• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sweet Cayenne
  • ABOUT
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • RECIPES
    • All Recipes
    • RECIPES BY CATEGORY
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Main Entree
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Cooking Tips
    • How-To Guides
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • ABOUT
  • RECIPES
  • NEWSLETTER
  • CONTACT
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • ABOUT
    • RECIPES
    • NEWSLETTER
    • CONTACT
    • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Beef + Lamb

    Easy Italian Beef Sandwiches - Slow Cooker & Instant Pot!

    Published: Aug 2, 2018 · Modified: Sep 19, 2020 by Whitney Reist · This post may contain affiliate links |

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This recipe for Easy Italian Beef Sandwiches is an old favorite that I love to pull out for the back-to-school season, football watching parties, and family gatherings - it makes a lot and is always a crowd-pleaser!

     

    Italian beef sandwich on a plate next to dipping sauce.

    Can we just take a minute and acknowledge how GREAT slow cookers are??? Seriously. During these days of working full time, trying to blog, and staring at a list of endless new homeowner projects, my slow cooker is my right-hand man. Er....cooking appliance, that is. I'm using it at least once a week to make meals that will feed Ryan and me two, three, and even FOUR times. It's a good thing I married a guy that doesn't mind leftovers!

    This past week, I used my trusty slow cooker to gently and magically turn a big ol' chuck roast into tender, melt-in-your-mouth shreds of beef just dripping with the zesty Italian flavor. All it took was me dumping the meat into the cooker insert along with a packet of dressing mix, a happy blend of pepperoncini peppers and giardiniera veggies, and a splash of my favorite Kitchen Basics beef stock. That's it - piece of cake, right? You bet!

    Video

    Tips

    Slow Cooker Variation

    To make this Easy Italian Beef recipe in the slow cooker, you can just add a whole roast to the slow cooker along with the other ingredients. Depending on the size of roast that you buy, the cooking time will take anywhere from 6-8 hours. You will know it is done when you can shred the meat easily with a fork!

    Instant Pot Variation

    To make this Easy Italian Beef recipe in the Instant Pot, simply cut the roast into 2x2'' chunks prior to adding the meat to the Instant Pot. For a 3 lb roast, I would recommend 30 minutes of high-pressure cooking with a 10-minute natural release and for a 4 lb roast, 40 minutes of high-pressure cooking with a 10-minute natural release. Keep in mind that your Instant Pot will likely take 10-15 minutes to come to pressure initially, so allow about an hour to make this recipe from start to finish.

    An Italian beef sandwich split in half with strings of white cheese coming out of the center and a cup of au jus on the side.

    Using the Beef for Meal Prep

    Once you've got your beef made, the possibilities for using it up are really endless! Not only does it make amazing sandwiches, but any of the following ways of using it would be delicious:

    • Use the shredded beef as a taco filling or pita sandwich filling
    • Spread the shredded beef on a pizza crust and make an Italian beef pizza
    • Use the shredded beef as a topping for nachos and load them with sliced tomato, roasted peppers, and even roasted cauliflower
    • The beef makes a great topping for a "bowl recipe" served over cauliflower rice, quinoa, or added to pasta
    • Add the beef to a meal prep container along with brown rice or quinoa and some steamed veggies
    • Freeze the beef in a freezer-safe container for a meal during a busy week

    Modifications

    • You can substitute banana pepper rings for the pepperoncini peppers if needed (pepperoncini will be tangier)
    • Although a chuck roast is considered lean by the USDA when it is trimmed of visible fat, I sometimes will buy an eye of round roast for this recipe due to the fact that it's even leaner and typically costs less. Feel free to use either cut - just know the chuck roast will have a richer flavor and possibly be a bit more tender.
    • If you are trying to cut back on sodium, be sure to buy an unsalted beef stock (like Kitchen Basics) or broth, and consider making your own Italian seasoning blend instead of using the dressing packet. I'd recommend 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon of salt).
    An overhead shot of an Italian beef sandwich on a grey plate with a cup of au jus on the side.

    If you get a chance to make these Easy Italian Beef Sandwiches, I’d love to know how it turns out for you.

    Leave a comment and rate the recipe below. This will help me with the creation of future recipes!

    I’d also love to feature your creation in my weekly newsletter, so you can upload a photo to Instagram with the tag @sweetcayenne5 to be featured! Quick and easy recipe videos are available on my YouTube channel, and you will find lots of menu inspiration on my Pinterest boards.

    You can find my top 10 freezer-friendly meals, and these can help you build out a successful meal-prep strategy if that is your goal.

    In the meantime, check out this Maple Bourbon Flat Iron Steak or this Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pork!

    An overhead shot of an Italian beef sandwich on a grey plate with a cup of au jus on the side.

    Easy Italian Beef Sandwiches (Instant Pot OR Slow Cooker!

