Looking for a delicious weeknight dinner idea? This Slow Cooker Italian Beef has very little prep work involved. Add everything to the slow cooker and come home to a hearty flavorful meal.
We never get tired of easy slow cooker recipes. For a different but equally delicious beef, try our Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast Recipe too. Finish off your meal with a slice of classic apple pie!
Why this Recipe Works
I love Chicago. I love the food.
Everyone knows about Chicago style Deep Dish pizza and our famous Vienna Beef Hot Dogs.
Today’s recipe is all about the unsung hero of Chicago food traditions: Italian Beef.
This isn’t your everyday crockpot beef recipe. Chicago style Italian beef is thinly sliced and simmered with peppers. While it’s similar to my Mississippi Pot Roast, this recipe is made with Italian seasonings and requires no butter.
The slow cooker is the perfect vehicle for cooking Italian Beef.
- Simmering for hours with peppers transforms ordinary roast into fork tender perfection.
- You only need three ingredients to make this recipe and it takes virtually no effort.
- The meat is full of herby flavor and a peppery kick. You decide how spicy you like it!
- Serve this beef with giardiniera on toasty French rolls for the full Chicago Italian Beef sandwich experience.
If you love Italian beef, you’ve got to try our easy Italian beef ring. All the hearty meat rolled up in crescent rolls for a beautiful, tasty presentation.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you need to make Slow Cooker Italian Beef.
- Top Roast. I use boneless roasts for this recipe. Chuck roast is also an option, especially if you plan to shred the meat. A top roast will allow for you to slice the beef.
- Pepper rings. These are canned peppers that are added right to the pot with the roast. You can buy the spicy ones, or mild, depending on how hot you want them to be.
- Italian dressing seasoning mix. You’ll find envelopes of dressing seasoning near the bottled salad dressings in the grocery store.
Serving Suggestions
Once the beef has simmered for at least 6 hours, you can serve it one of two ways:
- Shredded. Use two sturdy forks to pull the meat apart. It’s so tender that this shouldn’t be hard!
- Sliced. Place the cooked roast on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to make thin slices.
This beef is irresistible stuffed into a French roll or on a crusty Italian bread. Top with the giardiniera and you have a Chicagoan-approved Italian Beef sandwich.
Add a homemade Olive Garden Salad for a full meal.
Tips and Tricks
- Put the roast in the slow cooker with the fat side up. If you prefer, you can also trim the fat first.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the meat before adding peppers for best flavor.
- Do NOT drain the liquid from the peppers! It adds delicious flavor and moisture to the beef.
Recipe FAQs
Giardiniera is a mixture of vegetables pickled in spices. It has Italian origins but is an especially popular condiment in Chicago.
Most store bought giardiniera includes peppers, cauliflower and celery. It may also contain onions, carrots or other veggies.
Yes, both chuck roast and top roast are delicious in this slow cooker recipe.
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the fridge and enjoy reheated within 3 days.
Any crusty or hearty bread works! You can even use regular hamburger or hot dug buns in a pinch.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- We love this easy Slow Cooker Orange Chicken recipe served on a pile of rice!
- Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers on a french roll is a great weeknight meal idea. Perfect comfort food!
- Chicken Caprese
- This Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork is a sweet way to enjoy your next meal. Serve with bbq sauce and enjoy!
- Chicken Tetrazzini
- Broccoli Salad
Family Friendly Dinners
See all Main Dish recipes
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Slow Cooker Italian Beef
Ingredients
- 3 pound top round roast I used boneless
- 1 envelope Italian dressing seasoning mix
- 1 jar mild pepper rings (don't drain) 16 ounce
- giardiniera and french rolls for serving
Instructions
- In a large slow cooker, place roast in the bottom.
- Sprinkle the italian dressing seasoning mix over the top of the roast.
- Pour the whole jar of pepper rings with juice over the roast.
- Cover crock pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- When ready to serve, use two forks and shred beef, or place on a cutting board and slice the beef thin. Serve on a french roll with giardiniera. ENJOY
Notes
Nutrition
Slow Cooker Italian Beef brings a taste of Chicago to your kitchen. Make a hearty homecooked main dish with just 3 ingredients!
So easy to make and it only takes 3 ingredients to make the recipe work! I loved every recipe that I have tried from your website, thank you for sharing another winning recipe!
It’s hard to go wrong with slow cooked roast beef and I don’t doubt this will be good. It is not, however, a Chicago style beef sandwich, which is oven roasted beef, sliced very thin, and placed in a broth, where it is not simmered but just kept warm.
My family loves this! I made lettuce wraps for me and big rolls for my family!
this beef recipe is so good! I love the italian flavoring and the process was so easy!
AIMEE IN MY NECK OF OHIO WE TAKE OUR PIZZA VERY SERIOUSLY. OUR LOCAL PIZZA SHOP WAS VOTED BEST IN THE COUNTRY!!!! BUT I WOULDNT MIND TRYING CHICAGOS SOMEDAY. THANKS FOR THE RECIPE I WILL BE TRYING IT OUT SOON.
Do you use a chuck roast for this recipe?
A top round or chuck roast work great (boneless)
Time to dig out that slow cooker and give this one a go
We’ve had this twice so far and I have it in the crockpot again tonight for lunch tomorrow! I personally love salty foods so it is perfect! A little bit of shredded mozzarella topped with spicy giardiniera and you’ve got yourself.
So glad you love it 🙂
That looks sooooooo delicious!!! McDonalds should definitely add it to their menu. That way they’ll have at least one item worth trying. Great recipe, Aimee! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Chicago really does have some of the best food!!!! Mmmmm now I’m totally craving some deep dish pizza…thank you for that! And slow cooker meals really are the best. Throw it in and forget about it!!!
If you’re still coming to Chitown for BHF, we’ll get some deep dish pizza together and have a PJ party 🙂
This looks like my perfect Friday night dinner! Yummmmm! Also yum is Chicago deep dish pizza, I definitely prefer it to NY style
Do not ever speak of the NY version. Hahaha!! We went to NY a few years ago with our kids and they HATED it, as did I 🙂
What a great slow cooker recipe! Definitely need to add this to our menu soon!
Isn’t the slow cooker the best kitchen appliance ever?? I have a chick roast cooking in mine right this minute (great minds!) but next up is your recipe! And enjoy every minute of your time with your son! 🙂
Aimee, I bet you are so happy that Alex is home from basic. Congratulations and we are very proud of him. Love Chicago Italian beef in . Don’t hate so much on Ohio. :))) Talk to you soon. Q
Haha, no hate here. Thanks so much Quinn 🙂
This looks amazing! Love anything in the slow cooker and not having to deal with dinner after work! I would have been the same with with the deep dish pizza 😉 Maybe I’ll move to Chicago too!
Give me some of these!!!
Oh my goodness, this looks wonderful. And a brilliant idea to use sliced pepper rings! I bet you are in heaven with your son home 🙂
It’s a great time for sure!!
Dear Aimee, this recipe looks easy and delicious and a ton of flavor. Just my style! With soccer and music lessons after school, we use our slow cooker all the time around here. Always glad to have a new recipe. Enjoy your time with Alex! xo
Thank you!!