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This Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef is exactly the kind of recipe I find myself making again and again these days.
Just add a beef roast, Italian dressing mix, and a jar of pepperoncini peppers to the slow cooker and let it do the work. Hours later you’ll have tender, flavorful shredded beef that’s perfect for sandwiches, bowls, wraps, pasta, or salads.
No chopping.
No browning.
Almost no effort.
And somehow the results taste like you spent all day in the kitchen.
The tangy pepperoncini peppers mellow as they cook, adding just enough zip to keep the beef flavorful without making it spicy.
Mom, Rod, and I all gave this recipe enthusiastic approval—which doesn’t happen all that often since our tastes are pretty different!
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How to Make Slow Cooker Italian Beef
- Recipe Notes
- How to Serve Italian Beef
- Storing Leftovers
- How Many Calories and Weight Watchers Points?
- Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef Recipe
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Simple Comfort Food at Its Best
- More Easy Slow Cooker Comfort Food Recipes
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Just 3 simple ingredients
- Dump-and-go slow cooker recipe
- Great for meal prep
- Makes wonderful leftovers
- High in protein
- Freezer friendly
- Easy to customize
- Perfect for sandwiches, bowls, and wraps
Ingredients & Substitutions
Beef Roast
I used a boneless sirloin top roast, but many cuts work beautifully.
Other good choices:
- Eye of round roast
- Top round roast
- Lean chuck roast
- Bottom round roast
- Lean stew beef
Basically, if you would use it for pot roast, it will probably work here.
Dry Italian Dressing Mix
This is the secret shortcut ingredient that adds lots of flavor.
No packet?
Use:
- 2 to 3 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
And substitute beef broth for the water.
Pepperoncini Peppers
These mild pickled peppers are what make this recipe special.
Use the entire jar, juice included.
If you like things spicier, add:
- Pickled jalapeños
- Banana peppers
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Water
You can substitute for even richer flavor:
- Beef broth
- Low sodium beef stock
How to Make Slow Cooker Italian Beef
Step 1
Trim any visible fat from the roast and place it in the slow cooker.
Step 2
Whisk together the Italian dressing mix and water.
Pour over the beef.
Step 3
Cover and cook on LOW for about 8 hours, or until the meat is fork tender.
Step 4
Remove the beef to a cutting board (affiliate link) or large plate.
Using two forks, shred the meat.
Return the shredded beef to the slow cooker.
Step 5
Add the pepperoncini peppers and their juices.
Stir gently.
Cook for another 10 to 20 minutes, until everything is hot and the flavors have melded.
Recipe Notes
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how adaptable it is.
You can add:
- Sliced onions
- Garlic
- Mushrooms
- Roasted red peppers
Or keep it exactly as written and enjoy its simplicity.
The pepperoncini don’t make the beef spicy. Instead they add a wonderful tangy flavor that balances the richness of the meat beautifully.
How to Serve Italian Beef
This shredded beef is incredibly versatile.
Serve it:
On Sandwiches
Pile onto:
- Hoagie rolls
- Hamburger buns
- Ciabatta rolls
- Toasted sourdough
Top with:
- Provolone cheese
- Mozzarella
- Extra pepperoncini
In Bowls
Serve over:
- Cauliflower rice
- Brown rice
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
Low Carb
Enjoy:
- Over spaghetti squash
- In lettuce wraps
- With roasted vegetables
- Over a big green salad
Other Ideas
Use it in:
- Tacos
- Quesadillas
- Wraps
- Nachos
- Pizza
- Stuffed baked potatoes
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
This recipe also freezes beautifully.
I like freezing individual portions for quick lunches and easy dinners later on.
How Many Calories and Weight Watchers Points?
According to my calculations, each 3-ounce serving has about 158 calories.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
4 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Keep in mind that the calories and points will vary depending on the cut of beef you use!
If you’ve made this Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless sirloin top roast (substitute any lean cut of beef such as eye of the round, top round, lean stewing beef or even lean chuck roast – anything you would use for pot roast should work well)
- 1 envelope (0.6 ounces) dry Italian salad dressing mix
- 1 cup water
- 8 ounces mild pepper rings, undrained
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 4-Quart.
- Trim any excess fat from the roast and place it in the slow cooker.
- Stir together the salad dressing mix and water and pour over the roast.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or until the meat is fork tender.
- Remove the meat. Shred it with 2 forks and place it back in the cooker.
- Add the pepper rings and their juices. Cover and cook until the peppers are heated through.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 4 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Source: adapted from Taste of Home
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pepperoncini beef spicy?
Not really.
Pepperoncini peppers are mild and tangy rather than hot.
Can I use chuck roast?
Absolutely. Chuck roast is one of the best cuts for this recipe.
Can I make this ahead?
Yes. In fact, I think it tastes even better the next day.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Simple Comfort Food at Its Best
This Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Beef is proof that delicious doesn’t have to be complicated.
A handful of ingredients, a slow cooker, and a little patience are all it takes to create a meal that’s comforting, versatile, and one you’ll want to make again and again.
More Easy Slow Cooker Comfort Food Recipes
- Weight Watchers Italian Beef and Lentil Slow Cooker Soup
- Mom’s 3-Packet Slow Cooker Roast Beef
- Weight Watchers Easy Salsa Verde Beef
- Easy 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
- Slow Cooker Balsamic Braised Beef
- Crock Pot Stew Beef and Gravy
- 2-Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
- Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- 4-Ingredient Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
Thank you for a Delicious, Fantastic, easy and inexpensive meal. My husband and I both loved this. It is going in the Tried and True cookbook. I’ll make this again and again!!
I didn’t think b this would be flavorful. Really… only 3 ingredients and low cal? Well let me tell you this is going down in my family recipes. Just the right taste of zest and yumminess. Thank you for an awesome recipe. I also love your ww zero point taco soup.
This is super simple to make — and it’s an excellent dish! I smiled when first reading what seemed to be such a simple recipe and was wonderfully surprised to taste the finished product. I makes a truly wonderful sub sandwich!
Absolutely loved this this and and telling all my friends!!!
I used medium pepper rings and it added just about the right amount of heat that I needed! Other than that …wouldn’t change a thing!!
Thanks Martha 🙂
I put this recipe into my WW app, and it is not 2 Freestyle points per serving. It is 5.
Hi Britney, I used the WW Recipe Builder. Depends on the leanness of beef used. ~Martha
What kind of bread would be best to use if watch carbs?
Hi Madelyn, Look for something low in carbs such as a light bread or sandwich thin perhaps? Hope this helps.
What is the meat called for this? I haven’t seen it in the supermarket?
Hi Lori, you just want a relatively lean cut of meat that would typically be used for pot roast. Hope this helps – Martha
This sounds so great!!!!! Will fix it today!!!! But use Sandwich thins!!! Thanks for a wonderful site!!!!
Hi Linda, Sandwich Thins are such a great alternative to hoagie rolls for Weight Watchers!! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.