Description
Savory slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches showcase tender, juicy meat infused with classic Italian herbs and spices. Hearty sandwiches bring comfort and flavor to family meals, delivering a simple yet satisfying dining experience we crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 lb (1.4–1.8 kg) chuck roast or rump roast
- ½ cup (120 ml) beef broth
- ½ cup (120 ml) pepperoncini juice
- ¼ cup (60 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 packet (1 oz/28 g) Italian dressing seasoning mix
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 8–10 pepperoncini peppers (whole or sliced)
- 8–10 crusty sandwich rolls or hoagie buns
- Sliced provolone or mozzarella cheese (optional)
- Giardiniera (Italian pickled vegetables, optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Preparation: Position chuck roast centrally in slow cooker, ensuring optimal heat distribution.
- Seasoning: Generously coat roast with Italian dressing mix, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, creating a complex flavor profile.
- Liquid Infusion: Pour beef broth, pepperoncini juice, and Worcestershire sauce around the meat, establishing a rich braising environment with pepperoncini peppers scattered throughout.
- Slow Cooking: Cover and set slow cooker to low, allowing meat to tenderize and develop deep flavors over 8-10 hours until it effortlessly pulls apart.
- Shredding: Transfer roast to cutting board, meticulously shred using two forks, eliminating excess fat and undesirable portions.
- Flavor Integration: Return shredded meat to cooking liquid, ensuring thorough coating and maximum taste absorption.
- Serving: Pile tender meat onto soft rolls, generously drizzling remaining liquid for enhanced moisture and tang, optionally garnishing with additional pepperoncini peppers for a zesty kick.
Notes
- Select Meat Wisely: Choose a well-marbled chuck roast with good fat content for maximum tenderness and flavor development during slow cooking.
- Distribute Seasonings Evenly: Ensure complete coverage of the roast with spice blend to guarantee consistent flavor throughout the entire cut of meat.
- Control Liquid Levels: Pour broth carefully around the meat, not directly on top, to prevent washing away the seasoning and maintain a rich, concentrated flavor profile.
- Optimize Shredding Technique: Allow meat to cool slightly before shredding to prevent burning hands and achieve more uniform, tender meat strands that absorb cooking liquid perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 9
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg