Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Slow Cooker Italian Beef is a great way to enjoy this Chicago classic at home. Utilizing your crockpot is a space and time saver, and it serves to create incredibly tender beef and mouth watering au jus at the same time!

Anybody from Chicago will tell you we are known for 3 foods--deep dish pizza, Chicago-style hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches. I, for one, am a fan of all three. There are lots of great places to get these classics, and everyone has their opinion on which place is best!

Portillos, Al's Beef, and Buona Beef all make beef sandwiches and depending on who you ask, they are all the best. All these are delicious and I highly recommend trying them out if you ever visit!

While one of these sandwiches may not physically transport you to Chicago, the flavor will get you pretty close! Not to toot my own horn-- but they pretty darn delicious!

These pulled beef sandwiches are not completely traditional, as they don't include the thinly sliced beef. Italian beef is most often sliced thin using a deli slicer. However, since most of us don't have deli slicers at the ready in our homes, I think shredding the beef is the way to go. It's so tender from cooking it low and slow in the crock pot, that it easily shreds with a fork.

Slow roasting in liquid also creates a savory juice for dipping the finished sandwiches in. Locals now call the au jus "gravy." Even though it's thin like broth, it's packed with rich flavor!

For another Chicago classic, check out these crockpot sausage and peppers. Perfect for serving with pasta or on a roll.

Ingredients

• Chuck roast: Chuck roast is my favorite, because the marbling will give the meat more flavor and moisture. You could also use sirloin tip roast or rump roast, which are leaner cuts. For another recipe using sirloin tip roast, try Sirloin Tip Roast in the Slow Cooker.
• Beef broth: Use beef broth rather than plain water for additional flavor.
• Onion and Garlic: I like to dice/minced it finely so that the au jus is flavor but there are no large pieces of onion.
• Olive oil: This is used to sear the meat before placing it in the crockpot.
• Seasonings: Italian seasoning, bay leaf, sea salt, and pepper.
• Bell Peppers: Traditionally green bell peppers and cut into 1-inch slices.

How to make italian beef in the slow cooker

Step 1. Begin by heating olive oil in a large skillet on the stove on medium-high heat.

Brown chuck roast well, on top and bottom (about five minutes on each side).

Step 2. Remove from skillet and place browned roast into slow cooker

Step 3. Add beef broth, bay leaf, diced onion, garlic, and salt and pepper.

Step 4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.

Step 5. During the last hour or two of cooking, add your thick cut bell peppers to the slow cooker.

Step 6. After another 1-2 hours, your roast should be fork tender. Remove the meat from cooker and shred it with two forks. Place meat back into the juice.

Recipe Tips

• When serving, place a portion of meat on sandwich roll. Add sweet peppers, hot peppers, and cheese. Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes and serve with a side of the juice from the slow cooker.
• While it's not mandatory, I highly recommend browning the roast in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker. This makes the meat taste delicious, and it also really helps deepen the flavor of the au jus!

Best way to serve italian beef sandwiches

These sandwiches are traditionally served on long Italian-style rolls with melted cheese on top.

Load up your bread with lots of the tender beef, peppers and provolone or mozzarella cheese. Hot peppers are a must in my opinion. You can chose to have the au jus on the side, or dip them completely!

Luckily, since these shredded italian beef sandwiches are made in the crock pot, they flavor the juice or "au jus" the entire cooking process and it is so rich and savory with no extra steps needed.

more sandwich recipes

• traditional cuban sandwich
• chicken philly cheesesteak sandwiches
• crockpot chicken giardiniera sandwiches
• crockpot venison sandwiches

Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Sarah Baumeister

These sandwiches are a cross between a French Dip sandwich and a Chicago-style Italian Beef sandwich. A chuck roast is cooked slowly in a crock pot creating a savory au jus while it cooks!

4.84 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course Slow Cooker

Cuisine American

Servings 8 sandwiches

Calories 884 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 lb. chuck roast
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ 2 cups beef broth
• ▢ 1 large onion sliced
• ▢ 4 garlic cloves minced
• ▢ 1 tbsp. italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ▢ 1 tsp. sea salt
• ▢ 1 tsp. black pepper
• ▢ 3 large green bell peppers cut in 1-inch slices

Instructions

 

• Begin by heating olive oil in a large skillet on the stove on medium-high heat.
• Brown chuck roast well, on top and bottom (about five minutes on each side)
• Remove from skillet and place browned roast into slow cooker. Add beef broth, bay leaf, diced onion, garlic, and salt and pepper.
• Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
• During the last hour or two of cooking, add your thick cut bell peppers to the slow cooker.
• After another 1-2 hours, your roast should be fork tender. Remove the meat from cooker and shred it with two forks. Place meat back into the juice.
• To serve: Place a portion of meat on sandwich roll. Add sweet peppers, hot peppers, and cheese. Place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes and serve with a side of the juice from the slow cooker.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 884kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 88gFat: 56gSaturated Fat: 23gPolyunsaturated Fat: 29gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 288mgSodium: 723mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g

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