Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

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Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches are full of tender, thin-sliced meat that has been slowly cooked in a spicy broth. The meat is piled onto a bun with peppers and melted cheese.

May 27th is National Italian Beef Day! Celebrate by making the best ever Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches at home. These are excellent, favorite sandwiches with the most delicious tender, cooked beef ever. Share your creation on social media by using the hashtags #NationalItalianBeefDay, #ItalianBeefDay and #RecipesForHolidays.

Be sure to check out my May Food Holidays page so you never miss a food holiday in the month of May!

“I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is too sit in peace and eat a sandwich.”

-Liz Lemon

The History of Italian Beef:

Italian beef made its first appearance in early 1900’s Chicago.

No one really knows the exact origin of how Italian beef was created, but there are several who have their theories!

Many believe that it was created by Italian immigrants who worked for Chicago’s Old Union Stockyards in the early 1900’s. They’d bring home the tougher, more undesirable cuts of meat and have their wives slow roast the meat until it was tender and easy to slice for sandwiches.

In 1925, Scala’s Original Beef and Sausage Company was founded, and some say that Pasquale Scala and friends started making Italian Beef sandwiches there.

Here’s another story. At the end of WWI (1918), Chicago street peddler Anthony Ferrari drove around Chicago delivering sandwiches. He extended his business into doing weddings, where he cut the beef thinly so he was able to make sandwiches for more people. In 1938, his son Al opened Al’s #1 Italian Beef in Chicago (selling the sandwiches that he said his Dad created).

The 1940’s saw more and more beef-themed shops opening up in Chicago.

In the 1980’s, the Italian Beef Sandwich soared in popularity nationwide when Jay Leno talked about Italian Beef on his show, handed out sandwiches to guests and ate one live on the air.

Ingredients needed:

• beef broth
• onion
• freshly ground black pepper
• dried oregano, basil and parsley
• minced garlic
• bay leaf
• dried Italian salad dressing mix
• chuck roast
• pepperoncini
• hoagie rolls
• Swiss cheese
• sauteed peppers, onions and/or mushrooms (optional)

How to make Italian Beef Sandwiches:

The full, printable recipe is at the end of this post.

In a saucepan, combine the beef broth with the onion and all of the spices and salad dressing mix. Stir well, and bring to a boil.

Place the roast in your slow cooker insert. Pour the broth mixture over the roast.

Cover, and cook on low for 8 hours.

Pour the jar of pepperoncini (juices and all) over the meat, put the lid back on and cook for an additional 2 hours. Remove the bay leaf, and shred meat with a fork.

Serve the beef on warmed hoagie rolls. These are delicious with sauteed onions, peppers and/or mushrooms. Add the Swiss cheese and broil to melt. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Fun Facts about Italian Beef:

• Italian beef is commonly found at food stands, pizzerias and Italian restaurants in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. It’s most popular in Chicago!
• Italian beef is one of Chicago’s most famous ethnic foods. Most Chicago restaurants also offer a combination with Italian sausage.
• You can order an Italian Beef Sandwich dry or “wet-dipped.”
• In 1991, Saturday Night Live featured a sketch called, “Super Fans.” Chris Farley, Mike Myers and George Wendt professed their love for Chicago food (including Italian Beef).
• The Italian Beef Sandwich was featured on the TV show, “Man vs. Food” in 2008 when Adam Richman visited Al’s to try the sandwich. He later declared the Italian Beef Sandwich as the best sandwich in the Mid West.