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Slow Cooker Italian Beef is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or feeding a crowd. Enjoy in classic sandwich form or off the bun for a low-carb option.

These Italian Beef Sandwiches feature tender and juicy beef that’s slow-cooked with zesty Italian seasoning and sliced pepperoncini, then served on a hoagie or French roll with melted provolone cheese, giardiniera, and au jus.

This crowd-pleaser is packed full of flavor any way you eat it!

A silver serving tray with two Italian beef sandwiches and a bowl of au-jus.

Tailgating season is one of our favorite times of the year. Family and friends gather around to enjoy getting together to cheer on their team! And no matter who you are rooting for you must have all that good food to keep you fueled up – like Beefy Skillet Queso, slow cooker spinach artichoke dip, game day chili, and of course this Italian Beef!

This slow cooker Italian beef is a tradition with tender pulled beef cooked low and slow taking in all the zesty flavor of the peppers and rich beefy juices! So, it’s not only good tailgate grub, but it’s a great weeknight meal as well!

At our house, it’s one of my hubby’s favorite meals ever and it’s sure to be yours as well!

Ingredient Notes

A labeled image of ingredients needed to make Italian Beef Recipe
  • Rump Roast or Chuck Roast: These are tough cuts of meat that are perfect for slow cooking, which is what you’ll be doing for this recipe. Rump roast is leaner and slightly more tender than boneless chuck roast, but both will work well. My family really loves the Rump Roast, but the chuck is really delicious too. Choose whichever you prefer or can find easily.
  • Zesty Italian Dressing Mix: You can usually find packets of this seasoning mix in the salad dressing aisle of your grocery store. If you cannot find the Zesty use Italian Dressing Mix.
  • Garlic Salt or Salt & Pepper to Taste: This adds additional flavor to the beef. If using garlic salt, be careful not to add too much salt, as the beef broth and Italian dressing mix may already contain salt.
  • Beef Broth: This is used to braise the beef, making it tender and flavorful. You can use store-bought or homemade beef broth or beef stock.
  • Sliced Pepperoncini Peppers: These are small, mild chili peppers that add a tangy, slightly spicy flavor to the beef. You can find them already sliced in jars in the pickle section. I like the flavor of the cooked-down sliced peppers. If you prefer to leave them whole you can do so.

Italian Beef Sandwich Ingredients

  • Sliced Provolone Cheese: This will be used to top the beef when serving. I prefer the unsmoked provolone cheese but use whichever you love. Mozzarella Cheese also works well.
  • Giardiniera – Italian Sandwich Mix: This is a mixture of pickled vegetables such as cauliflower, carrots, and peppers that add crunch and tang to the sandwich. You can find it in jars in the condiment section. Marconi Mild Giardiniera (Chicago Style) is what we enjoy. The veggies are chopped finer. We have tried a few brands, and this one is by far our favorite.
  • Crusty Hoagie Roll or French Rolls (for sandwiches): You’ll want to use sturdy, crusty bread for these sandwiches to hold up to the juicy beef and toppings. Hoagie buns or French rolls both work well.

How To Make Slow-Cooker Italian Beef

✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!

Step 1 | Season and Prepare the Roast

To make Italian beef, start by seasoning a 3-4 pound rump or chuck roast with garlic salt or salt and pepper to taste.

For extra flavor, you can brown the roast on all sides in a skillet before moving to the slow cooker- if desired.

Next, place the roast in a slow cooker and sprinkle a packet of zesty Italian dressing mix on top.

Collage image showing roast in slow cooker and seasoning mix added.

Pour beef broth around the roast and add sliced peperoncini peppers with a splash of the juice (optional) from the jar.

Collage image showing roast in slow cooker and beef broth and pepperoncinis added.

Step 2 | Cook in the Slow Cooker

Cook the roast on low for 8 hours until it’s fork tender and falls apart easily.

Once the roast is tender, remove the roast from the slow cooker to a pan or cutting board and shred beef with two forks.

The Italian Beef after cooking in the slow cooker and then being shredded with two forks by hand.

