I love these slow cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches. This is the way to up leftover beef Rib Roast. Make the beef in the slow cooker and serve it on hoagie buns. These sandwiches really make the best out of the roasted beef! Homemade Italian Beef Sandwiches are so delicious and juicy, I just know you’re going to love them!

sandwich with salad behind it

5-Star Review

“What a genius way to use up leftovers. I love the juiciness of the meat and that it tastes nothing like leftovers!” -Natasha

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

This Chicago-born classic sandwich features thinly sliced, slow cooked beef piled on hoagie buns, soaked in rich meaty juices and topped with melty Provolone cheese. The beef is cooked with Italian seasoning and served with a pickled relish. I’m using my leftover Prime Rib Roast to make these sandwiches. These are so good as easy leftovers!

Tips For Beginners

  • In a classic Italian beef recipe, sirloin cut is used. This cut is leaner, more flavorful and thinly sliced. However, you can’t cut the paper-thin slices at home without a commercial slicer. I prefer to use Chuck roast for this reason.
Recipe Card

Best Italian Beef Sandwiches (Leftover Roast Recipe Idea)

4.48 from 42 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 12
Author: Becky Hardin
italian beef sandwich on plate
I love these slow cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches as the best way to use leftover beef Rib Roast. Make the beef in the slow cooker and serve it on hoagie buns. Tthese sandwiches really make the best out of the roast beef!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 6 pound rib roast cooked according to these instructions
  • 1 ounce Italian Seasoning mix 1 packet
  • 1/2 ounce beef au jus seasoning 1/2 packet
  • 8 oz pepperoncini pepper slices + 2 tablespoons juice from jar use more juice if you like things spicier
  • 12 ounces roasted red peppers drained and diced
  • 1/2 red onion sliced
  • 14.5 oz beef broth
  • provolone cheese sliced
  • hoagie buns
  • horseradish sauce for serving

Instructions 

  • This is a recipe for using your leftover roast to make sandwiches. You can find my roast recipe here.
    1 6 pound rib roast
  • Take your leftover roast and chop into cubes, removing any excess fat.
  • Place roast cubes into a large crock pot. Sprinkle with the Italian Seasoning Mix and au jus seasoning.
    1 ounce Italian Seasoning mix, 1/2 ounce beef au jus seasoning
  • Add in the pepperoncini, juice, roasted red peppers, and sliced onion. Pour the beef broth over everything. Stir to combine/coat.
    8 oz pepperoncini pepper slices + 2 tablespoons juice from jar, 12 ounces roasted red peppers, 1/2 red onion, 14.5 oz beef broth
  • Cover with lid and cook on low for 2 hours or until everything is hot and the beef is easy to shred with two forks (or chop with a sharp knife).
    This recipe is using COOKED roast, it is an idea for leftovers. If cooking a roast from raw, you would cook on low for 9 hours.
    After shredding, cook on low for another hour or until ready to serve.
  • 15 minutes before ready to serve, scoop the shredded meat on half of the hoagie buns and top with Provolone cheese. Spread horseradish sauce on the back of the top piece of bun.
    Place the top half of the bun on the sandwich. You can serve as is, or I like to wrap it tightly in foil and cook in the oven (350°F) for 10-15 minutes or until cheese and bun are hot. Serve and enjoy!
    provolone cheese, hoagie buns, horseradish sauce for serving

Becky’s Tips

  • Remove excess fat from leftover roast beef before cooking in the slow cooker.
  • Choose sub style sandwich rolls. They are crusty and hold the shape well with the roast and juices. Soft rolls will get mushy.
  • Giardiniera (relish made with pickled vegetables) is the topping for the traditional Italian beef, but choose any pickle that is available.
  • I use chuck roast, but top/bottom round and sirloin will also work
Calories: 874kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 38gFat: 63gSaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 546mgPotassium: 611mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 273IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 85mgIron: 15mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Store and Reheat

Transfer any leftover beef to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

If you freeze the beef, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stovetop. Assemble Italian beef sandwiches whenever you want!

crockpot of italian beef being stirred

Serving Suggestions

Italian Beef Sandwiches are great for a hearty lunch or as a main meal. You can serve them up with my Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing or vegetable Kale Caesar Salad. And enjoy my Mozzarella Sticks as an appetizer with boozy Raspberry Cream Soda.

more beef recipes that you’ll love

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

4.48 from 42 votes (35 ratings without comment)
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Patricia
Patricia
November 14, 2024 7:35 am

Wonderful. Best leftover recipe5 stars

Vicky Weber
Vicky Weber
June 5, 2023 8:56 am

Hi, I have not made this yet, waiting on an answer to a question so I’ll give it a 3 because you have to give it something. My question is how many pounds of LEFT-OVER beef do you need for this recipe? 6-pounds is what you start with but I can’t imagine anyone have 6 pounds left-over, so that’s my question how many left-over pounds for this dish? TIA!3 stars

Samantha Marceau
June 5, 2023 9:17 am
Reply to  Vicky Weber

We can’t give an exact number, as the bone size and weight can vary greatly. You will probably lose anywhere from 10-15% of the weight once the bones are removed, so we would aim for about 5 pounds of leftover beef.

Vicky Weber
Vicky Weber
June 7, 2023 2:20 pm

Thanks, but you and I have different ideas of what left-overs are. Dictionary.com says left·over NOUN leftovers (plural noun) something, especially food, remaining after the rest has been used. Seems like it might be an excellent recipe but I’m looking to use left-over beef. I’ll save it for a party. Thanks again.

Samantha Marceau
June 7, 2023 4:36 pm
Reply to  Vicky Weber

Hi Vicky, You asked how many pounds of leftover beef would be needed for this recipe. You’ll need 5 pounds of leftover beef to make the recipe as written, or you can budget for about 1/2 pound per person and reduce the remaining ingredients to suit. This recipe does serve 12 people, so you can adjust accordingly.

Bonnie
Bonnie
December 29, 2023 9:30 pm
Reply to  Vicky Weber

I made this last winter with LEFTOVER Prime Rib. It was delicious. I put the leftover slices in and did the rest the same. Experiment with it based on taste. The seasoning packets might seem too salty. If I remember correctly, I halved the packets from what the recipe quoted.

Brenda Mitchell
Brenda Mitchell
April 6, 2020 11:14 am

Sweet Becky , Your delicious recipes are getting me through the sadness of every day news. Thank you so much💚💜💙🧡❤5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
April 9, 2020 12:48 pm

I’m glad I could help, even just a bit! Hope you are staying safe and well :)

Laura Reese
Laura Reese
December 11, 2019 9:04 am

I am always looking for ways to use my left over roast beef. Can this be used with a round roast or rump roast? Where do I get the roasted red peppers?5 stars

Patricia
Patricia
November 14, 2024 7:37 am
Reply to  Laura Reese

Any kind of roast beef

Rachael Yerkes
Rachael Yerkes
December 6, 2019 9:35 am

i could eat these daily!5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 8, 2019 12:25 pm
Reply to  Rachael Yerkes

Me too, they’re sooo good!!

LexiBites
LexiBites
December 6, 2019 3:43 am

Can this be made with a pork roast?
Thanks
From lexibites.com5 stars

Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin
December 8, 2019 12:27 pm
Reply to  LexiBites

Yes, absolutely!

Natasha Kravchuk
Natasha Kravchuk
December 6, 2019 12:16 am

What a genius way to use up leftovers. I love the juiciness of the meat and that it tastes nothing like leftovers!5 stars