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Italian Beef Sandwiches are tender, cheesy, and slightly spicy for a delicious meal that’s quick and easy! This simple sandwich recipe is perfect for picnics, a busy weeknight, or a party!
It is easy to think of the crock pot as more of a winter tool. But don’t be afraid to bust it out for warmer weather too. It’s so easy to put something in the crock pot and then forget about it until dinner. Italian beef sandwiches are a great meal if you are going to be gone all day or if you have a busy evening and won’t have much time to prep in the kitchen.
I love that this is made in the crockpot! No need to turn on the oven and it practically makes itself. Just dump all for the ingredients and let it cook. Sides are easy too… corn on the cob, quick refrigerator pickles, or watermelon are perfect for this quick and easy meal.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Minimal Effort: With the use of a slow cooker, this recipe requires minimal hands-on time. Just set it and forget it until it’s time to assemble the sandwiches.
- Customizable Heat Level: You can adjust the spiciness of the dish by adding more or fewer pepperoncini.
- Easy to Pair: These sandwiches pair well with lots of sides, such as coleslaw, potato salad, or a simple green salad.
Ingredients
- Beef Roast: buy whatever is on sale – chuck, rump roast, etc.
- Pepperoncinis: deli sliced or whole
- Beef Broth
- Salt and Pepper
- Sandwich Buns
- Your Favorite White Cheese: Mozzarella, Provolone, Swiss, or White Cheddar
- Optional: extra pepperoncinis for serving
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities
How to Make Italian Beef Sandwiches
Step #1. Trim any visible fat from the roast then place it in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper then add half the jar of pepperonicini. Pour in the beef broth.
Step #3. Shred the meat with two forks and remove any fatty pieces. Slice the pepper and stir into the beef.
Step #2. Cook on low 7-8 hours.
Step #4. Serve on toasted buns, and top with cheese. Place under the broiler for a minute or two to melt cheese, if desired.
Recipe FAQs
I prefer a chuck roast or a rump roast because it holds up well in a slow cooker. However, my go-to is to purchase whatever is on sale.
I like to trim any visible fat from the roast before adding it to the slow cooker. Others debate that the fat adds flavor but I personally don’t love eating a sandwich with bits of fat in it.
The Italian beef sandwich comes from Chicago in the 1930s. It was considered to be a working mans lunch. Italian immigrants would also serve this sandwich at weddings because the meat was inexpensive and could feed a crowd on a budget.
You will be able to find pepperoncini at most grocery stores in the aisle that houses sandwich condiments like pickles and banana peppers. Just a tip- you are not looking for pickled banana peppers – Look for specifically on the jar for the word pepperoncini. These also can vary in heat so if you want a more mild pepper look for that on the jar.
I like to serve Italian beef on a sturdy bread. Something along the lines of Italian or French bread. You don’t want too soft of a roll because you want the bread to be able to hold up all of the fixings. I either make my own sandwich buns or grab some from the bakery.
Expert Tips
- Toasting the buns is optional but the little bit of crispness add a really nice texture AND helps the bread hold up to the sturdy filling better.
- If you like the filling to be saucier like a French dip, skim the fat from the liquid left in the slow cooker, then return the shredded meat to it for 15-30 minutes before serving to let it soak in some of the juices, then serve.
- You can adjust the level of spiciness by changing the amount of pepperoncini you add. Add fewer to make it less spicy. Add more and/or some liquid from the jar to make it more spicy.
What to Serve With an Italian Beef Sandwich
- The Best and Easiest Fruit Dip Recipe
- Quick & Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
- Grandma’s Quick Pickled Cucumbers – Refrigerator Pickles
- Grandma Lucy’s Baked Beans Recipe
- Deli-Style Broccoli Salad
More Sandwich Recipes to Consider
Dip Recipes
Lemon Garlic Hummus Recipe Without Tahini
Lunch Ideas for Kids
Easy Make-Ahead Lunch Ideas for Kids
Sandwich Recipes
Hawaiian Roll Sliders
Sandwich Recipes
Bagel Sandwich
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Italian Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs. beef roast, buy whatever’s on sale–chuck, rump roast, etc
- 1/2 or more of a 16oz peperoncinis, (deli sliced or whole)
- 1 cup beef broth
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Sandwich Buns
- Your favorite white cheese–mozzarella, provolone, swiss, or white cheddar
- optional: extra peperoncinis for serving
Instructions
- Trim any visible fat from your roast. Place in the bottom of your slow cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in half a jar worth of peppers (don’t include all the juice, just pick out the peppers). If you want a bit more heat, add a few tablespoons of the pepper juice to the crock pot. Pour in beef broth.
- Cook on low 7-8 hours.
- Shred beef, removing any fatty bits. Slice peppers and mix into beef.
- For best serving results, toast buns, fill with beef/pepper mixture, and top with cheese and a few extra peperoncinis. If necessary, pop the sandwiches in the oven for a minute or two to melt the cheese.
Notes
- Toast the bun to give your sandwich yummy texture and keep it from getting soggy quickly.
- Skim the fat and add the shredded meat back to the slow cooker for 15-30 minutes if you’d like the meat to be saucier.
- A roll or bun that is nice and sturdy is your best bet to hold up to this sturdy sandwich filling.
- Use whatever cut of roast in on sale. Something with a lot of marbling is always a good choice but it will taste great no matter which cut you use.
I make this one–specifically from One Lovely Life–on a regular basis! The flavor always ends up amazing! The ONE change I have made over the years is I sear the roast on all sides before placing in the crock pot and then deglaze the pan w/ the beef broth. I seriously can’t get enough of this stuff!
This looks so good Emily! We are way into peperoncini lately so this would be perfect!