If you would like to have a flavorful au-jus to serve with the tender beef, remove the desired amount of liquid from the slow cooker. You can strain the cooking liquid if desired, but this is not necessary.

Collage images showing juices being removed from slow cooker and being drained to make au jus.

Then place the meat back into the slow cooker to cook in the juices until ready to serve.

You can serve it as is or make an Italian Beef Sandwich!

Shredded Italian Beef in a black crock pot.

Step 3 | Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe Instructions

Now it’s time to assemble your Italian beef sandwiches. Preheat your oven’s broiler and split the hoagie or French rolls in half. Line your baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. Layer the shredded beef on the bottom half of each roll.

Collage image showing hoagie rolls sliced and Italian beef added.

Next top it with sliced provolone cheese.

Collage image showing hoagie rolls sliced and beef and then cheese added.

Place the sandwiches under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove the sandwiches from the oven and add a generous amount of giardiniera, the Italian sandwich mix, on top of the beef.

Collage image showing cheese melted on the sandwiches and then Giardiniera added to the top.

Finally, serve the Italian beef sandwiches with a side of au jus for dipping or spooning over the meat. Enjoy your delicious homemade Italian beef!

Two Italian Beef sandwiches on a baking sheet with the slow cooker full of beef set on a wooden table.

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Variations and Substitutions

  • Meat: Instead of using rump or chuck roast, you can use other cuts of beef such as brisket or sirloin tip roast. You can also use pork or chicken for a different twist.
  • Peppers: Instead of using pepperoncinis, you can use other types of peppers, such as banana peppers or jalapeños.
  • Spices: You can use store-bought or make your own by combining dried oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. You can add different spices to the recipe to give it your own personal touch.
  • Cheese: While provolone cheese is the classic choice for Italian beef sandwiches, you can use other types of cheese such as mozzarella cheese, Swiss, or cheddar.

Recipe FAQs

What is Giardiniera?

Giardiniera is an Italian condiment made with pickled vegetables. The vegetables used in giardiniera can vary, but they usually include a combination of bell peppers, carrots, celery, cauliflower, and sometimes olives. The vegetables are pickled in vinegar and sometimes oil, and may be seasoned with garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Giardiniera can be found in jars in the condiment aisle of most grocery stores and is commonly used as a topping for Italian beef sandwiches, as well as other sandwiches and salads. It adds a tangy, slightly spicy flavor to dishes and is a popular condiment in Italian-American cuisine.

Do you need to brown or sear the beef first?

While it’s not strictly necessary to sear the beef before cooking it in the slow cooker for Italian beef, it can add an extra layer of flavor and help to develop a nice crust on the meat. Searing the beef on all sides in a skillet or on a grill before placing it in the slow cooker can help to caramelize the surface of the meat, creating a rich, savory flavor that complements the other ingredients in the recipe. However, I almost always skip this step and the beef has tons of flavor. When making the sandwich, the broiler also adds some crisp bits to some of the beef.

Tongs removing beef from the slow cooker.

Storage and Make Ahead Instructions

Storage: To store leftover Italian beef, let it cool to room temperature and then transfer it to an airtight container. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. When reheating the beef, you can do so in a slow cooker or on the stove over low heat, adding a little beef broth or water to keep it moist.

Make Ahead: To make Italian beef ahead of time, you can cook the beef in the slow cooker and shred it as directed in the recipe. Let it cool to room temperature and then store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a day ahead of time.

When you’re ready to serve the beef, you can reheat it in the slow cooker or on the stove over low heat, adding a little beef broth or water to keep it moist.

You can also freeze the cooked and shredded beef for up to 3 months. Just let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it. Note that the bread and toppings for the sandwich should be assembled fresh just before serving to ensure maximum freshness and flavor.

An Italian Beef sandwich being dipped in a bowl of au-jus.

