These Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches are the BEST! Buttery golden buns, stuffed with fall-apart tender beef and gooey provolone cheese, then dipped in the most flavorful au jus sauce … these really are the ultimate sandwich. And when you make them in the Crock Pot, they’re so easy. Read on to learn all about how to make a French dip sandwich!
I am head over heels for this slow cooker French dip sandwich recipe! We’re talking just 10 minutes of prep, then the slow cooker does all the work. The best part is that instead of a separate au jus recipe for French dip sandwiches, the au jus dipping sauce is made right in the Crockpot while the beef cooks! So easy.
You may have tried the French dip sandwich that Arby’s famously sells, or perhaps you had them for dinner growing up. Either way, French dips are a hugely popular sandwich, for good reason! That tender beef on a sturdy toasted bun, and the full-of-flavor au jus sauce for dipping … so good!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Effortless to make – This truly is such an easy French dip sandwich recipe … just add the ingredients to your Crockpot and come home a few hours later to the most tender, fall-apart beef. Toast up your buns, add cheese, pile them high with the shredded beef, and dinner is served!
- Family friendly – Everyone young and old loves this crock pot recipe for French dip sandwiches with au jus. They’re not only easy to make, they’re fun to eat!
- Versatile – I love making these slow cooker French dip sandwiches for dinner, but they’re great for lunch, too. And the leftover beef can be used in all kinds of ways!
- Easy to prep ahead – Assemble the ingredients right in your Crock Pot then refrigerate up to 2 days ahead of time. Then, when you know you have a busy day ahead, just pull it out in the morning, turn it on, and come home to easy French dip sandwiches!
Recipe Notes
This Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches recipe is as simple as promised! Just 10 minutes prep time for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Chuck roast – I like to use a boneless chuck for this slow cooker French dip sandwich recipe. It cooks up tender, rich, and full of beefy flavor.
- Onion soup mix – Key to adding irresistible French onion flavor!
- Garlic – You’ll want three cloves, minced or pressed.
- Thyme – Just a small amount of dried thyme adds earthy, herbaceous flavor without overpowering the other flavors in these French dip sandwiches.
- Worcestershire sauce – This sauce brings a tangy-sweet note of flavor that is so good!
- Condensed French onion soup – Another key component for adding loads of caramelized onion flavor.
- Butter – For brushing on the insides of the buns before broiling them. I like to use salted butter for the most flavor.
- Rolls – Hoagie rolls are perfect for this easy French dip sandwich recipe. They’re sturdy and hold up to being packed full of tender juicy beef plus dipping in au jus.
- Provolone cheese – While the provolone is optional, I really like adding it for that melty, oozy quality and the added cheesy flavor.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich– Instead of chuck roast, swap in prime rib.
- Philly Cheesesteak French Dip Sandwich– Cut half an onion and a green bell pepper into strips and saute them. Pile them on top of the beef inside the sandwich.
- Spicy French Dip Sandwich– Add 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red peppers to the seasonings for the chuck roast. Top the sandwich with spicy pickled jalapeños when assembling.
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches.
Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker and season with the onion soup mix, garlic, and thyme. Add the Worcestershire sauce and onion soup. Top with pats of butter.
Place the lid on the Crock Pot and cook until the roast is fall-apart tender. Remove the roast and shred. Drain the fat from the leftover juices and place in bowls for the au jus dipping sauce.
Brush the insides of the rolls with melted butter.
Broil the rolls until golden brown.
Line the bottom half of the bun with the cheese and stuff with beef.
Serve with au jus sauce for dipping.
Recipe Tips
- Use forks to shred the beef – It’s super easy to shred the cooked beef roast right in the pot with just a couple of forks. Use the forks to pull the beef apart and it will shred perfectly.
- Melt & brush the butter – Instead of trying to spread hard cold butter on the buns, I like to melt the butter and brush the rolls with it. So much easier, and no torn rolls!
