Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Tender and juicy, this Slow Cooker Italian Beef is mouthwateringly amazing! This recipe is fork tender with a tangy zippy broth. You are going to love it!

Beef Bourguignon, Crack Chicken and Jambalaya are all slow cooker favorites that you have to add to your rotations. The slow cook just intensifies the flavors like no other!

Delicious Italian Beef

You may be thinking as you look at this insanely delicious Italian beef that it looks a lot like my Mississippi Pork Roast, but these are truly different. And I’m here to tell you, that you need both in your life. This slow cooker beef is zesty, and infused with intense Italian flavor. This slow cooker Italian beef makes the best sandwiches! But don’t take my word for it, you have to try it!

Slow cooker recipes are the best. I love being able to through this together and then let the slow cooker do all the work. The aroma that fills your house will be incredible. This recipe is so easy, it comes together quickly after searing the beef to a crusty perfection.  Just combine the rest of the ingredients and let it cook till it falls apart. The hardest part of this recipe will be having to wait till it’s done.

Ingredients for Italian Beef Sandwiches

Look for roasts in the meat section of your grocery store. Be sure to get a chuck roast. They are the queen of roasts. The dressing mix and seasonings combine with the zippy, and tangy pepperoncini for a must try taste. You and your family will LOVE this slow cooker recipe!

• Chuck Roast: 3-4 pounds.
• Salt and Pepper: To taste, rubbing it all over the roast.
• Oil: Canola or another high smoke oil.
• Beef consommé: Beef broth will work here too.
• Dry Italian Salad Dressing: Intensifies the flavoring.
• Garlic Powder: Everything’s better with garlic.
• Italian Seasoning: The perfect combination of spices for this roast.
• Jar Sliced Pepperoncini: Don’t drain the pepperoncini.
• Butter: Creates a deep richness to the roast.
• Hoagie Rolls: Any type of bun will do.
• Provolone Cheese: Sliced.

How to Cook Italian Beef in a Slow Cooker

Searing the roast is the only hands on part to this Italian beef recipe. Then you dump the rest in the slow cooker and let the magic happen. You can remove the roast to shred it, return it to the juices to absorb even more flavor before serving.

1. Roast: Salt and pepper the beef roast.
2. Sear: Heat a large skillet over high heat with the canola oil. Add the roast and sear each side for 2-3 minutes until it forms a golden seared crust. Place the roast in a 5 quart slow cooker.
3. Combine: Add the beef consommé, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, Italian dressing and pepperoncini to the slow cooker. Top roast with butter slices.
4. Cook: Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours. Shred the roast with a fork.
5. Sandwiches: Serve on hoagies topped with provolone cheese and additional pepperoncini if desired.

Slow Cooker Tips and Variations

Slow cooker recipes are super easy to make. It takes just a little bit of effort to put it all together and then you get to leave it alone for hours! You can go about your day knowing you’re have dinner practically already done. It’s such a satisfying feeling.

• Sear: Searing meat is a must for slow cooking roasts. It caramelizes the natural sugars in the meat and browns the proteins. It creates this awesome brown crust on the surface of the meat amplifying the flavor.
• Shredding: For the best flavor shred the beef and then return the Italian beef to the slow cooker and the savory juice. Let it heat for another 30 minutes to really allow all that flavor seep into the nooks and crannies.
• Drain:  Use a slotted spoon to remove the beef from the slow cooker once ready to serve, so it doesn’t make your hoagies soggy.
• Toast: I prefer to toast the hoagie buns for optimal flavor and to help them from getting too soggy. Place on a cookie sheet and broil till desired doneness.
• Cheese: Provolone is a mild flavored wonderful melty cheese that goes perfectly with the Italian beef. But you can use cheddar, mozzarella, colby jack or even pepper jack for a bit of spice.
• Top it: Besides the cheese, feel free to add more pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, or sautéed onions for extra flavor and variety.
• Serve it differently:  This slow cooker Italian beef is awesome all by itself, you don’t have to serve it on a bun. Serve it on top of rice or mashed potatoes. Stir it into pastas like mac and cheese or these garlic mushroom noodles.

What Kind of Roast Should I Use

There are many roasts out there to choose from and it can be confusing if you are not familiar with them.

