Crockpot Italian beef

**LariP** · 02-16-2011, 05:19 PM

**Winner** Favorite Crock Pot Recipe August 2012

Crockpot Italian beef

½ jar peperoncinis
1 roast (whatever you want, I use chuck usually)
1 pkg Italian dressing mix
2 onions cut into slices
1 bottle of beer (whatever type you like)
In a large crockpot, combine the juice from the peperoncinis with the beer and mix in the dry italian dressing. Put the roast in the crockpot, and add the onions and peperoncini over the top. The meat should be mostly covered by liquid at the beginning of cooking and will cook down to be fully covered as you shred it apart.

Turn the pot on high for the first hour or so then down to low. After about 12 hours the meat will be getting tender enough to flake apart with forks or tongs. Occasionally pull it apart at any time during the cooking process until it's well shredded.
Cook in crock pot for at least 24 hours.

Serve on hoagie rolls with provolone cheese on it.

I have made this to take for pot luck lunches. I started it the day before the potluck, set to low before going to work. When I got home that evening I flaked the meat apart, then stored the crockpot in the fridge overnight. I also skimmed the fat from the top in the morning. When I got to work 8:00 I set it on High for one hour, then Low the rest of the time and it was ready at noon.

**Sublime** · 02-18-2011, 08:14 PM

This sounds SOO good, I got everything from the store today to make it. @LariP, really, 24 hours in the crock pot?!

**LariP** · 02-19-2011, 01:29 PM

You could go less if you cook it on high more. The guy who gave me the recipe said his sister always made it in about 10 hours with cooking it on high about 4 hours. But he also said he preferred doing it longer and slower for full flavor and Juicy tenderness. I have only done it the full time.
Correction: I made it a couple times by starting at 7:00 a.m. To 9:00 p.m. Then refrigerated overnight. Skimmed off the fat layer and started it cooking asain 7:00 next day and we ate it at noon at a potluck. So actually that was less than 24 hours actual cook time and it was still excellent. I did cook 1 hour on high both times it started cooking though.

**Sublime** · 02-21-2011, 02:23 PM

We had this for dinner last night and it was very good! I would agree that the longer you let it cook the more flavorful it is. I started it in the crockpot on low on Saturday night at 7pm. The meat was done by Sunday morning but when we actually ate it for dinner at about 6pm on Sunday night it had much more flavor than it did when I tasted it Sunday morning.

**cali~jenn** · 02-21-2011, 05:09 PM

Would my hubby like it even tho he doesn't like peppercinis? I think I would LOVE it!

**LariP** · 02-21-2011, 05:27 PM

Hmm Jen that's a tough call. I suppose it would depend on what about pepperocinis he doesn't like. If it's texture, taste or heat. I don't like to just take a bite out of one and Bruce will, but I like the Italian beef even more than he does.

**cali~jenn** · 02-21-2011, 05:35 PM

He loves hot stuff and fresh peppers that are cooked in foods. He hates the idea of a pickle and peppercinis are in that category. I love htem and will take a bite out of them with a sandwich and he looks at me like I am crazy. I think so long as he doesnt get a big bite maybe of them he wouldnt know what they were so much?

**LariP** · 02-21-2011, 06:34 PM

OK, then I say go for it. He probably will like it since you say he likes hot stuff, although Italian beef really isn't all that hot. But it's not what I'd call a pickled flavor either.

**cali~jenn** · 02-22-2011, 07:56 AM

Oh good, it is on my next grocery list for sure.

**bullmama** · 02-23-2011, 06:44 PM

Going in the crock pot tonight!! It smells so good already I had Chip take it to the garage so it does not torture us for the next 24 hours!!!!!

**LariP** · 02-26-2011, 06:57 AM

@Desert Sky Well????

**bullmama** · 02-26-2011, 01:42 PM

Oh we LOVED IT!!!! It was delicious. We cooked it for about 48 hours. I really like the zip of the pepperocinis. I used the deli sliced ones. We are having it for dinner tonight as well, but this time on a bed of rice with some fried bell peppers and onions. Since I am all out of deli rolls!!!

**LariP** · 02-26-2011, 02:01 PM

Good idea with the rice!

**cali~jenn** · 02-27-2011, 08:11 AM

Oh my gosh we made this one for dinner last night and it was SO good! I used a pork shoulder roast just cuz it was cheap and cooked it for about 24 hours also. I will be making this one again for sure cuz I love crock pot beef dip sandwiches and this is a whole new twist. Thank you!