These Italian Beef Sandwiches are perfect for sandwich night! An easy, tender beef roast recipe is made in the slow cooker, then served on rolls with an easy Ranch Horseradish sauce.
Sandwich lovers – raise your hand! I’m always up for sandwich night. If you are looking for more sandwich recipes, make sure to also check out these Monte Cristo Sandwiches, this Club Sandwich, or these Toasted Cheese Sandwiches. Or for another Italian-inspired sandwich, try this Italian Sub.
Through all the craziness of life, there is something that always saves us at dinner time – the slow cooker.
As I was searching my site for dinner ideas recently, I came across these Italian Beef Sandwiches and couldn’t believe how long it had been since I had made them. So they instantly went onto the menu. And then we ended up having them twice in one month because we loved them so much!
The beef does take a long time to cook, so keep that in mind. You can even prep everything the night before (it only takes minutes!) and then throw it all into the slow cooker early in the morning. Or cook the beef one day and have it for dinner the next night. I have also included instructions below on how to make the beef in the Instant Pot, which saves even more time!
One thing that I think sets this sandwich apart from others is the Ranch Horseradish Sauce. I love horseradish, so I seriously want to slather this on everything! It’s super simple and only takes a few ingredients. This sandwich really is a weeknight winner!
Ingredients
- Chuck Roast: Chuck roast will be the best cut of meat for these sandwiches. You could use a bottom round roast, but a chuck roast is the most tender and shreds better.
- Italian Dressing Mix: This is just a packet of seasoning that you can find by the salad dressings. You could also make your own version of seasonings, if desired.
- Onion & Bell Pepper: These are both for flavor.
- Beef Broth: The beef broth is important to help the roast cook, and also imparts lots of flavor.
- Pepperoncini Juice: This is a “secret” ingredient that adds tons of flavor. You’ll use the juice from the jar of pepperoncini peppers. You’ll use the peppers for the sandwiches, too, so this is a great use of that juice.
- Sour Cream: This is the base for the sauce.
- Ranch Seasoning: I just use a powdered ranch seasoning.
- Horseradish: You want to use plain horseradish, not a creamy horseradish or one that has other ingredients added to it.
- Rolls: You want to use some sort of hoagie rolls. The ones that I used are readily available in most grocery stores, but I do like to use a heartier roll when I can find them.
- Cheese: Provolone is traditional here, but feel free to swap in what you like.
- Pepperoncini Peppers: These are optional, but really make the sandwich!
How to Make Italian Beef Sandwiches
PHOTO 1: Place the roast in the bottom of your slow cooker. You want it to all be in one layer, if possible.
PHOTO 2: Sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the top, then add the onion, green pepper, beef broth, and pepperoncini juice. Place the cover on top and cook until the roast is tender and shreds easily. This will most likely be anywhere between 10-12 hours. But every slow cooker cooks a little differently, so you’ll want to watch it to know when it is done.
PHOTO 3: While the roast is cooking, make the sauce by mixing the sour cream, ranch seasoning, and horseradish together. Refrigerate the sauce to let the flavors mingle.
PHOTO 4: Once the roast is done. remove it and shred it. Then return the meat to the slow cooker with the juices.
PHOTO 5: Take each of your buns and spread some of the horseradish ranch sauce on them. We love the sauce, so usually spread it on both halves, but feel free to add it to only one half if you want. Then top them with some of the meat and some pepperoncini peppers.
PHOTO 6: Place the cheese over the top of the peppers. Tear the cheese as needed to make it fit. Place them under the broiler just until the cheese is melted, then put the top on and serve.
Instant Pot vs Slow Cooker
If you don’t want to take all day making this recipe in the slow cooker, you can easily change it to the Instant Pot. Here are the changes you’ll need to make.
- Cut the beef into 4-6 pieces and add them to the Instant Pot. Sprinkle the seasoning, onions and pepper over the top and stir to combine.
- Add the beef broth and the pepperoncini juice.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock the lid, making sure the vent is closed.
- Select manual and set the time for 60 minutes.
- When the time has elapsed, let the Instant Pot to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the pressure.
- Shred the beef and continue the recipe as indicated in the recipe card.
More Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
Crock Pot Chili
Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Slow Cooker Black Beans
Slow Cooker Cuban Ropa Vieja
Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
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Italian Beef Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 2-3 lb beef chuck roast
- 0.7 oz package dry Italian dressing mix
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini juice
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon dry ranch dressing mix
- 1 teaspoon horseradish
- 8 Hoagie rolls
- 8 oz sliced provolone cheese
- Pepperoncini peppers or banana peppers
Instructions
- Place the chuck roast in a large slow cooker. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning mix over to top, then add the onion and bell pepper. Pour the beef broth and the pepperoncini juice over the top, cover, and cook on low for 10-12 hours, or until the beef easily shreds.
- While the beef is cooking, mix the sour cream, ranch seasoning mix, and horseradish together. Cover and refrigerate.
- When the beef is done, remove from the slow cooker to a cutting board and shred. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker to combine with the juices.
- Turn the oven on to broil. Spread the bun with the ranch horseradish sauce. (You can add it to just one side of the sandwich, but we like to add it to both sides!) Top with some of the shredded beef, add sliced pepperoncini peppers, then cover with cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese melts.
- Place the top bun on top and serve.
Jessica says
This is delicious and so easy to prepare. I made it last night and we didn’t end up having it for dinner but I had to sneak a taste. I will make horseradish sauce today and serve it up to the family tonight. I used a grass-fed roast and herbs de Provence. I cooked it on high since I didn’t start it until afternoon, but switched to *warm* when I knew we weren’t going to be eating it right away. Let this roast cook as long as possible – it shreds beautifully and melts in your mouth.
Also, I love the idea of using the crock pot in the summer. We do not have central a/c so I avoid turning the oven on at all costs. Thank you!
Deborah says
So glad it worked out so well for you! I hope you loved it just as much on the sandwiches.
Joanne says
It is definitely hard to figure out what to cook in the summer…because even all that produce often requires turning on the oven! Love the idea of a summer of sandwiches.
Liz says
Nice recipe. Thanks so much and have a great weekend!
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I am with Matt—-well I probably like slow cooked pork THE best, but slow cooked beef is right on the heels. It makes wonderful sandwiches. Its fun to have a crock pot full of this and then let everyone make their own sandwich.
Matt Robinson says
Nothing better to me than slow cooked beef. And on a sandwich like this, so great!
Chels R. says
This looks yummmm-e! I love my slow-cooking. In fact, I’m using it right now 🙂 But I am more of a cooler weather kind of girl. The hubs is a complete opposite, lol!
bev @ bevcooks says
Those peppers on top. YESSS MAMA.
cheryl illinois says
I, too, love soup and all the stuff we cook only in the Winter. I will definitely try this beef recipe and I plan to try using the slow cooker instead of the oven for some of the things I cook in Winter. Love to eat outside no matter what I am eating.
Catherine says
I still crave cold weather food too. I love comfort food and most of that means using the oven….This is a wonderful dish. Blessings, Catherine
Debbie says
I, too, love my soups (and even chili!) year round! These sandwiches look just yummy and I’ll be trying them as soon as I get a roast and hoagie rolls. Thanks for a great sounding recipe!
Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says
This looks delicious! I love using my slow cooker year round, especially in the summer when I spend most of my time outdoors. It’s great having dinner going all day and after a day outdoors I can come in and dinner is ready to go! This will definitely be cookig in my slow cooker this summer! 🙂