What to Serve with Italian Beef

Italian beef sandwiches are wonderfully flavorful and hearty on their own, but if you’re looking for some delicious side dishes to serve alongside this windy city delight, here are a few ideas:

  • French fries or sweet potato cubes: Crispy fries are a classic and satisfying choice to compliment sandwiches.
  • Make it easy and enjoy it with potato chips
  • Coleslaw: A creamy and tangy coleslaw provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the beef.
  • Caprese salad: Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze make for a light and vibrant side dish.

Any way you serve them they are sure to become your favorite sandwiches!

More Slow Cooker Recipes

An Italian Beef sandwich being dipped in a bowl of au-jus.
Recipe
4.94 from 16 votes

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Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 12
Author: Nikki Lee
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With a few simple ingredients tossed in your slow cooker, zesty Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are the perfect easy dinner or delicious game day bite. Enjoy it off the bun for a lower carb option too! This crowd-pleaser is packed full of flavor any way you eat it!

Ingredients 

  • 3.5 to 4 pound Rump or Chuck Roast
  • 1 Pkg Zesty Italian Dressing Mix
  • Garlic Salt or Salt & Pepper to Taste
  • 1 can Beef Broth, (14.5 Ounce)
  • ¾ jar Peperoncinis, sliced, (12 ounce jar)
  • 8 to 10 slices provolone cheese
  • 1 jar Giardiniera – Italian Sandwich Mix
  • Hoagie Rolls

Instructions

Slow Cooker Italian Beef

  • Season the rump or chuck roast with garlic salt or salt and pepper on all sides.
    (This will be to taste- keep in mind the seasoning and beef broth have sodium so adjust to your taste)
  • Place the roast in a slow cooker and sprinkle the packet of Italian dressing mix on top.
  • Pour the beef broth around the roast and add the sliced Pepperoncinis along with a splash of the pepper juice (juice is optional).
  • Cover with the lid and sook on low for 8 to 10 hours until the roast is tender and falls apart easily.
  • Once the roast is tender, remove the roast from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks.
    Remove any amount of cooking liquid you would like to use for au jus.
    Then place the meat back into the slow cooker to cook in the juices until ready to serve.
  • To Make an Au Jus: Pour some of the cooking liquid through a strainer to use for the au jus or serve as is.

Italian Beef Sandwiches

  • Turn oven on to broil. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up.
  • Place the shredded beef on Hoagie or French rolls. Top the beef with sliced provolone cheese.
  • Broil the sandwiches for 2-4 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Be sure to keep an eye on them as they can burn quickly (Don't walk away).
  • Top each sandwich with cooked pepperoncini and Giardiniera mix.
  • Serve with the au jus on the side for dipping or use for spooning over the beef.

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Nutrition Information

Serving: 11 serving Calories: 531kcal (27%) Carbohydrates: 8g (3%) Protein: 48g (96%) Fat: 34g (52%) Saturated Fat: 15g (94%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 151mg (50%) Sodium: 817mg (36%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%)

Nutritional Disclaimer

Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

©️Soulfully Made

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Nikki Lee author of Soulfully Made in the kitchen serving cupcakes.

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Nikki Lee. Here at Soulfully Made you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

4.94 from 16 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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28 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I love how easy it is to cook the roast in the slow cooker. Assembling the sandwiches is basically the only prep! I’ll definitely be making this again, thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply

  6. Love this sandwich and it is so great that it is cooked in the crock pot! I know my family would love it too!

    Reply

  7. This is such a fabulous idea for EVERY day of the week. I love an easy peasy delish meal!!

    Reply

  8. 5 stars
    What a delicious sandwich! Definitely fit for a hearty appetite. Nice that it doesn’t take a lot of effort too.

    Reply

  12. 5 stars
    My husband would love this! so nice that the meat can be slow cooked in the crock pot and the Giardiniera is the perfect topping.

    Reply

  13. I had my first real Italian beef sandwich in Chicago last year! It was amazing and this looks like an easy, delicious way to reproduce it 🙂

    Reply

  14. Always happy to add to my slow cooker recipe file. Especially when they’re tasty! Your Italian Beef Sandwiches are reminiscent of the subs my husband loves to enjoy in New Jersey.

    Reply