Easy Slow Cooker Italian Beef is fall-apart tender and flavorful with sliced peppers, onions, and tasty au jus for serving. Layer the juicy shredded beef on a toasted roll for a traditional Italian beef sandwich and add giardiniera or your favorite toppings. It’s effortless and a crowd-pleasing choice made simple in the slow cooker!

dinner plate with Italian beef sub with cheese, with cutting board holding another sub, slow cooker and bowl of banana peppers in background

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What is Italian beef?

Italian beef is a flavorful shredded beef dish that often includes pickled peppers and a savory au jus for dipping or serving on top. The beef is most commonly served on a toasted sandwich roll, layered with a mild or spicy pepper-and-onion mix called giardiniera, or topped with melted cheese such as Provolone or mozzarella.

The Italian beef sandwich originated in Chicago and has been a street food staple for decades. Its popularity began as a flavorful way to serve lean, cheaper cuts of beef that were cooked and tenderized in the cooking juices, and the sandwich is now recognized nationwide with its own twist wherever it is served.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

This Italian beef recipe is a super flavorful way to prepare a large roast and divvy it up on sandwiches for meal prep or feeding a crowd.
Chuck roast is easy to tenderize in the slow cooker, and the juices from the added peppers infuse so much savory, tangy flavor.
Serve hearty sandwiches au jus or “wet” – soaking up every bit of the braising juices!
Italian beef makes a delicious sandwich, but you can also serve it with other sides such as rice, egg noodles, or baked potatoes.
Love a hot and spicy sandwich? Customize the beef with spicy giardiniera!
The leftovers are easy to freeze in portions for a simple, tasty meal when you need it!

Ingredients Needed

Beef chuck roast – Use a 3-4 pound beef chuck roast so it tenderizes perfectly in the slow cooker. Chuck roast is a muscly cut, containing marbling (fat) and connective tissue which cooks best low and slow. After hours in the slow cooker, it’s the most delicious, shreddable meat for serving!
Homemade Italian seasoning – I love to mix up my own seasoning blends for convenience and to control the ingredients. Use my homemade Italian seasoning base to season the chuck roast, or choose your favorite store-bought blend. This adds just the right hint of Italian flavors that complement the peppers and onions.
Low-sodium beef broth – Beef broth infuses the chuck roast with flavor and creates the au jus base. Low-sodium broth helps control sodium levels, as it will be included in the other juices.
Sliced pepperoncini with juice – Grab a jar of sliced pepperoncini, or if needed, slice them yourself. This adds the best tangy flavor and mild heat.
Sliced banana peppers with juice – Banana peppers are a classic Italian beef addition and provide the best salty bite.
Onion – Thinly slice a small onion for added depth and flavor.
Garlic – Toss in some minced garlic to deepen the flavors.
Salt – Save the salt for the end and add to taste to finish off the dish.

ingredients to include platter with chuck roast, wooden cutting board with slices onion and minced garlic, surrounded by bowls of sliced banana peppers, Italian seasoning, sliced pepperoncini, beef broth, and a salt shaker

How To Make Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker.
Sprinkle the roast with homemade Italian seasoning.

overhead view of white slow cooker with chuck roast

overhead view of white slow cooker with chuck roast and Italian seasoning

Add broth, onion, garlic, pepperoncini with juice, and banana peppers with juice.

overhead view of white slow cooker with chuck roast, Italian seasoning, pepperoncini, banana peppers, onion and garlic

Cover and cook on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, until the beef is tender and shreds easily.
Shred the beef directly in the slow cooker, then stir to coat with the juices. Add salt to taste after cooking.

overhead view of white slow cooker with slow cooked Italian beef with two forks shredding the beef

Pro Tips

Using half pepperoncini and half banana peppers gives a balance of tangy heat and subtle sweetness.
Chuck roast is ideal because it breaks down into juicy shreds with lots of flavor.
Save the au jus in the slow cooker for dipping sandwiches.
Shred the beef with two forks into bite-sized pieces that are thin enough to layer on a sandwich roll.

overhead side view of white slow cooker with slow cooked Italian beef with gold spoons

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

A chuck roast is the preferred option due to the marbling and rich flavor, but you can also use a bottom round or rump roast as a substitute.
If needed, you can purchase a jar of whole pepperoncini and slice them finely yourself.
Use just banana peppers for a slightly sweeter flavor.
For a deeper flavor, add a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the slow cooker when assembling the dish.
Briefly searing the roast on all sides in a skillet before slow cooking can enhance flavor and help seal in moisture, but it is not required, since the beef will be cooking au jus.

overhead view of platter of Italian beef with banana peppers and rolls in background

Instant Pot Italian Beef

(Optional) Add a splash of olive oil and use the sauté mode to brown the beef.
Add all ingredients to the Instant Pot, seal the lid, and set to high pressure for 60-70 minutes (depending on the size of the roast).
Allow a natural release for 10-15 minutes, then a quick release.
Shred or slice the beef directly in the Instant Pot and stir to combine with the juices before serving.

How To Serve Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Italian beef is most often served on a toasty sandwich roll with toppings, but there are other delicious ways to serve it, too! Layer a helping of beef into baked potatoes or over rice bowls with roasted veggies.

Additionally, try the beef over mashed potatoes with au jus spooned on top. Add a side of Lemon Pepper Roasted Asparagus or a simple side salad for freshness.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

To make a classic Italian beef sandwich, serve a generous portion of beef and peppers on a crusty sandwich roll and top with provolone cheese. And of course, you must include a side of au jus for dipping or spooning over the sandwich!

This hearty sandwich can also be customized with bread options such as a hoagie roll, French roll, or other sturdy bun that toasts well. After you layer the beef on your bread base, choose from these popular toppings to make it your own:

Mozzarella cheese (for excellent melting)
Swiss cheese (for a sharper flavor)
Pepper Jack cheese (a little spicy kick)
Caramelized onions
Sauteed mushrooms
Spicy Chicago-style giardiniera
Thinly-sliced tomato
Sliced or finely chopped purple onion

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover shredded beef and jus in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

Freezer

Freeze leftover beef in a sealed container or bag for up to 3 months.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat leftover beef in a skillet on the stove with a splash of leftover jus, or heat in the microwave in short intervals.