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    Home » Recipes » Crockpot Recipes

    Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

    Published: Dec 31, 2009 · Modified: Nov 14, 2021 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This easy slowcooker Italian Beef is the perfect recipe for feeding a hungry crowd. Toast the dinner rolls under the broiler and serve the zesty beef with melted cheese and vinegary peppers on top.

    Italian beef sandwich has toasted bread, melted provolone cheese, and pepper relish on top of the shredded beef.

    Whether you need to feed a crowd of hungry dinner guests or you simply want an easy Crockpot dinner that you can make ahead and freeze the leftovers, this Italian beef recipe is one of my very favorites.

    I love it so much, I included a kid-friendly cooking instructions version of it in The Ultimate Kids' Cookbook.

    I originally made this to feed my dad and husband after a long day of home repairs and it was such a hit that it became a permanent part of our menu rotation.

    My kids love that I toast the rolls under the broiler and melt the provolone before piling high the savory beef with delicious beef broth drippings.

    Dump everything into the Crockpot and step away. Dinner will be done hours later, leaving you plenty of time to relax!

    Ingredients

    The list of ingredients is very simple, but there are a few substitutions you should know about:

    The ingredients for the italian beef are on the counter next to a Crockpot.
    • Beef: Our grocery doesn't always carry the cut of beef I want, so you have a few options you can choose based on availability at your store -- pot roast, rump roast, top round, bottom round, sirloin roast, or chuck roast would all work perfectly in this beef recipe.
    • Beef Broth: I've made this recipe with beef broth and sometimes with just water when I don't have broth in my pantry. Either way will work just fine.
    • Italian Dressing Mix: This calls for the powdered packet of Italian dressing seasoning but if you can't find it, you could add 1 cup of zesty Italian dressing but then reduce the beef broth or water by 1 cup as well.
    • Seasonings: I used garlic salt, dried basil, parsley, oregano and bay leaves. If you're missing any of these, you could also substitute 1 tablespoon of Italian herb mix.

    How to Make It

    This recipe is so easy to make, you will love it.

    First, pour the beef broth or water into the bowl of the slowcooker.

    Add the Italian dressing mix, dried herbs, salt and pepper, and stir.

    The slowcooker pot has been filled with beef broth and seasonings.

    Add the beef roast to the pot and carefully turn it over so all sides are covered in the seasoned liquid.

    The beef has been added to the Italian broth in the slowcooker.

    Cover the Crockpot and cook on LOW for 10 - 12 hours or on HIGH for 4 - 5 hours.

    The beef should be fall-apart tender when you prick it with a fork. You can shred it with two forks or if it is tender enough, you may even be able to just gently stir it into the liquid.

    Serving Tips

    The plated italian beef sandwiches are on a table next to a raw veggie platter and a Crockpot in the background.

    I slice fresh baguettes or crusty rolls into sandwich buns and lay them open face on a large baking pan. Place them under the hot broiler for 1 - 2 minutes or until they are gently toasted.

    Lay slices of provolone or American cheese on the buns and place the pan back under the broiler briefly to melt the cheese.

    Pile on the shredded beef and top with jarred pickled peppers or sandwich relish.

    What to Serve on the Side

    These tender Italian beef sandwiches go perfectly with any of these simple side dishes:

    • Chips and dip
    • Baked frozen french fries
    • Raw veggie platter with dip
    • Tater tots
    • Fresh grapes
    • Italian chopped salad or Caesar salad

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    If you’ve tried this easy slowcooker Italian beef or any other recipe on PeanutBlossom.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
    FOLLOW along on Instagram @peanut.blossom as well as on  Pinterest and Facebook.

    Italian beef sandwich has toasted bread, melted provolone cheese, and pepper relish on top of the shredded beef.

    Crock Pot Italian Beef

    4.50 from 4 votes
    This zesty shredded Italian beef gets incredibly tender with a long, slow cook in the Crockpot. Serve it on toasted buns with melted cheese and spicy peppers for a deliciously easy dinner for a crowd.
    TOTAL TIME 12 hours 5 minutes
    PREP TIME 5 minutes
    COOK TIME 12 hours
    YIELD 8 servings
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 (.7oz) packet of dry Zesty Italian-style salad dressing mix
    • 1 (5lb) rump roast

    For Serving:

    • Assorted jarred peppers pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, or banana peppers
    • Sliced American or Pepperjack cheese
    • Crusty rolls

    Instructions

    • Combine water with all of the seasonings in a saucepan. Stir well and bring to a boil.
    • Trim the fat from your roast, place in slow cooker. Pour the salad dressing mixture over the meat.
    • Cover, and cook on Low for 10-12 hours, or on High for 4-5 hours. When done, remove bay leaf and shred the meat with a fork.

    To Serve:

    • Toast your rolls open-faced briefly under the broiler. Lay a single layer of cheese on the toasty bread, top with the beef, and put the pan back under the broiler really briefly for the cheese to melt. Serve with the jarred peppers on the side.
    • Optional: You can also serve bowls of the hot broth for dunking the sandwiches like a French Dip.
    COURSECrockpot Recipes
    CUISINEItalian-American
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Kristi

      August 29, 2014 at 9:30 pm

      I followed your meal planning guide this week and we had Italian beef sandwiches on crock pot day. They were terrific! I made them exactly as your recipe describes, and my three young girls, husband and I all gave it a big thumbs up! Thank you so much...I'm new to your site and loving it!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. How to cook slow cooker acorn squash with apples and raisins says:
      February 15, 2020 at 2:54 pm

      […] Crock Pot Italian Beef […]

      Reply
    2. Keeping Family Dinner Slow When Life Gets Fast – Our Blog says:
      August 25, 2016 at 2:15 pm

      […] 1. Crock pot italian beef: This might be my own personal favorite from the list. The key is to toast your sandwich buns briefly under your broiler. Just watch so they don’t burn. Once the buns are hot, place cheese down first which will prevent the juices from the meat from saturating the bun and turning it soggy. Serve with fresh fruit and some chips for a very simple supper. […]

      Reply
    3. Keeping family dinner slow when life gets fast - Melissa & Doug Blog says:
      October 9, 2014 at 6:02 am

      […] 1. Crock pot italian beef: This might be my own personal favorite from the list. The key is to toast your sandwich buns briefly under your broiler. Just watch so they don’t burn. Once the buns are hot, place cheese down first which will prevent the juices from the meat from saturating the bun and turning it soggy. Serve with fresh fruit and some chips for a very simple supper. […]

      Reply
    4. 30 Days of Mommy Meals » Peanut Blossom says:
      March 26, 2014 at 6:57 am

      […] Italian beef sandwiches, bbq chips, hot peppers, cottage cheese […]

      Reply
    5. Festive meal planning » Peanut Blossom says:
      December 30, 2013 at 8:18 am

      […] Italian Beef Sandwiches from the freezer, chips, clementines […]

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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