This recipe for Slow Cooker Italian Beef is so tender and juicy and did I mention easy?
We like to use this slow cooker Italian Beef for toasted sandwiches but it also goes great over a big bowl of mashed potatoes, risotto or creamy polenta!
Instead of using several different spices and seasonings, we are using bottled zesty Italian dressing - how easy is that?
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Most of the time you'll find that crockpot Italian beef recipes include pepperoncini or hot pepper rings.
My family prefers mild roasted red peppers and I think it is a great change up. If you love the flavor profile of those others, go ahead and use them.
What cut of meat is best for Italian Beef
When it comes to easy shredding, super tender, fall apart beef in the slow cooker, it has got to be chuck roast.
Chuck roast may also be labeled chuck eye or shoulder roast. I have noticed that different areas and different stores have things labeled slightly different.
Speaking of chuck roast, have you seen my Sous Vide Chuck Roast recipe?
Ingredients
The great thing about this crockpot beef recipe is that we are only using a few ingredients.
- Beef roast
- Bottled Italian Dressing - zesty style
- Seasonings - salt, pepper and garlic powder
- Roasted Red Peppers - jarred and drained
- Sweet Yellow Onions
If using the Italian beef for sandwiches (which I highly recommend), you will also need rolls, cheese and olive oil. I'll leave the instructions for sandwich assembly in the "notes" section of the printable recipe card below.
Instructions
Slice the onion and place in the bottom of a slow cooker.
Season the meat well with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Place the roast on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
Pour the Italian dressing over and around the chuck roast.
Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Shred the beef and toss it back into the slow cooker. Stir in the roasted red peppers.
At this point, decide if you're going to make a sandwich, serve over potatoes or just eat straight from the crockpot! No judgement.
What is the best way to shred beef
This beef is so tender that if you just slice it with a good knife, it will fall apart-in a good way. You could also use two forks to shred or these handy dandy claws that people seem to love.
Printable Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Italian Beef
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pound Beef Chuck Roast
- ½ cup Italian dressing Robusto or Zesty
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 large Onion Sweet, Sliced
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 15 ounce Jar Roasted Red Peppers drained and sliced
Instructions
- Spray slow cooker with non stick spray, or insert a liner. Scatter the onion inside slow cooker . Season roast with garlic powder, salt & black pepper. Place roast on top of onions. Pour dressing on top of roast. Cover and cook on low 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, remove roast, shred meat and place back into slow cooker. Stir in sliced and drained roasted red peppers.
- Keep slow cooker on low until ready to use.
Notes
Nutrition
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Patty Haxton Anderson says
Gosh I would love one of these. They sound fabulous!
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
Looks delicious...and so easy to make too!
linda spiker says
Yum! Sio good!
nancy@skinnykitchen.com says
Looks soooo good Christine!!!
Erica (@Erica's Recipes) says
That cheese tho! Love that you made this in the crockpot. What perfect football food - I kept it simple this year too. Since I started blogging, I have developed the bad habit on not wanting to cook as much otherwise 😉
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist says
Looks like a great sandwich. I like the take of making a sandwich out of slow cooker beef.
Angela says
What a great recipe! The meat sounds so tasty and tender!!! Love this one!
Nicole Neverman says
This sandwich looks amazing!! Love that slow cooker filling 🙂
Healing Tomato says
I should probably dust off my slow cooker too. This sandwich recipe looks delicious.
Debra says
Boy howdy does that sandwich look good!!!