There's something truly special about the savory aroma that fills your kitchen when you prepare Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches. It's the kind of meal that can make any cool fall or winter day feel cozy. Whether you’re a working mom looking for an easy dinner or planning a party food spread, this recipe is always a family favorite. You can simply throw everything in your Slow Cooker or INSTANT POT in the morning, and by the time dinner rolls around, your house will smell amazing with the tender beef, caramelized onions, and melted cheese ready to be piled on a crusty roll.
The beauty of this dish is how easy it is. In just 15 minutes, you can prepare everything, and then the crockpot does all the hard work for you. The beef is cooked low and slow, soaking up all the rich juices, making each bite melt-in-your-mouth tender. The combination of the slow cooked beef, thick cheese, and golden toasted bun topped with provolone cheese (or swiss cheese) makes it a standout. Add a side of crispy French fries or a bowl of au jus for dipping, and you’ve got the perfect meal that will leave everyone asking for more.
Whether it’s year round or on those days when you just want something comforting and mouth watering, these French Dip sandwiches will never disappoint. Juicy beef, gooey cheese, and flavor bursting au jus make every bite a dream. Trust me—after trying this recipe, you’ll be hooked. It’s a meal that’s as satisfying as it is delectably delicious, and even the teetotalers won’t be able to detect the beer used in the recipe. You'll want to dunk every bite, and when it’s done, you’ll be left wondering why you didn’t make this sooner.
A French Dip sandwich is a hot sandwich filled with tender slices of beef layered on a long French roll, often topped with melted cheese. The best part? It’s dipped in au jus, a rich flavorful sauce made from pan juices, or broth, for an extra burst of taste. It's a classic that never goes out of style!
When it comes to making the best French Dip Sandwiches in the Crock Pot, this recipe is hands down a game changer. With a Slow Cooker, it’s easy to prep and cook, giving you tender, meaty, melt-in-your-mouth sandwiches. The taste is so good that you’ll be dreaming about it long after your last bite, and every time you make it, you’ll be giddy with excitement.
I had high expectations when I first tried this recipe, and let me tell you, it exceeded them all. The cheese and the meaty flavors combine perfectly, making it one of the best meals ever. From the planning stages to consuming the delicious sandwiches, this recipe is sure to be a forever favorite, and hundreds of people agree based on the comments. You’ll keep coming back for more, and you’ll be the one everyone looks to for the best French Dip.
1- The beef consommé combined with COKE, oregano, and garlic creates a savory and flavorful broth that bathes the meat, infusing it with rich spices. The dry thyme, onion powder, and dry minced onions make this broth even more moist and tender.
2- The roast is cooked low and slow in the slow cooker for hours, ensuring the meat becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender. After being thinly sliced, it’s soaked in the seasoned broth, making it drenched in flavor and ready to melt in your mouth.
3- Provolone cheese is the perfect topper for the beef. When melted and baked on a hoagie bun, it becomes ooey gooey and bubbly, giving the sandwich an irresistible, juicy finish.
4- The final touch is dipping your sandwich into the leftover slow cooker juices, making it even more flavorful, adding a perfect dunkable texture to the savory meat and drippy buns.
This Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches recipe works because it’s incredibly easy and full of flavor. The slow cooker does most of the work, ensuring the tender beef soaks up all the rich beef broth, meat juices, and savory au jus. The fall-apart-tender meat, combined with the french onion soup mix, makes each bite juicy and packed with taste.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd for a special occasion or just want a delicious meal for game day, this recipe is always a hit. Plus, with minimal prep work—no need to sear the meat first—you’ll be able to enjoy a perfect recipe without the hassle. The French Dip is a classic, born in Los Angeles in the early 1900’s, making it not only tasty but full of lore and history!
Prepping for these Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches is simple and quick. Start by grabbing a 3-4 pound chuck roast and season it with salt, pepper, and garlic on all sides. Next, slice up an onion and gather the rest of the ingredients. The prep work is minimal, and it’s the perfect go-to recipe for a slow cooker meal that requires little effort but results in a delicious, savory meal. Once everything is ready, just toss it all in the slow cooker and let it cook!
For this easy Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches recipe, you’ll need a few simple ingredients that come together to create the perfect meal. Here’s what you’ll need:
3-4 lb Chuck Roast: A tender, well-marbled cut of beef is essential for the best flavor.
Salt and pepper: These are basic seasonings to enhance the flavor of your roast.
Garlic powder: Adds a savory touch to the beef.
2 TBSP butter: For sautéing the onions and adding richness to the dish.
1 onion, sliced: The onions will soften and bring out a sweet flavor as they cook.
2 TBSP minced garlic: To add that extra depth of flavor.
2 TBSP Worcestershire sauce: This adds a tangy and savory kick.
12 oz beer: Beer tenderizes the beef and adds a slight bitterness to balance the flavors.
1 package Au Jus: This is key for the flavorful dipping sauce.
1 1/2 cups beef broth: Beef broth adds moisture and enhances the beef flavor.
