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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Heather
Which type of Guinness beer? Or is there a comparison I could go with?
Fox Valley Foodie
Guinness Draught is their most popular variety that most people associate with their brand. Otherwise, you can substitute another dark malty beer.
Chrissy
The best French dips I've ever had/made. I'm actually making it for dinner tonight!
Carol Kelly
Best crockpot French dip recipe!
Vicki Batstone
Have you ever made this the night before and heated it the next day for French Dip Sandwiches? I want to make sure it won't be dry!
Chrissy
Yesss! Leave it in the crockpot and warm it up the next day. It's heaven all over again!
marty
Oh my, made this a month or so ago. Mouth is watering thinking about it. Gonna do it again soon.
Lisa
This was absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Mama Dumas
Best French dip recipe EVER!!! I did follow some posted modifications with another tweak of my own. Used the sirloin tip roast, beef consume, envelope of onion soup mix and ranch dressing. Added sliced onions, one green pepper and baby portobello sliced mushrooms. Amazing!!!
Martha Douds
Did you have any problem with the sirloin tip roast being dry? Did it shred or did you slice it?
Thanks!
Beth
I’ve made this once before and the beef shredded perfectly. This time it is not. Does that mean it needs to cook longer?
Fox Valley Foodie
Yep, that is exactly right. The longer it cooks the more tender it becomes and the more easily it shreds.
Makayla
What can I substitute the beer with?
Fox Valley Foodie
Beef broth would be the best substitution.
Ashley
SOS!! What can I substitute for the beef consommé? It is sold out at every store in my area 🙁 I’m trying to make this today but I don’t know what to do without it.
Fox Valley Foodie
Use beef stock or beef broth.
Samantha
I can not find the condensed onion soup anywhere!! What could I substitute?
Kalie
Can this recipe be done in a instapot
Paula
Hi-I successfully made this in my InstantPot tonight. I had approximately 3 lb Chuck and I ended up doing 2 cycles of 50 min at “high” pressure. After the first 50 min I depressurized and the meat was not shredding so I did another 50 min on “high” and it did the trick. Perfectly tender! -*Meanwhile, I had started cooking another portion (approx 4 lb) in my CrockPot and it is still in my crockpot cooking...still not quite tender after 4 hours...! I may switch it to the InstantPot (!) My vote is use the InstantPot!
Christy
This was so delicious and so easy, will be making this again, added some peperoncini to the sandwich really delicious.
Thanks for this recipe it's a keeper!! Would be great recipe for a get together.
Kari
This recipe is easily on of our go-to favorites! I even made it for Christmas Eve last year at my parents house and everyone is asking for repeats this year! It’s simply, quick and delish! After making it a few times I have discovered some yummy add one that only enhance the wonderful ness of this dish!
I add dry onion soup mix to a little flour and dredge the chuck roast and brown it on both sides in a hot buttered cast iron pan before adding to the crockpot and then I’ll throw some sliced onions and mushrooms in the cast iron pan and when they are nice and golden brown I add to the crockpot, finally take the beer and deglaze the pan to get all the yummies that are stuck to the pan, pour over the roast, mushrooms and onions in the crockpot and add other ingredients and cook low and slow for about 7hrs...you can smell it cooking from all the way down the driveway!!!
~Fellow Wisconsin Foodie
Liz Ward
This recipe is AMAZING! It is so easy, the meat shreds immediately, it’s my go to for any big event. Love love love it with a horseradish cream sauce — highly recommend it!!!
KT
I'm only cooking for 2 people so I'm going to half the recipe but I was wondering if I need to adjust the cook time at all?
Fox Valley Foodie
Using a smaller hunt of beef may cook some faster but I cannot give you the exact time without testing it. As long as you cook it until it is tender, you will be good to go. If it gets done early you can just keep it warm in the slow cooker.
Harleymike
Made this tonight with an 8 lb chuck roast as we had family over. Followed the recipe to a tee. It came out perfectly after cooking in crock pot for 7 hrs.
Toe people had second sandwich and believe me the sandwiches were large. Everybody loved them and will certainly be back on the menu again This is my second recipe from your sight and so far batting a 1000
Harleymike
Kelly
How salty does the sauce taste? I am thinking of substituting home made beef stock (which has very little salt in it) for the consomme to cut down on the sodium. I have very sensitive taste buds, lol
Fox Valley Foodie
Those are good substitutions. You can always add more salt to it if you feel it needs it.
Amy
I made this once before and was amazing!
I have family coming over and was thinking of doing it again. Would a 10 lb roast fit in a slow cooker? I’m guessing you’d need around ten hours for the meat to be shreddable?
I have a top sirloin roast in my freezer, would it be ok to use this type of cut?
Fox Valley Foodie
You would likely need a bigger slow cooker for a 10 lb roast. A top sirloin would work, but it wouldn't be as moist since it has less fat, however, I occasionally use lean roasts when I want the dish to be healthier.
Deb A
Made this today and both my kids gave it a 2 thumbs up. It got added to my son's favorite meal list and they requested it for next week. Perfect timing for soccer starting next week for a quick meal. TY
Katie
Just put this in the crock pot. It smells amazing! I used a 2lb roast but left the rest of the ingredients the same. We love sauce in this house lol I also seasoned and browned the roast first. Looking forward to eating this tonight!!! Thanks for the easy recipe!!
Michelle D
Would a sirloin tip roast formrhis? My gut says no as it has little fat... I need to use it up today and but this looks so yummy 😋
Fox Valley Foodie
You could use it, but chuck would be better since it has more fat.