Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

These slow cooker French dip sandwiches are made with a beef roast cooked low and slow all day in a from-scratch au jus. After cooking, the tender beef is shredded and placed on our favorite French bread, topped with melty provolone cheese, and served with savory au jus for dipping.

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My husband absolutely loves these French dip sandwiches. Let’s just say he was patient but eagerly waiting at the supper table while I finished the recipe and took photographs for the blog.

He’s a huge fan, and I know you will be too! Who doesn’t like a savory, restaurant-quality sandwich that you can make at home with little effort? I mean, why not get this started early in the day and come home to a tasty meal made from scratch?! If you ask me, that’s better than going out to eat!

If you love making savory sandwiches at home, I also recommend making my Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. They’re authentic and super simple!

Why This Recipe Works

• As always, when developing my recipes for PBH, I not only develop them in our kitchen but also make each one to test them out! This ensures the flavors are perfect and the process goes smoothly.
• The slow-cooked beef all day long allows a flavorful, tender meat that’s perfect for a French dip.
• The from-scratch au jus allows the natural flavors of the beef to shine through while adding so much flavor!

Choosing the Bread for French Dip Sandwiches

The best bread for French dip sandwiches is French bread cut down into small sandwich-sized rolls! The crisp, crunchy crust doesn’t dissolve when dipping, but you still get that pillowy inside we all love.

I use my sourdough French bread recipe when making these sandwiches. You can make the bread ahead of time so it’s ready to go, or you can buy some at the grocery store if you choose.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• beef roast (chuck or sirloin tip)
• yellow onion 
• melted butter (salted is okay) or avocado oil
• beef broth or stock (salted is okay)
• kosher or sea salt 
• ground black pepper 
• onion powder
• garlic powder 
• balsamic vinegar
• french bread
• provolone cheese slices

Helpful Kitchen Tools

• Nontoxic slow cooker
• Mixing bowl
• Metal tongs

How to Make French Dip Sandwiches

Dice onion into small chunks and add to the bottom of the slow cooker.

Season roast on all sides with salt and pepper then place into slow cooker on top of onions.

In a bowl whisk together melted butter (or avocado oil), beef broth, onion powder, garlic powder, and balsamic vinegar.

Pour into slow cooker on the side of the roast. Then cover slow cooker with a lid.

Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Don’t open the lid during cooking time.

When finished cooking, take the beef out of the slow cooker and shred it with forks. 

Place shredded beef back into the slow cooker full of au jus. Let beef sit in the au jus covered for 5 minutes to moisten and become full of flavor. 

After 5 minutes, strain au jus out of the beef and onions mixture and serve in small bowls for dipping the sandwiches.

If you haven’t yet, cut the french bread down into smaller rolls and slice each one 3/4 of the way through horizontally. Place shredded beef inside and a slice of provolone cheese.

Serve sandwiches on a plate with a bowl of au jus for dipping. Enjoy!

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover meat a little differently than most people. I like to freeze it even if it’s just for overnight and we’re eating it the next day. By freezing leftover meat, it keeps it moist and full of flavor.

To do this, I place parchment paper in a freezer-safe glass storage bowl and then add in the cooled-down leftover French dip meat without the au jus. Then, cover with the airtight lid and place it in the freezer until ready to reheat. I place the au jus in a separate bowl in the fridge.

Reheating Leftovers

My favorite way to reheat leftover French dip beef is to transfer it to a glass or ceramic baking dish. Then reheat it in the oven at 375 degrees until warm. I add about 1/2 cup of au jus to it to keep the meat moist while reheating. This is so much better than the microwave!

Recipe FAQ’s

Tips for Making French Dip Sandwiches

• Choose a 2 to 3 pound chuck or sirloin tip roast with marbling in the meat. This makes the flavor so much better!
• Season the roast BEFORE placing in the slow cooker. This ensures the salt and pepper gets cooked right into the meat.
• Use French bread to serve the beef. It holds the juices in well without dissolving the bread.
• Use provolone slices for the best cheesy flavor. It melts really well.

More Slow Cooker Recipes

• Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup
• Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Potatoes and Peppers
• Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes (Slow Cooker Recipe)
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches Recipe

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

Molly LaFontaine

These slow cooker French dip sandwiches are made with a beef roast cooked low and slow all day in a from-scratch au jus. After cooking, the tender beef is shredded and placed on our favorite French bread, topped with melty provolone cheese, and served with savory au jus for dipping.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 hours hrs

Total Time 7 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Slow Cooker

Servings 6 sandwiches (approximately)

Ingredients

  

• 2-3 pound beef roast (chuck or sirloin tip)
• 1/2 of a yellow onion
• 3 Tbsp melted butter (or avocado oil)
• 3 cups beef broth or stock (low sodium)
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Sandwiches

• french bread cut into small rolls
• provolone cheese slices

Instructions

 

• Dice onion into small chunks and add to the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Season roast on all sides with salt and pepper then place into slow cooker on top of onions.
• In a bowl whisk together melted butter (or avocado oil), beef broth, onion powder, garlic powder, and balsamic vinegar.
• Pour into slow cooker on the side of the roast. Then cover slow cooker with a lid.
• Cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Don’t open the lid during cooking time.
• When finished cooking, take the beef out of the slow cooker and shred it with forks.
• Place shredded beef back into the slow cooker full of au jus. Let beef sit in the au jus, covered with the lid, for 5 minutes to moisten and become full of flavor.
• After 5 minutes, strain au jus out of the beef and onions and serve in small bowls for dipping the sandwiches.
• If you haven’t yet, cut the French bread down into smaller rolls and slice each one 3/4 of the way through horizontally. Place shredded beef inside and a slice of provolone cheese.
• Serve sandwiches on a plate with a bowl of au jus for dipping. Enjoy!

Notes

 

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover meat a little differently than most people. I like to freeze it even if it's just for overnight and we're eating it the next day. By freezing leftover meat, it keeps it moist and full of flavor. It will also last 3-4 months in the freezer.

To do this, I place parchment paper in a freezer-safe glass storage bowl and then add in the cooled-down leftover French dip meat without the au jus. Then, cover with the airtight lid and place it in the freezer until ready to reheat. I place the au jus in a separate bowl in the fridge.

Reheating Leftovers

My favorite way to reheat leftover French dip beef is to transfer it to a glass or ceramic baking dish. Then reheat it in the oven at 375 degrees until warm. I add about 1/2 cup of au jus to it to keep the meat moist while reheating. This is so much better than the microwave!

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