- Broil carefully – Broiling the hoagie rolls is a great way to get them golden and crispy, but watch them closely! Rolls can go from golden to burned quickly under the intense heat.
Recipe Short Cut
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here is an idea that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep ahead – Get the roast in the Crock Pot all ready to go, then cover and refrigerate it in the Crock up to 2 days ahead of time. When you’re ready to cook it, just pull it out in the morning and set the timer.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Coat the roast with the onion soup mix, garlic, and thyme, and place it in a large freezer bag. Add the Worcestershire sauce, soup, and butter.
- Freeze for up to 6 months.
- When you’re ready to cook it, thaw overnight in the fridge then place the roast and the other contents in the bag into the Crock Pot and set the timer. The roast may still be frozen in the middle, so it may take a couple extra hours to cook.
How to Freeze Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches After Cooking
- Transfer the roast beef to a freezer bag. Place the au jus in a separate freezer bag or freezer-safe airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 6 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge then warm the beef and au jus in the microwave or on the stovetop. Then it’s just a matter of toasting the buns and assembling your sandwiches,
What to Serve with Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of beef and caramelized onions, it will pair well with many of your favorite classic side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Leftover Roast Grilled Cheese– Swap in the leftover beef in a delicious version of these Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. They’re so good!
- French Dip Quesadillas– Stuff flour tortillas with leftover beef and cover with shredded pepper jack cheese. Fry in a skillet until golden and melty and serve with sour cream and au jus for dipping.
- Shredded Beef Nachos– Top nachos with leftover shredded beef. Pile with cheddar, black beans, tomatoes, onions, and sliced jalapeños. Serve with salsa and sour cream.
- Au Jus Beef with Mashed Potatoes– Mix together the leftover shredded beef and au jus. Serve warm over mashed potatoes for a hearty entree.
Recipe FAQ’s
What is the best cut of meat for French dip sandwiches?
If you’re slow-cooking the beef like in this Crockpot French Dip recipe, I recommend chuck roast or rump roast.
What’s the difference between French dip and Italian beef?
Italian Beef sandwiches contain roast that’s flavored with Italian spices and they are not served with au jus on the side (though the beef may be moistened with au jus). They also often have pickled peppers or other veggies in them. French Dip sandwiches are often flavored with caramelized onions and served with au jus sauce for dipping.
What are French Dip Sandwiches?
French dip sandwiches are a classic sandwich that goes way back. They might be called “French,” but they were actually created in Los Angeles in the early 1900s.
More EASY Sandwich Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy sandwich recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Cuban Sliders
- Buffalo Chicken Burgers
- Top Round Steak Sandwich with Mushrooms
- Easy Philly Cheesesteak (with Ground Beef)
Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3 pound chuck roast, (2.5-3.5 pound will work)
- 2 tablespoons onion soup mix, (1 envelope)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 10.5 ounces condensed french onion soup, (1 can)
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 8 small (4 inch) hoagie rolls, (or 4 large (6-8 inch) rolls)
- 4 ounces provolone cheese, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Place the chuck roast in the bottom of the slow cooker. Season all sides with the onion soup mix, garlic, and thyme.
- Pour the Worcestershire sauce and onion soup over the top of the chuck roast. Cut one tablespoon of butter into two pats, and place them on top of the roast. Then place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook for 6-8 hours on high, or 8-10 hours on low.
- Once done, carefully remove the roast and shred the meat, discarding any extra fat or connective tissues.
- Drain the fat from the juices and place in a bowl, or bowls for the au jus dipping sauce.
- Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Cut each roll in half and brush with butter. Place the rolls on a baking sheet cut side up and broil for 2-4 minutes or until the edges are toasted.
- Make sandwiches by adding the shredded beef to the rolls, topping with cheese, then serving with a bowl of the au jus dipping sauce.
Recipe Notes
- Garlic: If you don’t have any fresh garlic on hand, you can swap in 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
Leave a Reply