My aunt brought this to every family reunion in the 80s. One bite and you'll understand why we still fight over the last sandwich

This slow cooker 3-ingredient Italian beef is the exact kind of dish that showed up at every family reunion in the 80s and disappeared faster than the folding chairs. My aunt would walk in with her old white crockpot, the lid rattling and the whole church basement smelling like heaven. The beef cooked down into tender shreds, swimming in a rich, peppery jus with those bright pepperoncini peppers peeking through. It’s simple, hearty Midwestern comfort—no fuss, no fancy tricks, just three pantry-friendly ingredients and time doing the work. One bite tucked into a soft bun and you’ll understand why we still bicker, good-naturedly, over the last sandwich.

Pile the hot Italian beef onto soft bakery sandwich rolls or hoagie buns, and spoon a little extra jus over the meat if you like it messy. It’s wonderful with provolone or mozzarella melted on top, or served plain for the purists. On the side, think classic potluck fare: potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, or a simple green salad. A bowl of the warm au jus on the table lets folks dip their sandwiches just like a beef stand in the city. Leftovers make great open-faced sandwiches over mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles the next day.

Servings: 8-10

3 to 4 pounds beef chuck roast

Place the beef chuck roast into a large slow cooker (a white 5- to 7-quart crock works well), trimming only any very thick, hard pieces of fat but leaving most of the fat for flavor.

Sprinkle the dry Italian salad dressing mix evenly over the top and sides of the roast so it’s well coated.

Pour the entire jar of sliced pepperoncini peppers, along with all of their liquid, over and around the roast. The meat will not be fully submerged; that’s fine, it will release juices as it cooks.

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours, or on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is very tender and easily pulls apart with a fork.

Once the beef is fork-tender, use two forks to shred it directly in the slow cooker, pulling it into bite-size pieces and mixing it well with the pepperoncini and the rich juices.

Taste the meat and juices; if you’d like a bit more tang, stir in a splash or two of the pepperoncini brine from the jar, if any remains. If it seems too salty, add a small splash of warm water to the cooker and stir.

Turn the slow cooker to WARM and let the shredded beef rest in the juices for at least 20 minutes so the flavors soak in and the meat glistens in the savory au jus.

Serve the Italian beef hot, scooping it out with a slotted spoon or small ladle, making sure some of the pepperoncini slices and a spoonful of the golden jus go into each sandwich bun.

If you prefer a milder heat, use mild pepperoncini and pick out some of the peppers before serving, keeping more of the liquid than the peppers themselves. For extra spice, add a few spoonfuls of the pepperoncini brine or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes before cooking. You can also tuck a few garlic cloves under the roast for a deeper flavor, though that technically adds a fourth ingredient. For a cheesier sandwich, place provolone or mozzarella on the buns and toast them briefly under the broiler before piling on the meat. This beef is also delicious served over mashed potatoes, rice, or buttered noodles instead of in a bun. If you need to feed a crowd, you can easily double the recipe as long as your slow cooker is large enough; just add an extra half hour to an hour of cooking time and make sure the meat shreds easily before serving. Food safety tips: Always start with a fresh or fully thawed roast—do not put a frozen roast directly into the slow cooker, as it can stay too long in the temperature “danger zone.” Keep the lid on while cooking to maintain a safe, even temperature. Leftovers should be cooled and refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking, stored in a covered container with plenty of the cooking juices to keep the meat moist, and used within 3 to 4 days. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot throughout before serving.