• Kinds of Roasts to use: In this slow cooker recipe you can use top round, bottom round, shoulder or chuck roast. The roast that cooks best, however, is the boneless chuck roast. The marbling helps the meat fibers to break down into that iconic melt in your mouth texture, just like in this Melt in Your Mouth Pot Roast.
• What if my Roast isn’t tender?  If you notice your roast isn’t falling apart at the touch of a fork, then it needs more time to cook. Every slow cooker is different and no two roasts are the same size. Your roast could take up to two hours longer to get to that perfect sweet spot. Your Italian beef may only need 30 minutes too. Just check it and be a bit patient. It’ll be worth it I promise.

Storing and Reheating Italian Beef

Slow cookers are still hands down one of the best ways to cook insanely delicious meals. The beautiful thing about slow cooker Italian beef is that it gets better with time. The flavors just keep infusing more and more the longer it sits. It’s so yummy!

• Storing: Make sure to store leftover Italian beef in its juices. You can drain what you don’t need but make sure there is some. Store in a covered container for up to 4-5 days.
• Freezing: Store the beef in some of its juices in a sealable heavy duty freezer bag. Squeeze out any extra air to prevent freezer burn. Keep for up to 3 months.
• Reheat: You can reheat thawed meat in the microwave, stove top or even back in the slow cooker.

More Slow Cooker Sandwich Recipes to Try

Like I’ve said before the slow cooker method of cooking is just one of the best ways to cook. It allows meat to soak up all the flavors and for the meat to break down into melt in your mouth tenderness. Slow cooker sandwiches are juicy, flavorful and fabulous!

• Slow Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork Sliders
• Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork
• Slow Cooker Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki
• Philly Cheesesteaks in the Slow Cooker
• Melt in Your Mouth French Dips

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Slow Cooker Italian Beef

Tender and juicy, this Slow Cooker Italian Beef is mouthwateringly amazing! This recipe is fork tender with a tangy zippy broth. You are going to love it!

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian American

Keyword italian beef, slow cooker italian beef

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 8 hours

Total Time 8 hours 20 minutes

Servings 4 Hoagie Rolls

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 3-4 pounds beef chuck roast
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 cups beef consommé or Beef broth
• 1 package dry Italian salad dressing
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 Tablespoon italian seasoning
• 12 oz jar sliced pepperoncini drained
• 1/4 cup butter sliced
• 4 hoagie rolls
• 8 slices provolone cheese

Instructions

• Salt and pepper the beef roast. Heat a large skillet over high heat with the canola oil. Add the roast and sear each side for 2-3 minutes until it forms a golden seared crust. Place the roast in a 5 quart slow cooker.
• Add the beef consommé, italian seasoning, garlic powder, italian seasoning and pepperoncini to the slow cooker. Top roast with butter slices.
• Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours. Shred the roast with a fork. Serve on hoagies topped with provolone cheese and additional pepperoncinis if desired.

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Perfect Air Fryer Tofu

This Air Fryer Tofu is super crispy and full of flavor. The tofu is so easy to cook in the air fryer, it is a must try!

For a restaurant worthy meal start with wontons then add this air fryer tofu to a bed of rice and vegetables for a delicious dinner.

Air Fryer Tofu

If you love tofu or even if you are new to tofu, this is the recipe for you!  Cooking tofu in the air fryer is a fun way to cook. Using the air fryer will probably be the only way you cook it from now on. If you know tofu, it can be a pain to cook. Tofu often sticks to the pan even if it is oiled. Air frying solves all those problems and it creates that incredible crispy crust on the outside without the frying. If you thought you did not like tofu or haven’t tried it before. Now is the time.

Tofu seems to be one of those foods that either people have tried it and like, or they haven’t tried it at all and think they’ll hate it. Introducing your family or even yourself, to tofu with this air fryer recipe is super easy and it’ll be one of the best ways to enjoy this super food. Trust me you are going to love this and your family will to!

Ingredients for Crispy Tofu

Tofu can be a couple of different places in your local grocery store. First check the produce section in the refrigerator area. Also see if it’s in your store’s natural foods section. It can also be found sometimes in the dairy aisle as well. If all else fails. Ask someone who works there. It’s grown in popularity so it’s usually easy to find.

• Extra Firm Tofu: There are many types of tofu so be sure to get the extra firm variety.
• Soy Sauce: Adds flavor and color.
• Sesame Oil: Creates a deep richness in the flavor.
• Cornstarch: Helps create an extra crispy crust

Making Tofu in the Air Fryer

There are a few steps and things to know about tofu if you’ve never cooked with it before. But don’t fear it’s super easy. You’ll love the results.

