This Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich recipe makes it easy to enjoy these rich, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth sandwiches any day of the week. They’re served on crusty hoagie rolls along with melted provolone cheese, caramelized onions, and a side of au jus sauce for dipping.
For more classic sandwich recipes, you can also try our Meatball Sub Sandwich, Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, or these Old Fashioned Sloppy Joes.
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Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Sometimes, it just doesn’t get much better than a good old fashioned sandwich, like this classic French Dip sandwich. It’s got it all—juicy, flavorful, slow cooked beef, melted cheese, caramelized onions, and a big crusty roll. And it wouldn’t be a French Dip without a side of au jus for dipping.
Sure, they’re a little messy but tell me it’s not worth it. Using the slow cooker makes the whole recipe incredibly simple. You can also prep the beef, sauce, and even the onions in advance and heat it all up when you are ready to serve.
Key Ingredients
- Caramelized Onions - sweet and rich caramelized onions are the perfect condiment to serve on these savory beef sandwiches.
- Chuck Beef Roast - because it cooks so well in a slow cooker, I love to use chuck roast. It becomes super tender and juicy when cooked low and slow. A rump roast would also work well.
- Worcestershire Sauce - this classic ingredient adds so much flavor to the beef. There really isn’t a good substitute so I recommend using the real deal.
- Hoagie Buns - you want to serve a French Dip on a soft yet sturdy bun. Hoagie rolls work great, as do any kind of crusty artisan sandwich rolls, like ciabatta, or French bread.
- Provolone Cheese - provolone cheese is the classic French Dip cheese to use. Swiss cheese would also work great.
How to Make This French Dip Sandwich Recipe
- Caramelize the onions. Cook sliced onions in a large Dutch oven over medium low heat for about 20 minutes, or until golden and brown.
- Slow cook the beef. Place the beef, caramelized onions, minced garlic, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and beef broth in a 6 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or until the meat can easily be shredded and the internal temperature reaches 190-195 degrees F.
- Shred the beef. Remove the roast from the slow cooker and shred the beef with 2 forks.
- Strain the au jus sauce. Pour the au jus sauce through a fine mesh strainer, then return the strained sauce to the slow cooker.
- Assemble the sandwiches. Spread mayo on one side of the sliced hoagie bun, then add the cheese to the other. Toast in the broiler until golden brown and the cheese is melted. Add the shredded beef to the bun.
- Serve. Transfer about ½ cup of the au jus sauce in the slow cooker to a small serving bowl. Serve the French Dip sandwich warm, dipped in the sauce. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yup—you can prep the beef up to a day or two in advance and then refrigerate it along with the au jus sauce. Once you are ready to serve, you can either reheat for about 1 hour in the slow cooker or in a Dutch oven or other sturdy pot until warmed through.
You want to use a cut of beef that will become super juicy and tender during a slow cooking process. The most classic (and best, IMO) kind to use is chuck roast. Rump roast would also work well.
Storing and Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerator: you can store both the beef and sauce in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: you can freeze the beef and sauce in freezer bags or another airtight container for up to 2 months. To thaw, just transfer to the fridge overnight.
- To reheat: either reheat in a crockpot for about 1-2 hours until warm, or transfer the beef and sauce to a Dutch oven and warm over medium high heat.
French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
- 2-3 medium Onions white or yellow, sliced in half and then sliced thinly
- 2-3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
Beef Chuck Roast
- 4-5 lb Chuck Beef Roast
- 2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic
- 2 cups Beef Broth
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- ¾ Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
French Dip Sandwich Ingredients
- 3 large Hoagie Buns
- 6 slices Provolone Cheese or Swiss cheese
- 3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise
Instructions
Caramelize the Onions
- Heat a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add the olive oil and heat until shimmering, add the onions and salt.
- Stir so they are all coated in the oil, then reduce heat to medium low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they turn a deep, rich, golden hue—about 20 minutes.
Make the Slow Cooker Beef Chuck Roast
- Place beef, caramelized onions, minced garlic, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and beef broth in a 6 quart slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours, or until the meat can easily be shredded and the internal temperature reaches 190-195 degrees F.
- Once cooked, remove the roast from the slow cooker and shred the beef with 2 forks. Pour the au jus sauce through a fine mesh strainer, then return the strained sauce to the slow cooker.
Assemble the Sandwiches
- Slice the buns in half-lengthwise and spread mayo on one side. Add the provolone cheese to the other, then toast in the broiler until golden brown. Remove from the oven and add the shredded beef.
- Transfer about ½ cup of the au jus sauce in the slow cooker to a small serving bowl. Serve the French Dip sandwich warm, dipped in the sauce. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More Beef Recipes
- Homemade Beef Stew
- Crockpot Rump Roast
- Chipotle Carne Asada
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Herb Crusted Top Round Roast
- Classic Beef Stroganoff
This recipe for slow cooker French Dip makes the most juicy, delicious sandwiches. Served on crusty rolls with melted cheese and caramelized onions, they are comfort food at its best.
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