• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Southern Bite - supper made simple.

Southern Bite

Stacey Little's Southern Food & Recipe Blog

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Breads
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Main Course
    • Sauces/Dressings
    • Sides
    • Slow Cooker
    • Snacks
    • Soups
    • Weeknight Bites
  • Videos
    • Simply Southern TV
    • Behind the Recipe
    • Recipes with Videos
  • Cookbook
  • About
    • About Stacey
    • Media/PR
    • Contact
  • Recipe Box
Home » Recipes » Main Course

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po’ Boys

Stacey – March 24, 2020 – 21 Comments

Jump to Recipe Save Recipe

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po 'Boys

Pin It!

Comfort food. It’s something we’re craving now more than ever. But what is it really? 

The truth is, it just depends. Each person’s definition of comfort food is a bit different.  Often it’s food related to a specific memory. Maybe it was your favorite meal that your mom made when you were a kid. Maybe it’s warm chocolate chip cookies. Maybe it’s a gooey, cheesy casserole. For some folks it’s pizza. For others it’s pasta.

In all honesty, I have quite a few comfort foods. You can look at me and tell that. But one of them, is beef and gravy. But not just any beef and gravy… it’s a roast beef debris po’ boy.

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po 'Boys

Now you’re probably asking… “What’s this whole po’ boy thing?” Right?

So the story goes like this…

As I’ve been told, Benny and Clovis Martin owned a coffee and sandwich shop in New Orleans near the French Market in the 1920s. When a streetcar conductor strike happened, many workers went without work and of course went hungry. Being former streetcar workers themselves, the Martin brothers took pity on the folks on strike and worked to feed them with leftover meats and breads they had each day. They would build the scraps into sandwiches and hand them out to the “poorboys” who were out of work. The name became synonymous with the sandwich. It then was typically shortened to po’ boy. 

Today po’ boy sandwiches are filled with just about anything you can imagine – though fried seafood, ham and cheese, and roast beef are traditional. 

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po 'Boys

And this roast beef po’ boy is why we’re here today. But it’s not just any ol’ roast beef po’ boy, it’s a debris po’ boy.

The folks down at Mother’s Restaurant in New Orleans lay claim to the specific debris po’ boy and say that debris (pronounced day-bree) is all the stuff that falls off the roast beef while its cooking, mixed up in the rendered beef fat and juice.

It’s evolved a little bit over time and is now more of a sandwich made up of super tender, fall-apart, shredded roast beef, gravy, and fixings. At Mother’s those fixings are mayo, creole, and yellow mustard, shredded cabbage, and pickles and my affinity for their sandwich is exactly why I’ve made this one the same way. 

But again, this isn’t a regular old roast beef sandwich. What makes it different is how super tender the meat is and all that delicious gravy. This is a gravy-running-down-your-arms kinda sandwich. You’re seriously gonna need some napkins here.

Oh and then there’s the bread. 

For me, making a true po’ boy calls for only one kind of bread. Leidenheimer bread. It’s got a super light, almost cotton candy-esque, interior and amazingly crisp exterior. It’s perfect for sopping up all the juicy gravy from the meat. And while I’m fortunate enough to have a local restaurant that uses the New Orleans classic bread that will sell me some, I know not everyone has a source for the stuff. So opt for a light, tender French bread style sub roll and toast it in the oven for a few minutes to try and recreate that crispy exterior. It ain’t perfect, but it works. 

Here’s the thing… regardless of the exact ingredients, meat, bread, and gravy can’t be a bad thing. So if you’re needing a little comforting, you need to try this out!

