Convenience is the main reason why I love my crockpot - or slow cooker as some may call it. Since a crockpot can usually be left unattended all day for most recipes, I simply place the ingredients in it first thing in the morning and the meal is ready at dinner time. A crockpot meal is an excellent choice for a busy day, whether I’m working in or out of my home.
A couple years ago we had an abundance of chuck and arm roasts in the farm store. As I was trying to come up with new, creative ways to use them in my cooking, I came across this easy recipe for Italian beef using the crockpot. I had enjoyed it at potlucks or family events, but had never made it for my own family. It’s funny how that happens. Getting stuck in a rut with my cooking is a problem for me and I would guess it is for other people too.
As a side note, less tender cuts of meats, such as roasts and stewing beef are tenderized through the long cooking process in the crockpot. The best cuts of meat for a slow cooking are well-marbled and fatty. This includes meat on the bone, too. In other words, you want to skip the boneless, skinless chicken breasts!
Armed with this knowledge, I start out with a beautiful well-marbled, pasture-raised beef chuck or arm roast. I personally prefer the chuck roast for this dish.
I place the roast in my crockpot and top it with salt, pepper, Italian dressing mix, garlic, bay leaf, and pepperoncini.
Having experimented with a few types of pepperoncini, I will share what I have discovered. First, sliced pepperoncini are the best for optimal distribution of flavors. Second, the Walmart brand of pepperoncini really lacked in flavor. The best brand I have found is Jeff’s Garden Sliced Golden Greek Peperoncinni. When I see them, I grab several jars so I nearly always have them in my pantry. Then if I get a hankering for Italian beef, I know I have the ingredients on hand.
After looking at the label on the Italian dressing mix packet, I decided since I couldn’t pronounce most of the ingredients it would be a much healthier option to make my own. Here is the recipe for Homemade Italian Dressing Mix that I use, minus the sugar. I mix up a big jar of it and keep it in my pantry.
Pour beef broth over all. Don’t mix it up, just put the cover on and forget about it. If you are interested in making your own beef broth to use in the recipe, I have a blog on Beef Bone Broth that will help you with that process.
Next, I set my crockpot on low and go about my day. It can simmer 8-12 hours or longer if you get busy. BUT I’ll warn you it will make your home smell heavenly. It can literally make my mouth water!
Well, it’s not super photogenic, but it tastes even better than the smell. I promise!
Remove from the liquid and shred it with two forks! This is the hardest part of the process, but it only takes a few minutes. While you are working, try to resist the urge to try it. I totally can’t!
Add about 1 cup or more of the broth to the slow cooker and the shredded meat back into the crockpot. The beef will soak it up and add even more flavor.
And just like that your done! The ways to eat it and serve it are endless, but the most common is to stuff it in a toasted roll with some mozzarella cheese and garnish with a few pepperoncini. We also enjoy it served over mashed potatoes or eaten by itself because it really is that delicious.
I always make a big batch because it reheats and freezes beautifully!
Crockpot Italian Beef
Ingredients:
· 3-4 lb. Arm or Chuck roast
· 1 ½ tsp salt
· ½ tsp black pepper
· 1 packet Italian dressing mix (or 3 Tbs. homemade Italian dressing mix)
· 3 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 bay leaf
· 1 cup pepperoncini + extra for garnish if desired
· 3 cups beef broth
Instructions:
Place roast in slow cooker and top with salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, garlic, bay leaf, pepperoncini. Pour beef broth over all. Cover, set to low and cook for 8-12 hours. Remove from the liquid and shred the roast with two forks Add about 1 cup of the broth from the slow cooker and mix it in. The beef will soak it up and add even more flavor. If you are not ready to serve, place the mixture back into the slow cooker on low until ready to serve.