Slow-Cooking Benefits

• Rather than braising the braciole on the stove top, which requires your attention during the cooking process, making it in the slow cooker lets the cooker do most of the work, freeing you to relax or do other tasks. As a bonus, the slow, moist cooking that is characteristic of these devices tenderizes the beef. This means that you can choose an inexpensive, tougher cut of meat such as round steak, without compromising the tenderness of your braciole.

Prepping Your Braciole

• Although the slow cooker does simplify the cooking process, you still need to do some important prep work before slow cooking the beef rolls. Pound the beef so that each piece is roughly 1/4 inch thick. In a skillet, saute whatever vegetables you want to use for your stuffing, such as onions, garlic, celery, baby spinach and carrots, until your add-ins are soft. Take the pan off the heat and add beaten egg, Parmesan or Romano cheese and cubed bread to make the stuffing. Lay each piece of meat out and add the stuffing in the center before rolling the beef up and securing each roll with a wooden skewer.

Slow Cooking Braciole

• Place the rolls in your slow cooker before adding tomato sauce -- either store-bought, or homemade. Optionally, brown the rolls in a skillet set over medium-high heat before placing them in the slow cooker. Put the cover on the slow cooker and cook the braciole on the low setting for 4 to 8 hours. The length of time needed for cooking depends on the thickness of the meat and size of the braciole. If you're unsure if the braciole is fully cooked, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of one of the rolls. The meat is cooked once the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Serving Slow-Cooked Braciole

• After transferring the beef rolls from the slow cooker to a serving platter, remove the skewers. If you’ve made large rolls, slice them into smaller pieces. Top your slow-cooked braciole with some of the sauce and a generous sprinkling of Parmesan and/or fresh herbs such as parsley. In addition to a glass of your favorite red wine, other suitable pairings include a crisp salad and a savory side dish such as cooked sausage, meatballs, creamy polenta or cooked pasta.