Easy Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe

The Italian Beef Sandwich is a Chicago legend. You can easily create crock pot Italian beef sandwiches at home, and it all starts with a good beef roast. 

What is Italian Beef

Italian Beef is a flavorful, drippy, cheesy, amazingly good sandwich that everyone needs to try! The main ingredient of an Italian beef is roasted beef, that is typically sirloin tip roast, chuck roast or top round roast.  The beef is slow cooked for hours with a blend of herbs and spices until it literally falls apart. Next, the beef is piled high on hoagie buns or crusty rolls, and topped with pepperoncini, giardiniera (pickled Italian vegetables), and provolone cheese. 

History of Italian Beef Sandwich 

Before we dive into the juicy details of crafting the best Italian beef recipe, let’s explore the rich history behind this iconic Chicago delight. This beloved sandwich traces its roots back to the early 20th century when Italian immigrants, seeking economic opportunities in the United States, brought their culinary traditions with them to the windy city. As the story goes, Italian beef sandwiches originated in the Little Italy Italian-American communities of Chicago. In the 1920s, during the Great Depression, enterprising Italian immigrants began selling thinly sliced seasoned beef on rolls as a cost-effective way to feed hungry masses. This Chicago style sandwich was a huge hit and it quickly gained popularity. It became a staple in Chicago’s street food scene. 

Ingredients

A great Italian beef sandwich starts with the right ingredients. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need for the recipe: 

Beef: The choice of beef cut is crucial. For juicy beef with melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, choose a well-marbled roast. Our favorite cut for this recipe is a chuck roast, but a sirloin roast or top round roast will work too. 

Bread: The ideal bread for an Italian beef sandwich is a hoagie roll, crusty Italian or French roll. The texture should be sturdy enough to hold the beef’s juices. However, any bun will do.

Seasonings: The key to the sandwich’s signature flavor is a blend of spices, including italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, black pepper, and salt. You’ll also need beef broth and au jus to add moisture and enhance the overall taste.  This recipe uses a homemade seasoning blend, but if you’re short on time, you can also use one packet of Italian dressing mix.

Toppings: Traditional Italian beef sandwiches often include sweet peppers or hot peppers, Chicago-style giardiniera (pickled vegetables), and slices of provolone cheese. 

All about the beef

Obviously, beef is the star of the show in this sandwich. For that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, choose a well-marbled roast. Our favorite cut for this recipe is a chuck roast, but a top sirloin roast or top round roast will work too. 

To get the best beef sandwich, cut the roast into 2 or 3 large chunks. Then, heat vegetable oil or olive oil in a large skillet and sear the meat on all sides over medium-high heat.  The reason to cut the beef prior to searing is so that the beef cooks slightly faster in the crockpot. Plus, more of the beef has a golden brown crust when seared and it adds a great flavor to the overall dish. Although this is a crock pot recipe and we all want it to be easy, the searing adds tremendous flavor to the beef. Don’t skip this step if you want a juicy roast beef sandwich. 

It’s important to note that every roast (and slow cooker) is different, so the crockpot cook time will slightly vary. If after you’ve cooked it for 8+ hours you notice your roast isn’t falling apart with the touch of a fork, you need to cook it longer. Be patient, and be sure to wait until it’s fork tender beef. 

What’s the difference between Italian Beef and French Dip? 

Italian Beef and French Dip may seem similar, but they are different: 

• Italian Beef. Beef is slow-cooked until fall-apart tender in a blend of broth, Italian-inspired seasonings, and pickled vegetables. Then, it’s served on a hoagie bun with melted provolone cheese. It is a very flavorful sandwich, and the flavors can be adjusted based on the toppings. If you want a “sweet” Italian beef, you can top with roasted green and/or red bell peppers, while a “hot” Italian beef typically adds the giardiniera. 
• French Dip. French Dip is also thinly sliced roast beef, but it is served with a cup of beef broth as a dipping sauce. French Dip does not have the unique zing that Italian Beef has.

Leftovers

• Storing: Italian Beef can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.  Make sure to store the beef in its juices. 
• Freezing: Store the beef in some of its juices in a sealable heavy duty freezer bag. Squeeze out any extra air to prevent freezer burn. Keep for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: You can reheat thawed meat in the microwave, stove top or back in the slow cooker.

KITCHEN PRODUCTS WE LOVE

• Cast Iron Skillet
• Meat Thermometer

ONE MORE THING!

Do you want to learn more about beef? Join our weekly e-newsletter where we share farm happenings, recipes and beef availability. Sign-up and get a cheat sheet with 9-must-ask questions before buying beef directly from a farmer. Or, we have an entire ebook about beef that goes through purchasing and preparing beef from a cattle farmer’s perspective.

Here are a few other links you may like:

• Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon
• 7 Steps to Grilling Steak to Perfection
• Easy Carne Asada Street Tacos
• Prime Rib Roast with Garlic Herb Butter
• How to choose the best cut of steak (Top 4 cuts)
• What everybody ought to know about beef cuts
• Homemade dry rub (the secret 8:3:1:1 ratio)

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