Crock Pot Italian Beef with Homemade Giardiniera is a super easy dinner recipe made with easy ingredients, and makes enough to serve a crowd!
Crockpot Italian beef with homemade giardiniera is life.
It's easy to make, made with simple ingredients, and it feeds a crowd.
Don't believe me? Just ask Bear and every other Chicagoan for that matter.
This recipe is as simple as they come:
- Beef chuck roast
- Italian dressing mix (homemade or storebought)
- Low-sodium beef broth
- Pepperoncini
- Sandwich stackers: warm and crusty Amoroso rolls, homemade giardiniera, freshly grated parmesan or provolone cheese,
Homemade Giardiniera
Giardiniera (pronounced gar-deen-ee-uh) sounds complicated, but it's super easy to make because it's nothing but a jar of pickled vegetables. Best known as a topper for muffulettas, Chicago-style giardiniera is chopped fine and served on sandwiches and with things like this crock pot Italian beef. Italian giardiniera is large pickled vegetables served appetizer style with charcuterie, etc.
What vegetables are in homemade giardiniera?
Typical vegetables include cauliflower, celery, bell peppers, and you can add additional goodies for heat, crunch, & flavor: jalapenos, habenero, serranos, gherkins, olives, radishes...whatever floats your boat
Is giardiniera a Chicago thing?
Since the Netflix show The Bear came out, Italian beef w/ giardiniera has become a thing, but it wasn't invented in Chicago! Giardiniera means "mixed pickles" in Italian and originated in Italy.
How long does homemade giardiniera last?
Homemade giardiniera will last several weeks in the refrigerator as long as the vegetables stay covered by the oil mixture.
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
My husband and I love a good sandwich every now and again and we love to serve this Italian beef on Hawaiian slider rolls. You do you boo! Whatever sandwich bread you like will do.
This is also a great super bowl recipe or party food for a get-together. Everyone loves a hearty little sandwich served with a healthy crunch, and crock pot Italian beef is definitely a winner.
Crock pot Italian Beef with homemade giardiniera is a killer recipe to serve during March Madness mingles, St. Patrick's Day parties (replace the wine w/ Guinness!), or even for Easter Brunch.
The dish is hearty enough to satisfy all appetites, tender enough for your toddlers to shovel it in by the handful, and simple enough to throw together so you can polish off the bottle of wine while enjoying the meal with your family.
Crock Pot Italian Beef w/ Homemade Giardiniera
Ingredients
For the Homemade Italian Dressing Mix:
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning Or Just use a premade Italian Dressing Mix
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon celery salt
- 2 teaspoon sugar optional
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Crock Pot Italian Beef:
- 1 3-5lb boneless chuck roast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 cup dry red wine optional, just use another cup of broth if not using wine
- 3 tablespoon chopped pepperocinis
- ¼ cup pepperocini juice from jar of pepperocinis
- For serving: hoagie or slider rolls & freshly grated Parmesan cheese
For the Homemade Giardiniera:
- 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon pepperocini juice from jar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 clove garlic minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cups finely chopped veggies any combo of carrots, celery, sweet onion, cauliflower, bell pepper
- 2-3 tablespoon pickled jalapenos finely chopped
- 2-3 heaping tablespoon pepperocini rings
- 2 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley optional
Instructions
For the Slow Cooker Italian Beef:
- In a small bowl, stir together the homemade Italian dressing mix (or an Italian dressing mix packet) and olive oil.
- Rub the mixture all over the beef and place beef in crock pot. Add beef stock, red wine, pepperocinis and juice, cover, and cook on LOW for 8-10 hrs or HIGH for 5-6 hrs, until tender.
- Remove beef from juice, shred with two forks, remove and discard any fat or grissle, and place the shredded beef back in the juice in the slow cooker.
- Serve Italian beef warm on Amoroso or slider rolls (or mashed cauliflower) and top w/ Homemade Giardiniera and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
For the Homemade Giardiniera:
- In a large bowl, stir together vinegar, pepperocini juice, Italian seasoning, garlic, sugar, salt & pepper then slowly whisk in the olive oil until well blended.
- Add chopped veggies, jalapenos, pepperocinis, and parsley to the dressing and toss to coat.
- Allow veggies to marinate until ready to serve. Serve cold on top of warm Italian Beef.
Mary @ StrawmarySmith says
This looks so good! Pinning now to save for later! 🙂
Amber says
Thanks, Mary! Let me know if you try it!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
This looks super yummy! I love that cheese being grated on! Can't wait to try this!
Amber says
Thanks so much, Sam! My husband is a great assistant, no? 😉
Amanda | Chew Town says
My mother always had jars of homemade giardiniera in the cupboard! I love your use of it with slow cooked beef!
Amber says
I hope my can at least stand up to your mama's giardiniera! Everyone knows mama's food always tastes best 😉
Valentina says
Nothing like a little one to make it more important to put meals out with ease. This looks so delicious and the pictures are beautiful. Your toddler will grow up have a very good palate! 🙂
Amber says
Thank you, Valentina! I've tried to give him a pretty expansive palate from the very beginning. It seems to be working...so far at least 🙂
Brianne says
Yes to this homemade giardiniera! I feel like you could eat this stuff on anything!! Sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Amber says
I have been eating this stuff on everything! Sandwiches, tacos, straight from the jar. It's awesome!
Kathy says
Sending you prayers and good vibes
Heard about this recipe just this am on talk radio
Looking forward to trying this recipe
Amber says
Thank you so much, Kathy! I so appreciate your prayers, and I hope you enjoy the recipe! Do you mind me asking what you were listening to when you heard about it on talk radio? I’d love to hear it! Thank you!!!