These easy crock pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are an all-time favorite and perfect for potlucks, gameday, and movie night. Or whenever you want a delicious mouthwatering sandwich loaded with fall-apart tender beef, pepperoncini peppers, melted provolone cheese, giardiniera, and dripping with au jus.
These are a family favorite and always a hit with friends and family. I love to serve these with Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Parmesan Pasta, and Twice Baked Potatoes.
How to make Italian Beef Sandwiches
Add the chuck roast, beef broth, dry Italian dressing packet, pepperoncini, and Italian seasoning to the crockpot. Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for about 8-9 hours or until it falls apart like a cooked beef pot roast. Shred the beef using two forks and remove any fat, gristle, and cartilage. Then, toast the buns in a toaster oven or under the broiler. Now add cheese to both sides of the bun and place back under the oven broiler on low until melted—next, top with the shredded beef mixture, pepperoncini, giardiniera, and onions. If desired, serve with small bowls of au jus on the side for dipping.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- You can use whole pepperoncini, sliced pepperoncini, or cut them yourself. I like the sliced ones because you can add them to the sandwiches after being cooked
- This recipe works best with a chuck roast. Chuck beef roast has fat and cartilage, and that is what makes it so tender after it is slowly simmered.
- Season with fresh ground black pepper to taste but go easy on the salt since there is a lot of it already in the ingredients.
- Buns, hoagie rolls, French bread, and even toasted white bread make great sandwiches with this recipe.
- Giardiniera is a jarred pickled vegetable mix of cauliflower, carrots, celery, red bell peppers, onions, and pickles. You can find it in the same aisle as the pickles and olives at your local grocery store.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For best results, toast the buns and melt the cheese right before serving. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in a zipper freezer bag or sturdy freezer-safe dish. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it in the microwave or on the stove over medium-low heat.
How to make Italian beef in an Instant Pot
Cut your chuck roast into 3-4 pieces. Then, simply add your ingredients to the instant pot as directed in the instructions (same as the crock pot). Next, lock your lid in place and cook on high for about 60 then let the pressure naturally release. Unlock the lid and shred the beef removing any fat, gristle, and cartilage.
Other beef recipes you will love!
Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches
This mouthwatering melt-in-your-mouth Italian Beef cooks up easily in the crock pot with beef broth, Italian dressing mix, and pepperoncini and is always a huge hit. Make it up into hot sandwiches with melty cheese and pickled vegetables, or serve over mashed potatoes for the ultimate comfort meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: main meal beef
- Method: crock pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 lb chuck roast
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 (.7-ounce) packet dry Italian dressing
- 1 (16-ounce) jar sliced pepperoncini plus ½ cup juice from the jar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
- 1 (16-ounce) jar giardiniera chopped
- 6 Hoagie buns
- Provolone cheese slices
Instructions
- Add the chuck roast, beef broth, dry Italian dressing packet, pepperoncini, and Italian seasoning to the crockpot.
- Cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for about 8-9 hours or until it falls apart. Shred the beef using two forks and remove any fat, gristle, and cartilage.
- Toast the buns in a toaster oven or under the broiler. Add Provolone cheese to both sides of the bun and place back under the oven broiler on low until melted. Top with the shredded beef mixture and giardiniera. If desired, serve with small bowls of au jus on the side for dipping.
Notes
- You can use whole pepperoncini, sliced pepperoncini, or slice them yourself. I like the sliced ones because you can add them to the sandwiches after being cooked
- This recipe works best with a chuck roast. Chuck beef roast has fat and cartilage, and that is what makes it so tender after it is slowly simmered.
- Season with fresh ground black pepper to taste but go easy on the salt since there is a lot of it already in the ingredients.
- Buns, hoagie rolls, French bread, and even toasted white bread make great sandwiches with this recipe.
- Giardiniera is a jarred pickled vegetable mix of cauliflower, carrots, celery, red bell peppers, onions, and pickles. You can find it in the same aisle as the pickles and olives at your local grocery store.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. For best results, toast the buns and melt the cheese right before serving. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over medium-low heat.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in a zipper freezer bag or sturdy freezer-safe dish. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it in the microwave or on the stove over medium-low heat.
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Cindy Sealy
Hi Beth! I have the roast in the slow cooker with all the fixin’s and can’t wait for dinner! Just a few questions. Do you brown the roast first? Your photo looks like you did. Also does the roast need to be fully submerged in the broth? Happy New Year to you and yours!!
