This Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich is the ultimate, crave-worthy, easy comfort food made easily in the crockpot. Tender, juicy beef, simmered in a savory au jus broth, piled high on toasted hoagie rolls with melty provolone cheese.
Crockpot French dip recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, game day gatherings, or feeding a crowd with minimal effort. With simple, real ingredients and no packaged soup mix, you’ll get restaurant-quality flavor right at home.
These Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches deliver amazing flavors with no soup mix, and a simple recipe. The shredded beef is juicy and tender. An easy crockpot dinner recipe that is perfect for weeknights, meal prep, or game day.
For specifics on the recipe, use the table of contents to click on sections of the recipe.
Jump to:
- Why you'll love Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Ingredients to make Crockpot French Dips
- Kitchen Tools to Make French Dip Sandwiches in the Slow Cooker
- How to make Slow Cooker French Dips
- Storage Tips for Slow Cooker Beef Dip Sandwiches
- Eileen's Tips for the Best Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Variations for Crockpot French Dips
- Slow Cooker French Dip FAQs
- What to serve with French Dip Sandwiches
- More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why you'll love Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Easy Slow Cooker Dinner: These Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches are perfect for easy, no-fuss weeknight meals.
- Quick Prep: 10 minutes prep is all you need, and the slow cooker does the rest.
- No Soup Mix: Many recipes use soup mix to make French Dips. We use no processed ingredients for better flavors.
- Meal Prep and Freezer Meals: This slow-cooker beef dinner is perfect for meal planning and freezer meals.
- Perfect for Entertaining: These crockpot French dip sandwiches are always a crowd favorite for parties and game day.
Love slow cooker recipes? Try our Slow Cooker Cubano Pork Sandwich, Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches, Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Crockpot Corn Chowder.
Ingredients to make Crockpot French Dips
Main Ingredients with options and variations
- Chuck Roast: Bottom Round Roast or Rump Roast are the best beef cuts for French Dip Sandwiches.
- Avocado Oil: If searing the meat, use this oil or any of your favorites, such as canola oil or vegetable oil. Or a combination of unsalted butter and oil can be used for additional flavor.
- Yellow onion: Onions add rich flavors to the au jus for the sandwiches. White onion or Vidalia onion is also an option for the recipe.
- Fat-Free Beef Broth: This forms the au jus for the French dip sandwiches. I prefer to use fat-free beef broth.
- Light Soy Sauce: Adds umami flavor. Low sodium is preferred. Gluten-free option: tamari or liquid amino acids can be used.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Enhances the savory richness of the broth.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds tanginess to the au jus, and it is an excellent flavor enhancer. If Dijon is unavailable, feel free to use another mustard you have in the refrigerator.
- Thyme & Bay Leaf: Classic herbs that elevate the broth.
- Hoagie Rolls: A thicker hoagie roll is best to stand up to the beef and au jus.
- Provolone Cheese: Melts beautifully for the perfect sandwich. Swiss cheese is a great alternative.
- Salted butter, optional: For extra flavor, add salted butter to the bread before placing the bread under the broiler.
Kitchen Tools to Make French Dip Sandwiches in the Slow Cooker
- Ninja 8-1 Slow Cooker
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Saute Pan, 5-quart
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Meat Shredder
How to make Slow Cooker French Dips
This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.
- Generously season the meat.
- Sear the meat until golden brown on all sides.
- Sauté the onions and add the beef stock to pick up any brown bits at the bottom of the pan.
- Place the browned meat, onions, beef stock, and remaining liquids, Dijon, and herbs in the slow cooker vessel.
- Slow cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours, until the beef is fork-tender. An instant-read thermometer should be used to check the internal temperature of the meat. It should read 165°F.
- Shred the meat. Add back into the au jus.
- Broil the hoagie rolls with butter and provolone cheese.
- Add the shredded beef to the rolls
- Serve the French dip sandwiches with au jus sauce.
Storage Tips for Slow Cooker Beef Dip Sandwiches
Refrigerator: Store leftover shredded beef and au jus in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer Instructions: The cooked meat can be stored in a freezer-friendly container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Make Ahead: This Crockpot French Dip Recipe is perfect for make-ahead meals. Prepare up to 2 days ahead and keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Assemble the sandwiches and serve.
Eileen's Tips for the Best Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
- Cuts of Beef: Tougher cuts of meat, such as the rump roast and bottom round, work best for these easy French Dip sandwiches.
- Extra Steps to Brown the Beef: Searing the meat before slow cooking adds deep, rich flavor to the au jus—don’t skip this step.
- Rolls: Toast the rolls with butter and cheese for the best texture and flavor.
- For extra flavor, skim excess fat from the au jus before serving.
Variations for Crockpot French Dips
Want to change up this recipe?
- Broth: For a low-sodium option, use fat-free beef broth or low-sodium beef broth.
- Soy Sauce: The recipe uses low-sodium soy sauce. Gluten-free options would be using Tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Cheese: Other options: Swiss Cheese, Mozzarella cheese, or smoked Gouda.
- Bread: Hoagie Rolls, Italian bread, or French bread all work well.
- Gluten-Free: Use Tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce. Also, use gluten-free rolls.
- If you prefer using a pressure cooker, try our Instant Pot French Dips
Slow Cooker French Dip FAQs
Searing the meat adds amazing flavor to the sandwiches. I recommend taking the extra step by browning the meat.
After the beef is seared, add beef broth to the pan to pick up any brown bits the bottom of the pan for extra flavor.
I use the Ninja 8-1 Multicooker , which has a searing function and a slow cooker function, making the whole process easy.
I love food history, and the French Dip origin is no different for me. According to this interesting read, the French Dip originated in California at one of two famous eateries, Coles or Philippe's.
The most popular beef cuts for French Dips are chuck roast, rump roast, or bottom round roast, as they are all great for shredding and slow cooking. Brisket and Top Round can be used, though top round is very lean and would be better sliced.
What to serve with French Dip Sandwiches
Have a well-balanced meal with any of these delicious side dishes:
This recipe was originally published on March 10, 2018. It has been updated with new photos and slight adjustments to the recipe to improve the user experience and enhance the flavors of the French Dips.
I love any comments or questions. Please feel free to leave them below.
Keep up to date with recipes by following me on:
FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM PINTEREST TWITTER
Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.
Eileen xo
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card, you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
📖 Recipe
Save the Recipe?
Enter your email below and we'll send the recipe straight to your inbox to view anytime. Plus the bonus of regular recipes to you for inspiration!
Easy Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients
- 4 pounds boneless chuck roast Note 1
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil Note 2, if browning meat in Dutch Oven
- 1 large yellow onion (thinly sliced)
- 14.5 ounce can, low sodium beef broth or homemade beef stock
- ¼ cup light soy sauce gluten-free use Tamari
- 3-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 6 hoagie rolls
- 2 teaspoons salted butter (softened optional
- 6 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Pat 4 pounds boneless chuck roast dry using a paper towel. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder , ½ teaspoon onion powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Sprinkle the meat all over with the seasonings.
Browning Meat and Onion Option
- Method one- most preferred. Heat a heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat add 1 Tablespoon avocado oil. Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned meat and brown on all sides. Place the browned beef in the slow cooker.
- To the pan, add 1 large yellow onion (thinly sliced), saute for about 5 to 7 minutes to soften the onions. Add 14.5 ounce can, low sodium beef broth to the pan and use a wooden spoon to loosen the brown bits at the bottom of the pan. Add the broth and onions to the slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker: ¼ cup light soy sauce , 3-4 dashes Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 Bay Leaf, and 3 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high for 5 hours or low for 7 to 8 hours. The meat will be tender and pull apart easily. Shred beef with forks.
- To prepare the 6 hoagie rolls hoagies. Place the broiler on high. Place oven rack on the third rack from the top of the oven.Slice rolls in half, lengthwise. I prefer to remove some of the breading inside the hoagie. If adding, divide 2 teaspoons salted butter (softened onto the sliced hoagie halves.
- Place one of the 6 slices provolone cheese on each of the top hoagie. Broil for a few seconds to melt the cheese, about 20-30 seconds. Watch closely so the bread and cheese do not burn.
- Once the bread is toasted, remove from the oven. Divide the shredded beef on the bottom hoagie. Serve with the au jus sauce. Serve immediately.
- Method two- Add everything to the slow cooker without browning the meat.
No prebrowning of the meat or onions
- Add all ingredients except for the sandwich makings of hoage bread and cheese. Follow the slow cooker method and sandwich creating above.
NOTES
Nutrition
