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.
Looking for a new recipe for the crock pot? You're going to love this recipe because it only takes about five minutes of prep and the rest of the work is done by your slow cooker.
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, it turns out pull-apart tender and juicy. Italian seasoning, a jar of banana peppers, and beef broth add a mild, savory flavor to the roast.
Serve crock pot Italian beef on hoagie rolls or over mashed potatoes. Leftovers can be enjoyed all week long making this a great meal prep recipe!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Chuck roast - I recommend using chuck roast because they're relatively inexpensive, nicely marbled, and turn out great in the slow cooker. Brisket, round, or rump roasts also work great as a substitute.
- Seasoning - Feel free to use a store bought blend or homemade Italian seasoning. Salt and pepper enhance the flavor of the roast.
- Beef broth - Adds savory flavor to the roast while it cooks. A bit of liquid in the slow cooker also ensures nothing burns on the bottom.
- Banana peppers - Adds mild, peppery, tangy flavor to the roast. I don't recommend omitting this ingredient, but it could be substituted with some sliced onions and bell pepper if needed.
- Hoagie rolls - If you're planning to serve your Italian beef as sandwiches, I suggest buying some hoagie rolls from your local bakery. A nice crusty hoagie roll is perfect for these juicy, flavorful sandwiches.
Tips and tricks
Use a properly sized slow cooker - I use 3-quart slow cooker for a 2.5-3.5 pound chuck roast. Make sure your slow cooker is filled about ½ to ¾ full. The lid must fit securely on top without any gaps (to prevent delaying the cooking time). You also don't want to use a slow cooker that's too large - all the extra surface area causes faster evaporation and can dry out the beef.
Don't remove the lid - It's important to try not to remove the lid of your crock pot while the roast is cooking. Removing the lid releases heat and steam and will cause your roast to cook slower.
For best flavor, don't omit ingredients - This may seem obvious, but if you'd like a juicy, tender, and flavorful roast, don't omit any of the listed ingredients. Check out the 'ingredients and substitutions' section above to understand what each ingredient adds to the recipe.
Storage
USDA recommends using leftover cooked beef within 3-4 days when stored in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Frequently asked questions
I recommend a chuck roast. They're relatively inexpensive and perfect for slow-cooking. Other types of roasts you could use include 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 turns into tender, easy-to-shred beef.
I recommend a 6 quart crock pot or slow cooker for cooking a 2.5 to 3.5 pound beef roast.
Don't lift the lid of your slow cooker - this releases moisture and heat, which increases cooking time and can dry out the meat if it's done repeatedly. Store leftover meat with some of the liquids from the slow cooker. Reheat the meat in some of the liquids to ensure it turns out juicy and tender.
If your beef roast is tough when testing for doneness, it's not done yet. When it's done, your beef roast will be fall-apart fork tender and shred easily.
If your beef isn't done in the recommended times below, here are a few things to consider:
- Does the lid fit securely on the slow cooker without gaps?
- Did you lift the lid throughout the day to check on your roast?
- Are you using an older slow cooker?
All of these reasons can cause your roast to cook slower and require extra cooking time. Newer slow cookers tend to cook a little faster than older varieties. While there's nothing wrong with an older slow cooker, you may want to keep this in mind when using one.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2 ½ to 3 ½ pound chuck roast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 8 ounce jar of banana pepper rings
- 8 ounces beef broth
- 6 eight-inch hoagie rolls
Instructions
- Season all sides of chuck roast with salt and pepper, then place roast in slow cooker. Top with Italian seasoning, ⅔ of jar of drained banana peppers (reserve remaining peppers for serving), and beef broth. Turn heat to low, cover, and cook for about 8 hours, or until roast is fork tender.
- Shred beef with a fork and serve on lightly toasted hoagie rolls. Optionally, top with provolone cheese slices.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Beef can be served on hoagie rolls, over mashed potatoes, or on its own. Optionally, use leftover juices for dipping your sandwich, like a French dip.
- On high heat, cook roast for 5 hours, or until fork tender. Low heat is recommended for tender beef.
- Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
Can I cut the Italian beef recipe in half.
There's only 2 of us. I have a 3.5 qt. Slow cooker.
Hi Brian, this recipe should work fine if halved in a 3.5 quart slow cooker. The slow cooker should be about 1/2 to 3/4 full for best results.
Will try some of these recipes , I would also like some crockpot recipes with chicken, and pork, thank you.