Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are hearty, flavorful, and made with just five ingredients.

Shredded beef roast with Italian seasoning and banana peppers can be served on a hoagie roll or over mashed potatoes.

You're going to love my recipe for crock pot Italian beef sandwiches because this recipe takes about five minutes of prep, and the rest of the work is done by your slow cooker.

The best part? All you need are five ingredients to make this family friendly meal. First, you'll need a chuck roast. When slow-roasted in a crock pot for 8 or more hours, your roast will be pull-apart tender and juicy.

Italian seasoning (store bought or homemade) a jar of banana peppers, and beef broth are all you need to flavor this roast, along with some salt and pepper from your pantry.

What type of roast should I use?

For this recipe, I usually buy a chuck roast. They're relatively inexpensive and are perfect for slow-cooking until fork-tender.

Other great types of roasts? Look for brisket, round, or rump roasts. No matter the type of roast, you'll want to look for one with lots of marbling. When slow cooked, your roast will turn into tender, easy-to-shred beef.

For this particular recipe, you'll want a roast that's about 2.5 to 3.5 pounds.

For more information: eHow: The Best Beef Cuts for Shredding

Ingredients and substitutions

I like to use my homemade Italian Seasoning blend, but you're welcome to use your favorite store bought Italian seasoning for this recipe.

If you're planning to serve your Italian beef as sandwiches, I highly suggest buying some hoagie rolls from your local bakery. A nice crusty hoagie roll is perfect for these juicy, flavorful sandwiches.

Hoagie rolls can be substituted with hamburger buns, toasted bread, or any bread you have on hand. I also like to serve this open faced on a slice of crusty sourdough bread.

Crock pot recommendations

I recommend a 6 quart crock pot or slow cooker for cooking a 2.5 to 3.5 pound beef roast.

Never cooked in a crock pot before? Crock pots are excellent for preparing your dinner in the morning (maybe before work), then allowing it to slowly cook throughout the entire day.

It's important to try not to remove the lid of your crock pot while your roast is cooking. Removing the lid releases heat and steam, and in turn will take your roast longer to cook.

Allow it to sit, undisturbed. Don't worry - it doesn't need to be flipped or stirred until it's ready to be shredded and served.

The longer your beef roast cooks, the more fall-apart tender it becomes. I've cooked roasts anywhere from 8 to 10 hours in the slow cooker with great success.

Serving Italian beef

So, how should you serve your shredded Italian beef? My favorite method is serving it on lightly toasted hoagie rolls. Optionally, top with sliced provolone cheese and a few more banana pepper rings.

You can also use the juices from the slow cooker for dipping your sandwich, like a french dip.

Or, try serving your shredded beef over mashed or baked potatoes.

You can also serve your beef alongside some fresh steamed or roasted vegetables for a low carb meal.

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