Description
Hearty slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches deliver robust flavors straight from Midwest kitchens, promising mouthwatering comfort. Juicy shredded beef nestled on crusty rolls invites you to savor each tender, herbaceous bite with pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3–4 pounds (1.4–1.8 kg) chuck roast or rump roast
- 8–10 crusty sandwich rolls or hoagie buns
- 8–10 pepperoncini peppers (whole or sliced)
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 packet (1 ounce/28 grams) Italian dressing seasoning mix
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Liquids and Additional Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) beef broth
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) pepperoncini juice (from a jar of pepperoncini)
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
- Sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese (optional)
- Giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables, optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Nestle the chuck roast into the slow cooker, positioning it centrally for even cooking.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by sprinkling Italian dressing mix, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes directly over the roast’s surface, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Carefully pour beef broth around the meat, then add pepperoncini juice and Worcestershire sauce to create a flavorful braising liquid.
- Distribute pepperoncini peppers evenly around and on top of the roast, allowing their tangy essence to infuse the meat during slow cooking.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the roast to simmer gently for 8-10 hours until the meat becomes incredibly tender and easily shreds with a fork.
- Once cooking is complete, carefully remove the roast and transfer to a large cutting board.
- Use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any excess fat or unwanted pieces.
- Return the shredded meat to the cooking liquid, stirring to ensure maximum flavor absorption.
- Serve the succulent Italian beef on soft rolls, spooning additional cooking liquid over the meat for extra moisture and taste.
- Optionally, top with additional pepperoncini peppers for added zest and garnish.
Notes
- Opt for a well-marbled chuck roast to ensure tender, juicy meat that falls apart easily when cooking.
- Adjust the spice level by reducing or increasing red pepper flakes to suit personal heat preferences.
- Consider using low-sodium beef broth to control the salt content and customize the flavor profile.
- For a gluten-free version, swap the Italian dressing seasoning mix with a homemade blend of dried herbs and spices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 17g
- Cholesterol: 70mg