Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast


25 Comments


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A chuck roast, spaghetti sauce mix, and veggies are all you’ll need to whip up this tasty Slow Cooker Italian Beef Dinner. Pair it together with your favorite rolls, homemade biscuits, or cornbread for a quick and easy meal option.

Another delicious and easy crock pot meal to try that features a roast and packets is my Slow Cooker 3 Packet Pot Roast.

overhead shot of italian beef dinner in a slow cooker.
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Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Italian Beef Dinner

With only 5 ingredients, you may be surprised how much flavor this crock pot Italian beef dinner has. Thanks to a Spaghetti Sauce Mix, it packs all the flavors you need! Adding the onion, carrots, and red potatoes makes for a delicious one-pot dinner your whole family is going to enjoy (even the littles).

This dinner also requires quick prep and cooking time. The dump-and-go method allows you to free up time to get things done while dinner slow-cooks in the background. If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal to put on the dinner table tonight, this meal is worth trying. You may also like my slow cooker leg of lamb.

Recipe Ingredients

ingredients for slow cooker italian beef dinner on a table.
  • Chuck Roast: Use a 3 lbs. beef chuck roast for this recipe to yield plenty of slow cooked Italian beef.
  • Red Potatoes: Cut the potatoes into quarters, about 4 cups total (or about 3 potatoes).
  • Carrots: Peel and slice carrots lengthwise.
  • Onion: You’ll only need about a cup of sliced white onion.
  • Tomato Sauce: Creates a delicious flavor to the sauce.
  • Spaghetti Sauce Mix Packet: McCormick’s thick and zesty spaghetti sauce mix.
  • (Full Recipe is in the recipe card below the photos).

Step-by-Step Ingredients

four images showing how to make slow cooker italian beef dinner.

Step One – Place the beef in the middle of the slow cooker.

Step Two – Add the carrots and onions to one side of the beef, and the potatoes to the other side.

Step Three – Pour over the tomato sauce on top of the beef and vegetables.

Step Four – Sprinkle the spaghetti seasoning over everything.

three images showing how to make slow cooker italian beef dinner.

Step Five – Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours WITHOUT opening the lid during the cooking time. This will make the beef fall apart tender.

Step Six – Remove and shred beef or cut on a cutting board for serving.

Step Seven – Return the beef back to the crockpot with the vegetables. Serve with the sauce from the slow cooker. Enjoy!

tongs grabbing some slow cooker italian beef dinner.

How to Serve

  • This is a dinner all in one so you can serve a helping of shredded beef, veggies, and potatoes on a plate and enjoy it as is.
  • You can also pair it with additional sides such as crusty rolls, pickled vegetables, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, or any veggies of your choice.
  • Turn the shredded meat into Italian beef sandwiches by putting a helping on hoagie rolls (or hoagie buns) topped with provolone cheese slices, green peppers, and pepperoncini pepper slices. These are typically served with an au jus sauce but you can use the sauce created by the tomato sauce and seasoning packet.

Substitution Trick

Add 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar for a rich addition to the dish.

serving of slow cooker italian beef dinner on a stack of plates.

Recipe FAQs

How do I store leftover beef?

Store any leftover Italian beef in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat over medium heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Can I use a different cut of meat?

Yes. Instead of a chuck roast, you can use rump roast or bottom beef round roast. It should still yield fork-tender beef.

What can I use instead of a spaghetti packet?

Jarred marinara can be used instead of a spaghetti packet and tomato sauce, though you will have to go heavy on salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and oregano.

overhead shot of serving of slow cooker italian beef dinner on a plate.

Here are more beef recipes to try!

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tongs grabbing some slow cooker italian beef dinner.

Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast

4.63 from 8 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Everyone's favorite pot roast dinner gets an Italian make over; bound to be a family favoite.

Ingredients 
 

  • 3 lbs. beef chuck roast
  • 4 cups red potatoes, sliced
  • 3 cups carrots, sliced
  • 1 cup white onion, diced
  • 15 oz. tomato sauce
  • 1.40 oz. packet McCormick thick and zesty spaghetti sauce mix

Instructions 

  • Place the beef in the middle of the slow cooker.
  • Add the carrots and onions to one side of the beef, and the potatoes to the other side. (see notes)
  • Pour over the tomato sauce on top of the beef and vegetables.
  • Sprinkle the spaghetti seasoning over everything.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours WITHOUT opening the lid during the cooking time. (see notes)
  • Shred or cut the meat for serving.
  • Serve with the sauce from the slow cooker.
  • Enjoy!

How to Video

Sarah’s Notes

  • Jarred marinara can be used instead of a spaghetti packet and tomato sauce, though you will have to go heavy on salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and oregano.
  • Store any leftover Italian beef in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat over medium heat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
  • Instead of a chuck roast, you can use rump roast or bottom beef round roast. It should still yield fork-tender beef.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 501.32kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.39g | Protein: 46.27g | Fat: 26.41g | Saturated Fat: 11.51g | Cholesterol: 156.49mg | Sodium: 677.64mg | Potassium: 1458.79mg | Fiber: 4.16g | Sugar: 8.32g | Vitamin A: 11028.21IU | Vitamin C: 15.01mg | Calcium: 80.02mg | Iron: 6.05mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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Recipe Rating




25 Comments

  1. Alexandra says:

    I canโ€™t find the spaghetti seasoning. What should I use instead?

  2. Anna Garramone says:

    The spaghetti mix s not available in my stores so i want to use a jar of a sauce i love and leave out can of sauce and spaghetti mix is this OK you think???

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes! I would add more seasonings, and salt and pepper.

  3. Edie says:

    5 stars
    I used a pork roast instead. The result was sensational. I also threw in a bag of small carrots – much easier and got the same effect.

  4. Julie says:

    5 stars
    This was excellent. My whole family loved this. It was very tasty an flavorful.

  5. Karavos says:

    Can I use a bottom round roast

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, I love bottom round roasts.

  6. Debbie says:

    Can you make this in an instant pot instead of the crock pot?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Yes, I don’t see why not!

  7. Julie L. Cain says:

    Can you use a can of diced tomatoes instead of the tomato sauce, or will that ruin the flavor?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I think that would work fine.

  8. Lisa M. says:

    5 stars
    Got this in the crock as I type.
    Smells amazing, can’t wait.

  9. Rhigh says:

    Brown the meat before crock potting it. It greatly improves the flavor.

  10. Nicole Shkuratoff says:

    Add veggies