Beth Pierce
Hey Cindy! Sorry I was out running errands. Yes sometimes I brown the roast in a Dutch oven first but you do not have to and yes the roast will tenderize faster if fully submerged. Happy New Year to you and yours.
Jess
I am always on the lookout for yummy crockpot meals to make for busy weeknights. This one is perfect!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Jess! Enjoy!
Nathan
I love how easy it was to make this in the slow cooker, and the end result was so flavorful! Just the perfect comfort food. I’ll definitely be making this recipe again 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Nathan! They are so tasty!
Stephanie
This recipe made for some super delish beef sandwiches. So simple to create also – I started the recipe early afternoon and was serving some awesome sandwiches for our football gathering. Will make this recipe again soon!
Beth Pierce
That is awesome. I bet everyone loved them. They are so tasty!
Nikki
You had me at, mouth-watering Italian beef. What an incredible sandwich with marvelous flavors and textures.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Nikki! So glad that you enjoyed the Italian sandwiches!
Vicky
I tried these sandwiches, and it was a big hit with the family, plus super easy to make thanks to the crock pot. The beef was so tender and the flavors were spot on! Going in our weekly menu rotation!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Vicky! I am so glad that you like the sandwiches. They are so tasty!
Michelle
Made this recipe today and it was packed with flavor and so good!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much, Michelle! So glad that you liked it!
Sharyn
could I use jackfruit in place of meat and do i adjust the cooking time
Beth Pierce
I am not sure, as I am not familiar with jackfruit. Maybe one of the readers will know the answer.
Addison Orris
I bought some Jimmy johns day old bread and used my chuck roast from my cow farm this was so delicious and a great recipe I will be using this again.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Addison! Glad that you enjoyed the recipe!
Colleen smith
Is this spicy?
Beth Pierce
No they are not. At least not to me.
Patty
I found it too spicy. Making again today without the peppers.
Lisa
Do you put the juice from the jar of pepperoncinis in the crockpot as well?
Beth Pierce
Yes you do! That is such a yummy recipe.
Carissa
Made it for dinner tonight. Subbed 1 can low sodium beef broth for one of the F.O. soup, otherwise followed exact directions. My VERY picky husband rambled on and on about how great it was for almost an hour 😁
DELICIOUS!!!!
Beth Pierce
LOL! Thanks Carissa! So glad that he liked them!
Anjali
I’m all about crock pot recipes to save time!! These sandwiches look so hearty and delicious – can’t wait to try them soon!
Elaine
One of these could easily get me through the day – the choice of ingredients is fantastic – just the way I like my sandwiches!
Tara
Oh yum! These sandwiches look amazing and I love the minimal prep time. The beef sounds perfect over mashed potatoes too.
Irina
I am glad I found your recipe. I was looking for some interesting and delicious sandwich options to make today. Finally! I made sandwiches following your recipe, and they turned out perfect!!!
Tawnie Kroll
We can’t get enough of this recipe! We make it a few times a month and always look forward to it, thank you!!
Cathy
This is such an easy, flavorful recipe! Definitely a keeper!
Toni
This is our dinner last night and it was so good! Everyone loved it!
Jacque Hastert
I had these last night and they were amazing! Italian Beef sandwiches are going to be a staple on our menu for years to come!
Catalina
I love sandwiches during my weekday lunches! I will make this beef sandwich next time!
Vikki
Delicious sandwich! Crock pot did an excellent job
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
These Italian Beef Sandwiches are sound delicious! Dangerously good…
Amanda
I love banana peppers, I cannot wait to try this. Thank you for sharing!
Kristyn
Tried this in the instant pot & it was amazing!! Love the taste. It’s a nice change from a regular sandwich. A couple kids asked for it again already!
Jennifer
We LOVED this recipe!!! Can’t wait to make it again!
Lily
This sandwich was amazing!! So much flavor! It has become a family favorite.
Lisalia
So SO good! We used Swiss AND provolone for a yummy depth of flavor. Thanks Beth! Great recipe.
Allyson Zea
These turned out perfectly! Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Eden
Made these for dinner and they were delicious!! Loved the recipe and how easy they are to make in the croc pot.
Ally
I made it for my fiancé and I and we both love it,
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Ally! So glad that you both loved it!
Tanis
What do you pair with this if anything?
Beth Pierce
It goes great with a nice garden salad, bowl of vegetable soup, air fryer crisp potato wedges and even mac n cheese!
Cindy
my family LOVED this recipe! Thank you! We didn’t change a thing on the recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Cindy! So glad that you liked them!!
Dorothy Bennett
Sounds delicious!
Beth Pierce
Thank you so much!