Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are full of tender, thin-sliced meat that has been slowly cooked in a spicy broth. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth beef that’s shredded and piled high onto crusty rolls with peppers and melted cheese.
If you’re looking for the ultimate low-effort, high-reward dinner, these slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches are it. Juicy, tender beef slow-simmered with garlic, herbs, and tangy peppers, then tucked into rolls—this is the kind of meal people ask for again and again. Bonus? It’s basically hands-off because of the use of the slow cooker, and the leftovers are next-level.
If you like this recipe, you might also enjoy our recipes for Italian Chicken Cutlet Sandwiches, Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches and Slow Cooker Pulled Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches.
“I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.”
-Liz Lemon
Ingredients needed:
- beef broth
- onion
- freshly ground black pepper
- dried oregano, basil and parsley
- minced garlic
- bay leaf
- dried Italian salad dressing mix
- chuck roast
- pepperoncini
- hoagie rolls
- Swiss cheese
- sauteed peppers, onions and/or mushrooms (optional)
How to make Italian Beef Sandwiches:
The full, printable recipe is at the end of this post.
- In a saucepan, combine the beef broth with the onion and all of the spices and salad dressing mix. Stir well, and bring to a boil.
- Place the roast in your slow cooker insert. Pour the broth mixture over the roast. Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours.
Pour the jar of pepperoncini (juices and all) over the meat, put the lid back on and cook for an additional 2 hours. Remove the bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork.
Serve the beef on warmed hoagie rolls. These are delicious with sauteed onions, peppers and/or mushrooms. Add the Swiss cheese and broil to melt. Serve immediately. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Use a chuck roast or similar cut with marbling for tenderness.
- Cook low and slow (on low) for best texture.
- Don’t over-shred—you want hearty bites, not mush.
- Use leftovers for beef nachos, pizza topping, or stuffed potatoes.
- To freeze, shred and store with juices in freezer bags for up to 3 months.
The History of Italian Beef:
Italian beef made its first appearance in early 1900’s Chicago.
No one really knows the exact origin of how Italian beef was created, but there are several who have their theories!
Many believe that it was created by Italian immigrants who worked for Chicago’s Old Union Stockyards in the early 1900’s. They’d bring home the tougher, more undesirable cuts of meat and have their wives slow roast the meat until it was tender and easy to slice for sandwiches.
In 1925, Scala’s Original Beef and Sausage Company was founded, and some say that Pasquale Scala and friends started making Italian Beef sandwiches there.
Here’s another story. At the end of WWI (1918), Chicago street peddler Anthony Ferrari drove around Chicago delivering sandwiches. He extended his business into doing weddings, where he cut the beef thinly so he was able to make sandwiches for more people. In 1938, his son Al opened Al’s #1 Italian Beef in Chicago (selling the sandwiches that he said his Dad created).
The 1940’s saw more and more beef-themed shops opening up in Chicago.
In the 1980’s, the Italian Beef Sandwich soared in popularity nationwide when Jay Leno talked about Italian Beef on his show, handed out sandwiches to guests and ate one live on the air.
Fun Facts about Italian Beef:
- May 27th is National Italian Beef Day! Celebrate by making the best ever Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches at home.
- Italian beef is commonly found at food stands, pizzerias and Italian restaurants in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. It’s most popular in Chicago!
- Italian beef is one of Chicago’s most famous ethnic foods. Most Chicago restaurants also offer a combination with Italian sausage.
- You can order an Italian Beef Sandwich dry or “wet-dipped.”
- In 1991, Saturday Night Live featured a sketch called, “Super Fans.” Chris Farley, Mike Myers and George Wendt professed their love for Chicago food (including Italian Beef).
- The Italian Beef Sandwich was featured on the TV show, “Man vs. Food” in 2008 when Adam Richman visited Al’s to try the sandwich. He later declared the Italian Beef Sandwich as the best sandwich in the Mid West.
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients
- Two 14.5-ounce cans beef broth
- 1 medium sweet yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 whole bay leaf
- Two .7-ounce envelopes dried Italian salad dressing mix
- 5 pounds chuck roast
- 16 ounces jarred pepperoncini
- 10 hoagie rolls
- 10 slices Swiss cheese
- sauteed peppers, onions and/or mushrooms, optional
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the beef broth with the onion and all of the spices (through the salad dressing mix). Stir well, and bring to a boil.
- Place the roast in your slow cooker insert. Pour the broth mixture over the roast.
- Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours. Pour the jar of pepperoncini (juices and all) over the meat, put the lid back on and cook for an additional 2 hours.
- Remove the bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork.
- Serve the beef on warmed hoagie rolls. These are delicious with sauteed onions, peppers and/or mushrooms. Add the Swiss cheese and broil to melt. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
