Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are the perfect crazy day dinner. With pulled roast beef, pepperoncini, and shredded mozzarella cheese, these are always a family favorite.

We love breaking out the slow cooker to help make dinner a breeze on those crazy weeknights when everyone has to be in 10 different places right at dinner time. This crockpot sandwich recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and get cooking, then come back at night to a delicious, easy dinner.

Serve this up with some chips, fruit, salad, or even a simple sauteed vegetable like this garlic butter broccoli.

You are going to love this recipe because it is super easy to make and takes just a few simple ingredients. Your family is going to love this hot beef sandwich because it is bursting with some amazing flavors, like a French dip sandwich, just taken to a whole new level.

What You Will Need:

This is what you need to add to your grocery list to make this Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches recipe:

• Chuck Roast– this cut is perfect for slow cooking, it shreds perfectly after slow roasting for hours
• Olive Oil– used to brown the meat in a pan before adding to the crockpot
• Package Dry Italian Salad Dressing: adds a ton of flavor and spices
• Pepperoncini– those tangy little yellow peppers and their juice add so much flavor
• Giardiniera– this delicious medley of cauliflower, carrots, peppers, and chili peppers is a must in this recipe. They add a tasty crunch to the pulled beef sandwich.
• Buns– the best bread for these Italian beef sandwiches is a firm sandwich bread. I like to pick up hoagie buns with a crunchy outside and soft center.
• Mozzarella Cheese– top the sandwiches with shredded mozzarella cheese and toast under the broiler for the perfect sandwich.

⭐️ Full ingredient measurements and recipe instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

How to Level Up This Recipe

Don’t get me wrong here, this Italian Beef Sandwich is delicious as prepared but if you want to switch it up, let me give a few suggestions.

1. Toast the bread– spread softened butter on the buns that have been sliced in half and place under the broiler for 1 minute until golden brown before topping with the shredded beef.
2. Mix up the cheese– try using provolone, Swiss, or even Muenster cheese for a different flavor.

Recommended Equipment

• Slow Cooker– I have really enjoyed this slow cooker, it looks good and it is easy to use. I like that it can be placed right on the stovetop to brown meats right in the pot.
• Cast Iron Skillet– an essential for a home cook. We use our cast iron pans daily.

How to Make Slow Cooker Italian Beef

This is a perfect crockpot meal because it comes together quickly. Only takes a few steps to get it cooking and can feed a crowd. Let’s walk through what you need to do.

1. Prepare the roast– season your roast on both sides with salt and black pepper. Brown the roast in a pan over medium-high heat for one to two minutes per side just to get it browned.
2. Prepare the slow cooker– place the roast and the juices from the pan you browned it in into the slow cooker. Add in the Italian dressing, Italian seasoning, pepperoncini, pepperoncini juice, and a jar of Giardiniera.
3. Roast the beef– cook the roast in the slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours until it easily shreds.
4. Make the beef sandwiches- take the roast out of the slow cooker and shred it into small, bite-sized pieces. Layer onto toasted hoagie buns with some of the vegetables from the slow cooker. Top with shredded mozzarella and place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Skip to the bottom of this post for the full recipe instructions and the printable recipe card.

Storage and Leftovers

This recipe can easily be made ahead and saved for later. To store any leftovers of this slow cooker beef recipe, place it into an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

This can also be frozen in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. I suggest shredding the beef before storing it for any amount of time.

What to Serve With Italian Beef Sandwiches

We like to eat these shredded beef sandwiches with a side of chips, roasted potatoes, a side of broccoli, or even a salad. Really any cooked vegetable or even fruit would go delicious alongside this sandwich.

More Slow Cooker Recipes to Try

• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
• Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
• Slow Cooker Green Chile Pulled Pork
• Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast