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Italian roast beef sandwiches are different comfort food — slow-cooked, rich and savoury with tender slices of juicy meat. It makes it even more simple when the chuck can cook in a slow cooker, and slowly merge all of those herb, spice and seasoning flavors.

This simple, no-fuss recipe that you can make and forget about is great for a hearty lunch or dinner… perfect for portioning out proper servings when feeding the masses!

Today, you’re going to learn how to make an Italian beef recipe from scratch in a slow cooker with some tips and variations as well as fun ideas on how you can use it!

Ingredients for Italian Roast Beef Sandwiches

To make a mouth-watering Italian roast beef sandwich in a slow cooker, you’ll need the following ingredients:

For the Roast Beef:

• 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast
• 1 packet of Italian dressing seasoning mix
• 1 packet of au jus gravy mix
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers with juice (optional, for a tangy kick)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Sandwich:

• Soft hoagie rolls or Italian rolls
• Provolone or mozzarella cheese slices
• Optional toppings: sautéed onions, bell peppers, or giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables)

Instructions for Italian Roast Beef Sandwich Recipe Slow Cooker

Prepare the Beef

Season the beef generously with salt and pepper before placing it in the slow cooker. If you want, you can heat some olive oil in a hot pan and sear the beef for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned outside. This is also optional, but it makes the flavour so much richer.

Combine Ingredients in the Slow Cooker

Add the seasoned beef to your slow cooker. Place the Italian dressing mix and au jus mix evenly over the roast. Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Oregano Drizzle one cup of beef broth on top and if using, pour an entire jar of pepperoncini peppers with some of their juice. While these peppers give a wonderful tangy flavour, if you are more of the traditional roast beef type this step can be omitted.

Cook the Beef

Place the lid on and turn it to high for 4-5 hours or low for 8 hours. After 3 hours, the beef should be quite tender and easy to shred. You will know it is done when you can pull it apart with a fork easily.

Shred the Beef

Once the beef is cooked through, remove it from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred it. Return the beef to the slow cooker and let it sit in the juices for another 15-30 minutes so that gets more tasty.

Assembling the Italian Roast Beef Sandwiches

With your beef cooked perfectly and shredded, all that’s left is to bring the sandwiches together.

Toast the Rolls

Can lightly grill or oven-toast your hoagie rolls or Italian rolls for that crunchy texture and added flavour. This will stop the excess beer juices from soaking into the soft bread.

Add the Beef

Add where the beef is on the toasted rolls. Be certain to put in a little of the yummy juices from the slow cooker too, to keep that meat damp and tasty.

Top with Cheese

Add a slice or 2 of provolone/mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. After putting together the sandwich you could put it under the broiler for a minute or two just to melt the cheese and give it a little gooey melty touch.

Add Optional Toppings

The onions and bell peppers can be sautéed if you prefer a little crisper veggies in the mix. This is also a great time to layer giardiniera, a tangy, spicy mix of pickled vegetables that gives the sandwich some crunch.

Variations on the Italian Roast Beef Sandwich

The simple recipe is delicious, but you can personalize your roast beef sandwich as desired:

• Add more spices: f you like a kick, add some red pepper flakes (or pepperoncini juice) to the slow cooker
• Use different cheeses: While Provolone and Mozzarella are the norms, you could try other cheeses like Cheddar or Swiss for somewhat different flavours.
• Serve with au jus: Strain the liquid from the slow cooker and serve alongside sandwiches for dipping. This dish is similar to a French dip-style sandwich but bursting with Italian flavor.

Tips for the Best Italian Beef Sandwiches

• Use a good quality roast: The secret to making this recipe ultra flavorful and tender is to use a good quality roast, like our favourite chuck roast. For the best taste, go with a roast that has great marbling.
• Don’t skip the resting time: When the beef has been shredded, leave it in those juices for as long as tolerable. This ensures that when you serve these at your BBQ or dinner party, they are juicy and full of flavour.
• Make it ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prep. The beef can be made ahead and held warm in the slow cooker.

Conclusion

This slow cooker Italian roast beef sandwich is a total crowd-pleaser that is flavorful and easy to throw together! This only takes a few ingredients and simple prep work to give you a filling, heart-warming meal that is good for any time of the year.

Tender beef with Italian seasoning and melted cheese on a soft roll makes this sandwich drool-worthy. Top with your favourite accoutrements, serve alongside some au jus and you have a tasty dinner that will have everyone running back for seconds!