- 4 ounces (1 stick) plus more for toasting rolls butter, cut into slices
- 6-8 ounces Provolone, cheese sliced
- 6 fresh french rolls or hoagie rolls
Instructions
- Cook beef. Place the roast in a 6-quart crockpot. Pour in beef broth (2 cups) and sprinkle salad dressing mix (1 envelope), Italian seasoning (1 tablespoon), and pepper (1/2 teaspoon) over roast. Spread  Giardiniera (25.5 ounces), pepperoncini (8 ounces), and red pepper on top. Top with butter slices (4 ounces). Cover crockpot and cook on low for 8-9 hours, or until meat shreds easily with a fork.
- Shred then place the meat back into juices.
- Toast bread. Preheat oven to 350°F. Split buns (6 rolls) in half and lightly butter the inside of rolls. Toast on a baking sheet in preheated oven until barely toasted, 2-3 minutes. Remove bread, and crank the oven to broil.
- Assemble sandwiches. Using tongs, allowing most of the juice to drain, scoop out meat and peppers on individual rolls. Top with 2 slices Provolone. Place sandwiches on the baking sheet and broil, watching them closely, just until the cheese melts.
- Serve + enjoy! Serve extra cooking juice in individual bowls for dipping and pass extra Giardiniera and pepperoncini. Enjoy!!
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Chuck Roast: What, exactly, is a chuck roast, and why is it important you get this type of beef? It has a high collagen level which works great when slow cooking — that collagen breaks down over time, giving you the signature tender beef you’re looking for! When it's all cooked it's melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
- Rolls: I use either sourdough rolls, french rolls, and hoagie rolls depending on my mood and what looks best at the market. The important thing is to butter them up before you toast them.
- Good Seasons Zesty Italian salad dressing mix: If I'm making this recipe with a large roast, like over 5 pounds, I open up another envelope of  Good Seasons Zesty Italian salad dressing mix and add half of the second envelope.
- Larger Roast:Â if you use a roast larger than 5 pounds, cut it up into large chunks, before adding it to your crockpot.
- How Long Can You Keep This In The Fridge? Once fully cooked, your meat will last up to four days in your fridge. If you are planning to store leftovers, only make full sandwiches that you’re planning to eat right then. The meat and bread will very quickly turn soggy, which isn’t good for leftovers!
- Can You Freeze This Recipe? Yes! Freeze the cooked beef, thaw in the fridge overnight, and assemble your sandwiches. Beef does very well in the freezer. Store it in airtight containers and let it sit in your freezer for up to three months.
- Make Ahead Tips: Slow cooker recipes are made for make-ahead! Start this process up to eight hours before serving, then just assemble your sandwiches when dinner’s on. It’s got make-ahead magic built right in!
Nutrition
Adapted for Pioneer Woman
Very easy recipe and delicious results! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your positive review, David!
I love how simple this recipe is. I threw it together last minute this morning and everyone enjoyed it for dinner.
Wow, thank you so much, Alexis! 🙂
Oh boy, my brother and dad love this recipe. I felt that I was the best chef in the house! I gotta try your other crockpot recipes. Thank you so much!
OMG, thank you, Lily Jane! That’s awesome 🙂
So many delicious layers of flavors in these amazing beef sadwiches! You always have such original creative recipes! Printed it!
Thank you so much, Natalia! Enjoy! 🙂
Yum, these are to die for! I saw this recipe and immediately got out my crock pot! It was perfect for the chillier weather and made my whole house smell great. It was also super simple.
Thank you so much, Sophia!! 🙂
Yum! These look so mouthwatering! They’ll be a great lunch idea for my little ones!
Thanks so much, Petro!!
Wow, this is the type of sandwich I love, and can’t wait to try your recipe, it’s easy, and love the ingredients.
Thanks so much Jere! 🙂
This is the perfect game-day dinner recipe! I cannot wait to serve these to the kids!
Thank you so much, Lesli! Enjoy 🙂
The beef looks so tender and inviting, I’m sure it tastes just as good. My preference will be to use hoagie rolls maybe because I lived in Philly for a period. Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Fred! Hoagie rolls are perfect! Thank you and enjoy 🙂
I love the detailed instructions! I will try this for dinner tonight.
Thank you. Enjoy, Sam! 🙂