Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

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I originally made this to feed my dad and husband after a long day of home repairs and it was such a hit that it became a permanent part of our menu rotation.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

Jump to:

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

More Sandwich Recipes

Looking for more hearty sandwiches to feed your family? We love these delicious dinner sandwich ideas:

📖 Recipe

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

Crock Pot Italian Beef

4.92 from 49 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

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.
COURSEMain Dish
CUISINEItalian-American

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The photo collage shows an Italian Beef sandwich next to a photo of the beef cooking in a slowcooker.

6 Comments

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  4. 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!

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