    This Easy Italian Beef recipe is packed with flavor and is a hands-off, easy to make beef dinner! Great for feeding a crowd or freezing for later.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sweetcayenne5 or tag #sweetcayenne!
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 8 hours
    Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 10 subs

    Ingredients

    • 1 (3-4 lb) boneless chuck shoulder roast or eye of round roast, trimmed of any excess fat
    • 1 packet zesty Italian dressing mix
    • 1 (16 ounce) jar deli sliced pepperoncini peppers, drained, with 3 tablespoons of juice reserved
    • 1 (16 ounce) jar giardiniera vegetable mix, drained
    • 2 cups unsalted Kitchen Basics beef stock
    • 8-10 slices provolone cheese
    • 8-10 wheat sub rolls (6'') sliced open through the top (not the sides)

    Instructions

    For the slow cooker:

    • Place the roast in the bottom of your slow cooker insert. Sprinkle the Italian dressing mix on all sides, using tongs to flip the roast as you season it. Add drained pepperocini peppers, giardiniera vegetables, reserved pepperoncini juice, and beef stock. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until the beef falls apart and is easily shredded with a fork.

    For the Instant Pot:

    • Cut the beef roast into 2x2'' chunks. Place in the Instant Pot along with the dressing mix, peppers, pepper juice, vegetable mix, and beef stock. Toss to combine. Cook on high for 30-40 minutes (depending on size of roast) and allow for a 10-minute natural pressure release. 
    • When ready to serve, shred the meat using a fork and tongs. While you shred the beef, preheat your broiler on high.
    • Use tongs to place the shredded beef and vegetables inside each sub roll, squeezing excess juice out of the beef on the side of the slow cooker as you transfer it to the rolls. Top with cheese and place under the broiler for minutes to melt the cheese - watch it closely to prevent burning!
    • Ladle juices from cooker into small ramekins or glass dishes and use as an au jus to dip your sandwich in.  Enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    • Beef freezes well in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
    • Nutrition information will vary quite a bit depending on the cut of beef, type of sub rolls used, and ingredient brands. The nutrition information below is a general estimate.
     
    Serving: 1Serving | Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 36.6g | Protein: 60.2g | Fat: 18.9g | Saturated Fat: 7.5g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 2026mg | Potassium: 642mg | Fiber: 6.6g | Sugar: 2.5g | Calcium: 276mg | Iron: 7mg

    Don't miss these recipes!

    • St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board
    • Balsamic Flat Iron Steak Sandwich
    • Beefshi: BLT Roll
    • Shredded Beef and Cheese Taquitos

    Want more?

    Sign up for my weekly newsletter and get exclusive content (like menus, cooking downloads, and more!), blog recaps, and a chance to connect or be featured!

    Affiliate Disclosure

    Many of the links in my posts are affiliate links, which means I can get a small commission for any click or purchases made through the links. I am also an Amazon Associate and I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Teresa Bingham says

      January 31, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Kimberlee recommended that we try this recipe and it was delicious! Will be making this again.5 stars

      Reply
      • Whitney Reist says

        February 03, 2021 at 6:18 pm

        Hi Teresa! So happy you all enjoyed the recipe - thanks for trying it and leaving a comment

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hello there!

    I'm Whitney, the chef, photographer, dietitian, and blogger-extraordinaire behind Sweet Cayenne. Welcome to my online kitchen!

    About Whitney & Sweet Cayenne

    What's In Season

    • St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board
    • Easy Potato Leek Soup
    • Small Batch Strawberry Jam
    • Fresh Strawberry Balsamic Pie
    • Strawberry Pretzel Chicken Wraps
    • Simple Strawberry Buttermilk Cake

    Free cookbook and menu planners!

    Subscribe to my weekly newsletter & receive a free e-cookbook of my 25 best recipes along with menu planning sheets!

    Privacy Policy

    The Latest & Greatest:

    A wire rack with a sheet of parchment paper on top and cinnamon biscuits.

    Bojangles Copycat Cinnamon Biscuits with Vanilla Icing

    A white bowl filled with pizza pasta salad garnished with fresh basil leaves.

    Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad

    A pink bowl on a cutting board filled with sweet potato lentil curry and rice.

    Sweet Potato Lentil Curry with Coconut and Spinach

    A St. Patrick's day themed snack board with corned beef, sauerkraut, soda bread, and other charcuterie items.

    St. Patrick's Day Grazing Board

    A white bowl of potato leek soup topped with croutons, bacon, cheese, and scallions.

    Easy Potato Leek Soup

    Square-red-velvet-cheesecake-bars

    Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars

    Travel Here Next:

    • Nashville Finds: Lemon Laine Oil Bar
    • Positano, Italy: Budget-Friendly Travel Guide
    • The Best Tuscan Road Trip Itinerary + Tips on Driving in Italy
    • A Foodie's Guide to Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    Cooking Guides

    • Cookbook Club: Super Simple Cookbook Review
    • Sweet Cayenne Cookbook Club | Tips for Planning and Hosting
    • 5 Ways to Become a Better Cook
    • Facts About Food: Where to Go for Answers & Guidance

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Photography Services

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 SweetCayenne