Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

I use my slow cooker A LOT. You might have noticed.

Honestly, there are just some days when I need an easy, little-to-no prep option for dinner. I know I can't be the only one. There's just something so nice about having a tool that does so much work FOR you.

Side note on that, I can't WAIT to try out the Instant Pot I got for Christmas.

Anyway, this is another meal that my daughter helps me prepare. I brown the beef, but I let her measure and add all of the "flavor" components to the dish; this means that she gets to stir, which is basically her favorite thing to do in the kitchen (at least so far).

As usual, the original recipe comes from Cooking Light, though I've made some adjustments of my own. A link to the original is included below.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Original Recipe by Deb Wise, Cooking Light Dec 2013 (see it here)

1/2 cup white vinegar

1 tbs onion powder

1 tbs garlic powder

2 tsp crushed red pepper

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers (jarred)

2 lbs chuck roast

Ciabatta rolls (or your favorite sandwich rolls)

Place first 7 ingredients in slow cooker, stirring to combine.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and coat with cooking spray. Cook beef in skillet for 5 minutes, browning on all sides. Add beef to slow cooker.

Cook on LOW setting for 8 hours. Shred beef with two forks and stir well. Serve on ciabatta rolls.

Until next time...

Cheers!

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Potatoes

Happy 2017, y'all!

2016 was a bit crazy, not gonna lie. I, for one, am glad for the opportunity to start a new year. I've got plenty of goals that I'd like to meet in the future, and there's no better time than now to get started.

I don't know that there is a more fitting recipe to post to start the year, because this is one that was declared a winner by my entire family not only the first night, but on leftover night as well. Heck, my husband even asked for it again later in the week - and I think he was legitimately disappointed that we didn't have any left.

Yes, it's that good.

It's also - wait for it - really easy. Seriously. Grab your slow cooker, do some easy prep, and go enjoy the game while the work is done for you.

It doesn't get much better than that.

BBQ Beef Potatoes

Adapted from Cooking Light January 2017

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 tbs tomato paste

2 tbs Worcestershire sauce

1 tbs chili powder

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp black pepper

1.5 lbs boneless chuck roast

1/2 cup sliced red onion

2 large russet potatoes

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

8 tbs light sour cream

1/4 cup sliced green onions

Mix brown sugar, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper in a bowl. Rub over roast. 

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. Place red onion slices in the bottom of slow cooker and top with roast. 

Set to LOW for 7.5 hours, or until beef is tender.

About an hour before slow cooker is done, preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray potatoes lightly with cooking spray and bake in preheated oven for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Slice each potato in half lengthwise.

Remove roast from slow cooker and shred using two forks. Return to slow cooker and mix well with onion mixture. 

Split each potato half lengthwise and add beef/onion mixture. Top each potato evenly with sour cream, cheese and green onion. Serves 4.

I'm excited to share many, many more of these easy, wonderful recipes with you this year. I'm planning to make some big changes to the blog in the next couple of months - stay tuned!

Until next time...

Cheers!