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po 'Boys
Print Pin Save
5 from 4 votes

Recipe Card

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po' Boys

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Servings 6
Author Stacey Little | Southern Bite

Ingredients

  • 1 (2.5 to 3-pound) beef chuck roast
  • 1 (1-ounce) packet au jus mix
  • 1 (.87-ounce) packet brown gravy mix
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 to 6 French bread sub rolls - about 6 inches each (or 2 large French bread loaves cut into 2 to 3 pieces each)
  • finely shredded cabbage
  • dill pickle chips
  • mayo
  • yellow mustard
  • creole mustard

Instructions

  • Spray the crock of a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Add the chuck roast.
    In a small bowl, whisk together the au jus mix, gravy mix, and 1 cup of water. Pour it over the roast. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  • Once the beef is super tender, carefully remove the roast from the slow cooker and shred the meat when cool enough to handle. Discard the fat and return the shredded meat to the gravy in the slow cooker. Mix to combine.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Warm the bread in the oven for 3 to 5 minutes to crisp up the exterior.
  • Dress the bread with mayo and Creole and/or yellow mustard. Add generous amounts of the shredded beef and gravy to the sandwich. Top with the shredded cabbage and pickles.
Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po 'Boys
Did you make my Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po' Boys?I'd love to see! Share on Instagram, tag @southernbite, and use the hashtag #southernbite!
Tag on Insta Leave a Rating

Pin It!
Slow Cooker Roast Beef Debris Po 'Boys

Know some folks who would like this?

Related Posts

Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti served with fork
Ultimate Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Slow cooker corned beef and cabbage
Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
Scoopful of Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Bowl of Slow Cooker Creole Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Creole Beef Stew
Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter YouTube
About Cookbook Shop Contact

Join my mailing list!

Get new Southern Bite recipes delivered right to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you my Breakfast Bites mini ebook!

No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Rate & Comment Cancel reply

    I love hearing from y'all! Comments, suggestions, and questions are always welcome. Kindness is required. Your email address will not be published.

    Recipe Rating




  1. Jane Becnel

    December 16, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    My sister-in-law fed us this and I fell in love! I was surprised when she sent me the recipe because it only called for the au jus and brown gravy packet. I assumed it contained so much more but she insisted it didn’t. I’m cooking this for New Year’s Eve.

    Reply
    • Stacey

      December 17, 2021 at 8:26 am

      Awesome! So glad to hear y’all enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Sue Turnage Hilbert

    May 19, 2021 at 9:06 am

    I made this several times. This is my very favorite! These are the closest beef po-boys to the New Orleans po-boys that I have found. Making them today for my birthday!

    Reply
    • Stacey

      May 19, 2021 at 9:24 am

      I couldn’t get a higher compliment! So glad to hear you’ve enjoyed this recipe and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

      Reply
« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

Stacey Little of Southern Bite

Hey, y’all! I’m Stacey…

Feeding people makes me happy. Few things in this world delight me more than my family and friends gathered around my table enjoying a meal. Pull up a chair and join us! Read more…

Instagram Pinterest Facebook Twitter YouTube
About Cookbook Shop Contact
The Southern Bite Cookbook cover

Trending Now

  • Closer photo of Ultimate Chicken Spaghetti Ultimate Chicken Spaghetti
  • Simple Cucumber and Onion Salad
  • These quick and easy enchiladas only call for 5 ingredients and are ready in no time! It's the perfect recipe for a busy weeknight! #recipe #southernbite #enchiladas #easy #quick #weeknight 5 Ingredient Beef Enchiladas
  • Fried corn in cast iron skillet Southern Fried Corn
  • Fajita Chicken Casserole
  • Close photo of Tomato and Cracker Salad Tomato Cracker Salad

As Seen On

As seen on logos

Recipes by Category

  • Appetizers
  • Beverages
  • Breads
  • Breakfast
  • Desserts
  • Main Course
  • Sauces/Dressings
  • Sides
  • Slow Cooker
  • Snacks
  • Soups
  • Weeknight Bites
  • Work with Me
  • My Cookbook
  • Contact
  • Cookbooks I Love
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

© 2009–2022 Southern Bite / Stacey Little Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. All Content Protected By Federal Copyright Laws.