Description
Hearty slow cooker Italian beef sandwiches bring Chicago’s legendary street food straight to kitchen tables with mouthwatering, tender meat and zesty pepperoncini. Juicy beef piled high on crusty rolls promises a simple yet irresistible meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 3 – 4 pounds (1.4 – 1.8 kilograms) beef chuck roast
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 packet Italian dressing mix
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) beef broth
- 1 jar pepperoncini peppers
Serving Components:
- 4 – 6 sandwich rolls
- Provolone cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Nestle the chuck roast into the slow cooker basin, positioning it centrally for even heat distribution.
- Generously dust the entire surface of the roast with Italian dressing seasoning mix, ensuring complete coverage.
- Scatter pepperoncini peppers around and over the roast, creating a flavorful aromatic layer.
- Carefully pour beef broth into the slow cooker, maintaining liquid levels without disturbing the seasoning.
- Secure the lid and set the slow cooker to low temperature, allowing the meat to tenderize for 8 hours until it reaches a soft, pull-apart consistency.
- Once cooking is complete, transfer the roast to a large mixing bowl and use two forks to meticulously shred the meat into succulent strands.
- Fold the shredded beef back into the cooking liquid, allowing it to absorb maximum flavor and moisture.
- Warm the sandwich rolls slightly to enhance their texture and receptiveness to the juicy meat.
- Assemble sandwiches by generously piling the saturated beef onto each roll.
- Optional: Crown each sandwich with a melting layer of provolone cheese for additional richness and depth.
Notes
- Opt for a well-marbled chuck roast to ensure maximum tenderness and rich flavor during slow cooking.
- Drain excess liquid from pepperoncini before adding to prevent overly watery results and maintain sandwich integrity.
- Transform leftovers into quick weeknight meals by storing shredded beef in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days.
- Create a gluten-free version by using gluten-free rolls and checking Italian dressing mix ingredients for hidden gluten sources.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg