These slow-cooked Italian beef sandwiches are great for tailgating season! They are easy to make and serve at any game day get-together with just a few simple ingredients thrown into the slow cooker.
Tailgating season is one of our favorite times of the year. Now that it’s a little cooler, we can enjoy our favorite party foods, like sausage queso, sriracha shrimp, game day chili, and of course Italian beef!
It’s that time of year again—tailgating with friends and family! It’s my favorite time of the year, full of appetizers and snacks! This slow cooker Italian beef with peppers and tender pulled beef is a go-to. Just put everything in the slow cooker and watch the game! It’s easy to make ahead of time and takes well to parties.
Enjoying tender, juicy Italian beef at home is easy with the crock pot. But one common question is how long to cook frozen Italian beef in a slow cooker to get perfect results. With the right cook times and techniques, you can transform frozen beef into fork-tender sandwiches bursting with flavor.
In this comprehensive guide, we provide recommended cook times, tips for ensuring moist and flavorful beef, how to test for doneness, mistakes to avoid, and serving ideas. Let’s get cooking!
Crock Pot Cook Times For Frozen Italian Beef
The cooking time for frozen Italian beef in a crock pot depends on the cut, size, and amount of beef:
- 1-1.5 lbs frozen beef roast – Cook 8-10 hours on low or 5-6 hours on high
- 2-3 lbs frozen beef roast – Cook 10-12 hours on low or 6-8 hours on high
- 4-5 lbs frozen beef roast – Cook 12-14 hours on low or 8-10 hours on high
These times are for beef to become very tender and shred apart easily. Always use a meat thermometer to confirm the internal temperature reaches 205°F.
Tips For Moist, Flavorful Crock Pot Italian Beef
Follow these useful tips for irresistibly moist and delicious Italian beef from your crock pot
- Add 1-2 cups beef broth to provide moisture and flavor.
- Use a fatty cut like chuck roast that becomes tender and shreddable.
- Sprinkle on Italian seasoning blend for authentic flavor.
- Layer pepperoncini peppers on top to infuse flavor.
- Shred beef with forks once cooked and moisten with juices.
- Cook on low heat to properly break down connective tissue over time.
Seasoning and Flavoring Suggestions
Experiment with different seasonings and ingredients to liven up your Italian beef:
- Garlic powder, oregano, basil for an Italian flair
- Soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger for an Asian twist
- Tomato sauce or sun dried tomatoes for richness
- Sliced onions or bell peppers for aromatics
- Giardiniera pickled vegetables for tangy flavor
- Provolone or mozzarella cheese for gooey goodness
Testing Doneness Of Crock Pot Italian Beef
Checking temperature is the best way to test if your Italian beef is fully cooked:
- Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature.
- Beef is ready at 205°F when it’s fall-apart tender and shreds easily with forks.
- The meat should pierce very easily all the way through with just a fork.
- Cut into the thickest section to check no pink/red remains inside.
Always let beef rest 15 minutes before shredding to allow juices to redistribute
Common Crock Pot Italian Beef Mistakes
It’s easy to dry out or undercook beef in the slow cooker. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Not adding enough liquid leads to dry or undercooked beef.
- Using too much liquid results in washed out flavor.
- Skipping searing meats prevents development of browned flavors.
- Overcooking beyond 205°F internal temperature dries out meat.
- Shredding beef too early before it is fully tender.
- Forgetting to stir and redistribute ingredients periodically.
Serving Suggestions For Crock Pot Italian Beef
Try these tasty ways to serve up your fork-tender Italian beef masterpiece:
- Piled high on crusty hoagie rolls for classic sandwiches.
- Mixed with pasta and marinara sauce for a hearty dish.
- Spooned over mashed potatoes or polenta.
- Stuffed into bell peppers or zucchini boats.
- Topped on cheesy pizza for a meaty treat.
- Wrapped in lettuce leaves for low-carb eating.
- Served over rice with sautéed vegetables.
With the right cook times and techniques, you can easily whip up incredible Italian beef at home with your crock pot. Get ready to enjoy mouthwatering shredded beef sandwiches and dishes!
What To Make With Italian Beef
This beef is so flavorful and fall-apart tender that it’s great on sandwiches with just a few other things. For a roast beef dinner, Italian beef tastes great with mashed potatoes and a fresh Italian salad!
Slow cooker Italian beef will last up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Make sure it’s completely cooled before you seal it. Leftovers will last in the freezer for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge, microwave, or oven!.
If you have any leftover meat, try making enchiladas or tacos with it. A breakfast hash is also a delicious way to use leftover Italian beef!.
Beef for Italian Beef Sandwiches
When you make an Italian beef sandwich, you usually use sirloin, but it wouldn’t hold up well in the slow cooker. I’ve opted for chuck roast as it’s tender and flavorful. A rump roast works well too!.
To add flavor to the recipe, the beef is seared on both sides. It is then slow-cooked until it is buttery, fork-tender, and shredded, like pulled pork.
Seasonings: This recipe uses a packet of Italian dressing mix for a bit of zest and tang. The peppers I use are sliced pepperoncinis, if you can’t find sliced, whole will work too. They give the sandwich a great salty, briny taste and a hint of heat, but don’t make it too spicy.
SIX Ingredient Crockpot Italian Beef! | The Recipe Rebel
FAQ
How long to cook frozen beef in Crock-Pot?
Can I cook a frozen beef roast in a slow cooker?
How long to cook frozen beef chunks in slow cooker?
|
Stovetop or Oven
|
Slow cooker set to low
|
Slow cooker set to high
|
|
15 – 30 mins
|
4 – 6 hrs
|
1.5 – 2.5 hrs
|
|
35 – 60 mins
|
6 – 8 hrs
|
2.5 – 4 hrs
|
|
1.5 – 2.5 hrs
|
9 – 12 hrs
|
4.5 – 6 hrs
|
|
3 – 5 hrs
|
12.5 – 18 hrs
|
5 – 7 hrs
|
How long do you cook Italian beef in a slow cooker?
Cook the beef. Cover and cook on low for at least 10 hours, until the beef is very tender and shreds easily. After 10 hours, shred the beef, discarding any excess fat. Return the beef to the slow cooker and turn the slow cooker to warm. Keep the Italian beef warm in the slow cooker until ready to serve.
How long do you cook shredded beef in a slow cooker?
Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours. You can cook this on high for about 4-5 hours, but for the most tender beef, I highly recommend cooking on low. Use tongs to remove the beef from the slow cooker and place on a plate (or a bowl), and shred using two forks. Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker and stir.
How do you cook beef in a slow cooker?
Cut the beef into large chunks. Stir the seasonings and salt together and sprinkle them over the beef. Add the seasoned beef, Pepperoncini Peppers, Giardiniera, and beef broth to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours. Shred the beef and keep warm in the slow cooker until ready to serve.
How long can you keep frozen Italian beef?
Keep frozen up to 3 months. How do I reheat the Italian beef? To reheat in a slow cooker: Place the frozen Italian beef in a slow cooker, add 1/4 cup water or beef broth in the bottom, and cook on low for 8 hours.