These Easy Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches are as simple as adding the ingredients to your slow cooker and letting it infuse your house with the intoxicating aroma of beef simmering in a richly seasoned au jus until it reaches mouthwatering perfection.
There is something about the aroma of a crock pot wafting through the air as the snow falls outside your window. Am I right? Crock pots are great during summer because they won't heat up your kitchen on sultry days, but they really encapsulate the idealistic winter day when a comforting meal is spitting and sputtering away in a bath of bubbling broth.
Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches
During the heart of January, nothing will quite warm up your house like the smell of this easy Crock Pot French Dip cooking on your countertop! And the wait is certainly worth it, the hours transform a simple chuck roast into succulent shreds of flavor-infused beef. Perfect for dunking in a seasoned au jus broth!
There are two ways you can make this: An authentic French Dip Sandwich is made with thinly sliced beef. However, the easier way is just to let the beef continue to cook in the crock pot until it is easily shreddable. This way is easier because you don't have to monitor the meat to make sure you carve it before it begins to fall apart.
Needless to say, you will need a slow cooker to make these Crock Pot French Dip sandwiches. When buying a slow cooker there are only a couple features I look for: Does it have high, low, and keep warm? And if you plan on bringing it to pot-lucks it is nice to have a latching lid. Beyond that, I see no reason to get overly extravagant with your purchase.
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Best Cheese for French Dip Sandwiches
A mild and creamy cheese is preferred for French Dip Sandwiches, with Provolone cheese being the best. Mozzarella cheese and Monterey Jack cheese would both be acceptable substitutions if needed. Stay away from strongly flavored cheeses like sharp cheddar which will mask the flavors of your 'jus'.
Best Cut of Beef for These Sandwiches
If you are thinly slicing the beef for an authentic French Dip Sandwich, I would recommend using rump roast. However, a less expensive chuck roast is ideal for a shredded Frech Dip Sandwich in the slow cooker. As it cooks the slow cooker will slowly break down the tough cut of meat into delectably tender morsels perfect for piling high on a French roll.
What is Au Jus?
Au Jus literally means, "with juice". All of the best French Dip recipes will call for dunking the sandwich in the cooking liquid. It's what makes a French Dip a French DIP.
Beer, condensed onion soup, and beef consomme combine to make an exceptionally flavorful jus for dipping. Even better, when using a chuck roast for Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches the fat will create a more luxurious dipping liquid as it renders out.
Best French Dip Bun
Since a French Dip is obviously dipped, you need a bun that can withstand a bit of liquid without completely falling apart. For this reason, you will want to stay away from buns that feel excessively light an airy. A small French Baguette is a great choice for this sandwich or even a chewy hoagie roll.
What to Serve with French Dip Sandwiches?
Any decent greasy-spoon diner will offer to serve you french fries with your French dip sandwich, but don't forget about baked sweet potato fries for a flavorful twist. Alternatively, you can go with a lighter side such as my Kale and Broccoli Salad, or simply potato chips for a hassle-free option.
More Slow Cooker Sandwich Recipes
Easy Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 pounds beef roast (rump roast for slicing or chuck roast for shredding)
- 10.5 oz can beef consomme (found by condensed soups)
- 10.5 oz can condensed French onion soup
- 12 oz Guiness beer
- 1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves of garlic
- salt to taste
Sandwich
- 6 French rolls
- 6 slices Provolone cheese
Instructions
- Add beef and all liquid/seasoning ingredients to the crock pot and set on high.
- If you prefer to slice the beef, cook 3-4 hours, then remove beef from crock pot while still slightly firm and slice very thinly.
- If you prefer shredded beef (easier), cook for 5 hours and shred with forks when tender, removing chunks of fat.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove meat from crock pot, reserving juices, and pile meat on buns, topped with cheese.
- Bake buns in the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese has melted and buns warm.
- Serve immediately with reserved juices (au jus) for dipping.
Video
Notes
Nutritional Information
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Grammasue
We make this also (but in the oven) and in place of beer we use 1 cup of good dry red wine and also add a can of cream of mushroom soup and a sliced onion. It makes a wonderful jus for dipping. We broil the split french bread slices (with garlic butter) and top with provolone. Sooo good.
mike
its in inst #1...its on high
Natalie
5 hours on low or high? It doesn’t specify unless I totally missed it then I’m sorry.
Angelica
Is it possible to cook on low?
Fox Valley Foodie
Absolutely, just plan on it taking a couple of extra hours. As soon as the meat is shreddable it is ready to go!
Erica
I used an IPA beer I had on hand and it gave it a wonderful taste. Was actually pretty surprised. I only added 6oz of the IPA and then added a splash of beef broth and added in a tad more Worcestershire sauce
Salina
I have everything but the beer and they don’t sell singles at the near by store. Can I substitute the Guiness with something else?
Sarah H
I am in the same predicament and Google says I can sub with beef broth and some Worcestershire. It’s cooking now and I’m sure it will be fine.
Fox Valley Foodie
Yes, beef broth is an acceptable substitute. I would probably add a dribble of apple cider vinegar as well.
Rebecca Barragan
Recipe says 3-4 hours on high for slicing on high. 5 hours if you want to shred. 🙂
Allison
I just bought pre sliced roast beef yesterday. (1 lb) is there any way I can substitute the roast for the already sliced roast beef? And if so, how long would you cook 1 lb in a crockpot for? I’d like to make this for dinner tonight.
Fox Valley Foodie
Pre-cooked roast beef is going to be quite different than using a raw beef roast. It isn't a substitution I would recommend, but you can certainly try it and see how it turns out.
donna m senft
Yes, I usually just get deli roast beef three slices per needed bun, I just soak it in the au jus until heated. It is not as expensive as buying a roast and already sliced works really well. I use provolone cheese, Portuguese buns, and I toast them, and put caramelized onions, the beef and the cheese on each bun. The buns are soft and soak up the au jus perfectly and nothing falls out. No problem getting them into your mouth.
Cherylann
I make mine the same way Donna. Always come out delicious