There are some recipes on my blog that I’ve made a few times, have loved, and want to share with you. Then there are some recipes that I’ve made for years and years, cannot live without, and simply MUST share with you! These Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are on the MUST share list, and today that’s exactly what I’m going to do! You’ll love the slow-cooked rich flavor and how easy this recipe is to make. It’s great for feeding a crowd and the perfect football food. I’d say this recipe is the total package!
Do you ever find that there are certain foods that carry a story or special memory with them? This recipe certainly does, and I hope you don’t mind me sharing it with you! Back when I was in high school (which, holy crap, was almost 8 years ago!), I spent every Friday night during Fall at a friend’s house who happened to live right on the corner of the football field. It became tradition for everyone to gather there on Friday nights, cheer on our team (GO COALERS!), and eat the wickedly delicious Italian beef sandwiches that were always simmering away in the slow cooker.
I think back to those years and how I thought life was so complicated being a sophomore in high school, but man, life wasn’t too bad back then. Hanging out with my friends (which I believe we called ourselves the 3 Musketeers), watching our boys play football, and eating our favorite beef sammies. Yep, life was alright : )
Fast forward to today, and although we no longer gather on Friday nights at the corner of the football field, I still make this same recipe for my family as we cheer on our favorite teams. Which coming from Illinois but residing in Indiana means we root for the Bears, Colts, Illini, or Boilermakers on any given day!
So now that you know the story behind the food, let’s get to the beefy, juicy, delicious details! What makes this recipe so awesome? Let me tell you:
#1 It’s a slow cooker recipe. Throw it together in the morning, and by game time the intoxicating aroma of Italian beef coming from your kitchen will have your family begging for food!
#2 It can feed a crowd… like a big, hungry football fan crowd! I use a 2 pound roast when I’m making this for just my family, but if we’re having company over to watch the game, I’ll get a 3 or 4 pound roast and double the Italian dressing mix. You get double the food for no extra effort… just put it all the the slow cooker and cook that big, beautiful piece of meat a few extra hours!
#3 The flavor… OH the flavor! The beef comes out of the slow cooker fall-apart tender with the most amazing savory, rich flavor. My mouth is watering even thinking about it! Do you like it spicy? Add more pepperoncini juice and throw in some of the pepperoncinis too!
I like to make my Italian Beef Sandwiches EXTRA yummy by toasting the rolls with butter and garlic salt and melting Monterey Jack cheese on top! Make this recipe for game day or simply for dinner tonight, but either way I know this will be one of your favorites!
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
2 pound beef roast
1 package Italian dressing mix (I use Good Seasons brand)
1 – 14 ounce can beef broth
1 – 12 ounce can beer (or additional can of beef broth)
1 – 16 ounce jar of pepperoncini
6 French rolls
Pour the beef broth, beer (or additional broth), and half the juice from jar of pepperoncini into a slow cooker. Place beef in the liquid and sprinkle with Italian dressing mix. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours. Take beef out and shred using two forks, and add beef back to the slow cooker. Serve shredded beef on French rolls with pepperoncini, if desired, and a bowl of broth from the slow cooker for dipping. Serves 6
– Serving a crowd? Use a 3-4 pound beef roast and two packages of Italian dressing mix. Cook on low for 12 hours.
– Make your sandwich EXTRA tasty: Split the French rolls and butter the insides. Sprinkle with garlic salt and toast in a 400 degree oven until slightly golden. Add shredded beef to the bottom rolls and Monterey Jack or Mozzarella cheese to the top rolls and sandwich them together. The hot beef and toasted rolls will melt the cheese making them extra delicious!
More yummy FOOTBALL FOOD recipes:
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P.S. I’m sharing this post at some awesome link parties… Check them out HERE!
Wow that looks so good, It’s great having all these new recipes for a nice sandwich…Thanks for sharing.
Simon
You add pepperoncinis to ANYTHING and I am so in. This looks awesome. Beef, it’s what’s for dinner.
Got the ingredients today because I read your recipe on Google plus. Mouth is watering! I can’t wait to try it.
My husband would love these! Thanks for sharing Liz 🙂 My stomach is growling. It’s after 8. Maybe I should make dinner or something.. ha!
Thank you for sharing I’m beginning to love crockpot cooking again 😉
I’ve always seen this as just pepperoncini beef. Your additions sounds really good. As long as I’ve been hearing about it, I’ve somehow never managed to make it myself. All my roasts end up as Mexican beef for tacos!
I make this, but without the Italian dressing…what a YUMMY touch that sounds like! Will definitely have to try yours.
Thanks for featuring my Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars on Time to Sparkle this week!! 🙂
This sounds like something my family would devour. Thank you!!
Bookmarked for the next time we have guest. Of course, I might not be able to wait that long.
Oh, we’ve got very similar recipes–I just love how delicious and easy it is to make Italian beef in the slow cooker! I use giardiniera instead of the pepperoncini and a packet of McCormick au jus gravy mix. I’ve also found that it’s best to buy boneless beef chuck roast–other cuts do not come out as moist. http://www.fransfavs.com/2011/10/italian-beef/
Thanks so much for linking up to Monday Funday! I am certainly pinning this! One of my favorite meals and I also am a little bit of a crock pot obsessive! xo – Cheryl