Sub rolls: Soft, crusty rolls are perfect for piling up the juicy shredded beef.
Provolone cheese: A gooey, melty cheese that makes your sandwich extra delicious.
For extra flavor, you can also add beef consommé, Better-than-Bouillon, beef bouillon, and even a little soy sauce for richness. If you're looking for a more unique twist, Coca-Cola can tenderize and add a hint of sweetness to the beef. Dried herbs like oregano, dried minced onions, and spices will elevate the flavor profile.
Enjoy the flavors with French bread rolls or hoagie rolls, toasted to perfection!
Roast: While chuck roast is a favorite because it’s easy to shred and tender, you can also use other beef cuts depending on your preference. The key is to select a roast that can cook long enough to become tender and flavorful.
Seasoning: For extra flavor, try adding bay leaf, onion powder, or garlic powder to your seasoning mix. I like to start with ½ teaspoon, but you can adjust the amounts based on your taste. Feel free to experiment with different combinations!
Sauce: To elevate the sauce, add a touch of soy sauce and Worcestershire Sauce to the beef broth. These additions bring out a richer flavor that’s perfect for dipping your sandwiches.
Using the Instant Pot for this recipe is a great option if you want to speed things up while still getting a tender roast. The sauté function allows you to brown the meat and onions right in the pot before cooking, which adds extra flavor. While the Instant Pot can cook the roast in about 2 hours, most of that time is hands-off, giving you time to focus on other tasks. Keep in mind that even though the name suggests it’s instant, the cooking time still takes a good amount of time to make the beef tender and flavorful from start to finish.
For the Slow Cooker option, I stick with the original method since it's my favorite. It may take 2-3 times the amount of time compared to the Instant Pot, but I love checking the meat for tenderness during the last hour or two. The meat always turns out super tender and falling apart, which makes the slow-cooked version worth the wait.
For Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches, rump roast and chuck roast are the most common choices due to their great flavor and tenderness. You can also opt for a Boneless Bottom Round or Top Sirloin Roast if you prefer a leaner cut. Just keep in mind that fat helps add flavor and moisture, but you can always trim excess fat depending on your taste preference or budget.
Au jus is a thin dipping juice made from beef broth, worcestershire sauce, and the flavorful drippings from the meat. After cooking, strain out the solids to leave just the liquids. It has a thin consistency, not like gravy, but is still packed with flavor, perfect for dipping your sandwiches into. It is what gives the Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches that extra delicious touch!
Store leftover meat and onions in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and keep au jus separately. Reheat before assembling sandwiches.
Once your roast is tender and shredded, use forks to remove any extra fat. Add the shredded beef back into the crockpot and stir well. For the sandwiches, build them using your favorite bread Italian bread from Sam’s Club or bread from Jimmy John’s both work great. Place the sandwiches on a sheet pan and put them under the broiler in the oven just long enough to melt the cheese and make the bread a little crispy. Top each sandwich with provolone cheese and serve with the extra Au Jus for dipping. Enjoy!
If you like this recipe check out some of my other favorite dinner recipes.
To get the best flavor in your Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches, always start with a well-thawed chuck roast. Searing the roast first will help tenderize the meat and lock in the flavor. If you're using beer, opt for dark beer like Busch Light for a richer taste. I recommend cooking the roast low for 8 hours in the Slow Cooker, as this will make it tender and easy to shred. If you want to thicken your Au Jus, mix cornstarch with water and stir it in on high. For the best sandwich, use Italian bread or Jimmy John’s for a soft, yet crispy texture when you broil it with a slice of cheese. Enjoy the delicious French dip sauce on the side to dip your sandwiches!
These Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches are tender and full of flavor. The roast cooks slowly in a rich beef consommé, then is topped with melted provolone cheese on toasted hoagie buns. Dip in the tasty au jus for a delicious, savory sandwich that’s hard to resist!
In your slow cooker, combine beef consommé, soy sauce, COKE, dry minced onions, oregano, dry thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir to mix the ingredients well. This will create your dunkable au jus.
Place the roast into the slow cooker and cover it with the liquid mixture. Cook on low heat for 4 hours. After 4 hours, remove the roast and slice it thinly while it’s still firm enough to hold together. Return the thin slices to the slow cooker for an additional 2 hours so the meat can soak in all the flavorful broth.
Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Slice the hoagie rolls lengthwise. Pile the thinly sliced beef onto the rolls and top with provolone cheese.
Place the assembled sandwiches on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is ooey gooey and bubbly.
Remove the sandwiches from the oven. Serve them immediately with a side of the au jus for dipping.
Servings 4
* Note: These values are approximations and may vary depending on the exact brands and ingredients used.
Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches are a savory, melt-in-your-mouth meal made by slow-cooking a tender roast in a flavorful broth, then piling it onto hoagie rolls with provolone cheese. The beef soaks in the delicious au jus, making it perfect for dipping. With minimal prep time, it’s an easy and satisfying meal, ideal for gatherings or a cozy dinner.