1. Press it: Remove the tofu from the package.  Press the tofu to remove the moisture.  If you don’t have a tofu press, you can simply just put the tofu in the center of a dish towel and gently press to remove the moisture.  Or you can put it in between two dishtowels and lay a heavy bottomed skillet on top of the tofu for 30 minutes.
2. Mix: In a medium sized bowl add sliced tofu, soy sauce and sesame oil and gently toss to coat.  Sprinkle cornstarch on top and toss.
3. Bake:  Place the tofu in the basket of an air fryer so they aren’t touching each other.  Turn the air fryer to 360 degrees.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Flip the tofu and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until they are crisp. Cooking time will depend on how much moisture was left in the tofu.

Types of Tofu and How to Use Them

Tofu comes in different degrees of firmness: silken, soft, firm, and extra-firm.

• Silken is best for blending into smoothies and desserts.
• Soft is often used in heartier soups, and stews.
• Firm and extra-firm are best for stir-frying, and baking. Be sure to check your recipes to use the tofu that’ll work best for your dish.

All About Tofu

This air fryer recipe is the perfect way to try tofu for the first time. The results will have you coming back for more. Here is what you need to know about this fantastic food!

• What is tofu? Tofu, sometimes called bean curd or soybean curd,  made from soybeans, water and a coagulant or curdling agent. The process of making tofu is similar to making cheese.
• Where did it come from? Tofu is believed to have originated in China over 2,000 years ago by accident.
• Is it good for you? A serving of tofu is only 70 calories and is considered a nutrient dense food. It high in protein and contains all the essential amino acids your body needs. It also contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals. Including tofu in your diet might help protect against certain types of cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
• What does Tofu taste like?  Tofu is a lot like chicken in that is pretty bland by itself. The curdling agent in tofu however, absorbs flavors incredibly making it ideal to use with spices, sauces and marinades.
• Storing Tofu: Uncooked tofu needs to be kept immersed in water and sealed in its original packaging. Store the tofu the same way you purchased it. If it was in the fridge, keep it in the fridge , etc. Refrigerate any unused portion in a sealed container covered in water for up to 3 days.

Tips and Variations For The Best Tofu

Air frying tofu is seriously the best way to cook it, and it’s super easy to customize.

• Drain It: The first thing you must know about tofu for this air fryer recipe and any recipe is that it needs to be pressed so the moisture can be removed. The water will keep it moist and fresh while storing, but it needs to be drained before using.  Don’t skip this step. The more water you can press out of the tofu the crispier your air fried tofu will be.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket: Air frying uses circulating air to cook your food, similar to a convection oven. For the air to circulate properly and give a good crisp all over, leave space between the tofu. Cook in batches if you need to.
• How to use air fryer tofu: This is truly a must make air fryer recipe and you can use the tofu in so many ways. Add it to salads, buddha bowls, and stir-fry.  We love it in this Pad Thai recipe. Where ever you want to use it’ll be fantastic.
• Spice it up: Feel free to play around with the spices. Using honey, spicy mustards, sriracha, garlic powder, onion powder, and don’t forget the marinades. Tofu absorbs flavor amazingly well. Marinate for an hour up to 24 hours before baking.
• Leftovers: Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat for a few minutes in the air fryer.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Air frying is changing the culinary world and for the better. As you probably know it’s a miraculous way to cook food. It’s healthier, faster and super easy. It creates delicious crusts on the outside and it’s tender and juicy on the inside. Everything is always Perfect!

• The Perfect Air Fryer Pizza 
• Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers
• Amazing Air Fryer Hand Pies
• Crispy Air Fryer Bacon
• The Best Air Fryer “Roasted” Potatoes

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Air Fryer Tofu

This Air Fryer Tofu is super crispy and full of flavor. The tofu is so easy to cook in the air fryer, it is a must try!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Asian American, Chinese

Keyword air fryer tofu

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 4 People

Calories 116kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 1 pound block extra firm tofu
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

Instructions

• Remove the tofu from the package. Press the tofu to remove the moisture. If you don't have a tofu press, you can simply just put the tofu in the center of a dishtowel and gently press to remove the moisture. Or you can put it in between two dishtowels and lay a heavy bottomed skillet on top of the tofu for 30 minutes.
• In a medium sized bowl add sliced tofu, soy sauce and sesame oil and gently toss to coat. Sprinkle cornstarch on top and toss.
• Place the tofu in the basket of an air fryer so they aren't touching each other. Turn the air fryer to 360 degrees. Cook for 10 minutes. Flip the tofu and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until they are crisp. Cooking time will depend on how much moisture was left in the tofu.

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 815mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 2mg

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