Description

This Crock Pot Italian Beef recipe offers tender, flavorful shredded beef infused with classic Italian herbs and spices, slow-cooked to perfection. Ideal for sandwiches or served over rice, this comforting dish combines a perfect blend of seasonings, broth, and pepperoncini juice to create a savory, juicy beef that melts in your mouth with minimal prep time.

Ingredients

Scale

Beef and Seasoning

5 pound chuck roast
2 teaspoons sea salt
2 teaspoons ground pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 bay leaf
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 package Italian-style salad dressing mix, dry
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Liquids

3 cups beef broth
½ cup pepperoncini juice from jar

Optional Toppings and Serving

Pepperoncinis (optional for topping)
Sub rolls (optional for serving)
Provolone cheese (optional for serving)

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Instructions

Sear the Roast: Rub the chuck roast on all sides with about a teaspoon each of sea salt and ground pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the roast on all sides until a golden brown crust forms. This step locks in flavor and juices before slow cooking.
Prepare and Add Seasonings: In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining sea salt and pepper, dried oregano, basil, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, bay leaf, light brown sugar, Italian-style salad dressing mix, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the beef broth and pepperoncini juice to create a flavorful cooking liquid.
Slow Cook the Beef: Transfer the seared roast to the slow cooker. Pour the prepared seasoning and broth mixture over the roast, ensuring it is well-coated. Cover and cook on low heat for 8 to 10 hours or on high heat for 4 to 5 hours until the beef is tender enough to shred easily.
Shred the Beef and Final Cooking: About one hour before the cooking time finishes, remove the bay leaf from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the beef directly in the crock pot, mixing it well with the juices. Allow the shredded beef to cook for the remaining hour to absorb maximum flavor and stay warm.
Serve: Serve the Italian beef as a sandwich by piling it on sub rolls with optional pepperoncinis and provolone cheese. Alternatively, enjoy it over rice or creamy mashed potatoes, spooning the au jus over the top for extra moisture and taste.

Notes

Searing the roast before slow cooking enhances flavor and texture but can be skipped for convenience.
If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes and pepperoncini juice.
You can prepare the beef a day ahead and reheat gently in the slow cooker or microwave.
Use good quality beef broth for the best flavor; homemade or low-sodium store-bought works well.
Leftovers make great fillings for tacos, wraps, or pasta dishes.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian-American