Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are a 5-ingredient crock pot recipe version of the popular hot sandwich recipe. This easy dinner recipe is a crowd-pleaser!
Last week I asked my Facebook and Twitter friends if they’d like to see a crock pot recipe on the blog this week. There were so many exclamation marks in the comments, which I took to mean, ‘heck yes!’ that I immediately started brainstorming.
Everyone knows crock pot recipes are a busy person’s best friend but many of them can be heavy and unappealing at times. While brainstorming a new and interesting crock pot combo I decided the recipe would have to meet the following criteria:
INGREDIENTS
SANDWICHES:
6 hoagie rolls
12 thin slices of provolone cheese or 6 regular
1 16 ounces jar mild pepperoncini peppers/sliced pepper rings
jarred roasted red peppers patted dry optional
Giardiniera optional
SLOW COOKER ITALIAN BEEF:
3-5 pounds beef chuck roast trimmed of excess fat
1 tbsp Vegetable oil
1 14.5 ounces can low sodium beef broth
1 c. Coke (Not diet)
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. reduced-sodium soy sauce
3 tbsp dried minced onions
1 tbsp beef bouillon
2 teaspoons EACH dried oregano, dried basil, dried parsley, garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon EACH salt, pepper, dried thyme
1/3 c. pepperoncini juice (from pepperoncini jar listed above)
INSTRUCTIONS
Step 1: In a large cast-iron skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, sear the meat until both sides are brown. Place the seared meat in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Stir in the rest of the roast ingredients, cover, and set on low. Cook for 8 to 10 hours or 4 to 6 hours on high until the roast is fork-tender.
Step 2: Shred the roast and discard the excess fat. Cook further on low heat for 30 minutes more. This way the roast will absorb some of the juices.
Step 3: In the meantime, prepare the oven. Preheat it to 400 degrees F.
Step 4: On a large baking tray, lay the sliced rolls cut side up. Place in the preheated oven and toast the buns for about 5 minutes.
Step 5: Pile the bottom sides of the buns with meat using tongs. Top with your favourite toppings like pepperoncini, roasted bell peppers, giardiniera etc., then cheese. Fold the slice of cheese in half if using thinly sliced cheese and use 2 slices on each hoagie. Or a single slice per hoagie if using traditional slices. So the cheese fits the shape of the bun, slice it in half.
Step 6: Place in the oven again, making sure to leave both tops and bottoms cut side up. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese has fully melted.
Step 7: Enjoy immediately with the rest of the liquid as a dip, if desired.