This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This French Dip Sandwich recipe is made with tender slow cooker chuck roast, sweet onions, garlic, herbs, and a rich homemade au jus for dipping. The beef cooks low and slow until it’s juicy and shreddable, then it’s piled onto crusty rolls with melty cheese for the ultimate comfort-food sandwich.
The best part? The slow cooker does most of the work. Sear the beef, add everything to the CrockPot, and come back to fork-tender beef and a savory dipping sauce all in one pot.
These slow cooker French dip sandwiches are hearty enough for Sunday dinner, easy enough for a weeknight, and perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.
Table of Contents
- Kellie’s Note Spill The Au Jus
- Why You’ll Love This French Dip Sandwich Recipe
- Ingredients for French Dip Sandwiches
- How To Make French Dip Sandwiches
- Kellie’s Tips for the Best French Dip Sandwiches
- What is a French Dip?
- Best Beef for French Dip Sandwiches
- Best Bread for French Dip Sandwiches
- Best Cheese for French Dip Sandwiches
- How To Make Au Jus for French Dip
- French Dip Sandwich Variations
- What to Serve With French Dip Sandwiches
- Storage, Freezing, and Reheating
- More Easy Sandwich Ideas
- French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Kellie’s Note
Spill The Au Jus
The cold weather hasn’t even hit yet and I have a hankering for things like this Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich.
Since I’m trying to get better with planning dinners that don’t require the whole family huddling around a cake at the dinner table (I’m only a little ashamed), I dusted off my slow cooker and decided to get things started in the morning. I love slow cooker meals especially easy recipes like this Loaded Baked Potato Soup.
I even have a whole round up of slow cooker recipes that I collected over the years so dinners are never boring and now I have this amazing CrockPot French Dip Sandwiches to add to the list. They’re loaded with shredded beef and melty onions so each bite is melt in your mouth amazing.
Why You’ll Love This French Dip Sandwich Recipe
- Big flavor, simple ingredients. Beef stock, wine, Dijon, Worcestershire, onions, garlic, and herbs do all the heavy lifting.
- The beef is incredibly tender. Chuck roast cooks low and slow until it shreds easily with a fork.
- The au jus makes itself. The cooking liquid becomes a rich, savory dipping sauce.
- It’s great for busy days. Prep it in the morning and dinner is mostly done by evening.
- Perfect for a crowd. Keep the shredded beef warm in the slow cooker and let everyone build their own sandwiches.
Ingredients for French Dip Sandwiches
- Chuck roast: The best cut for slow cooker French dip because it becomes tender, juicy, and easy to shred after a long braise.
- Olive oil: Used to sear the beef before slow cooking. This adds deeper flavor to the finished sandwich.
- Sweet onion: Cooks down into the au jus and adds savory-sweet flavor.
- Garlic: Adds depth to the beef and dipping sauce.
- Beef stock: Use a good-quality beef stock because it becomes the au jus for dipping.
- Dry red wine: Adds richness and depth. To make this recipe without wine, use additional beef stock.
- Dijon mustard: Adds a little tang and balances the richness of the beef.
- Worcestershire sauce: Gives the au jus a savory, beefy flavor.
- Fresh thyme and bay leaf: Add classic slow-cooked flavor to the broth.
- Long rolls: Hoagie rolls, French rolls, baguette rolls, or ciabatta rolls work best because they hold up to dipping.
- Swiss cheese: Melts beautifully over the hot beef. Provolone, Gruyère, mozzarella, or cheddar also work.
How To Make French Dip Sandwiches
You can make this easy French Dip recipe in the oven using a dutch oven or follow this recipe for a Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich. So, dust off the crock pot and follow these steps.
- Season the beef. Trim excess fat from the chuck roast, then season it generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear the roast. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over high heat and brown the beef on all sides.
- Transfer to the slow cooker. Place the seared roast in the slow cooker and top with sliced onion and garlic.
- Make the au jus base. Whisk together beef stock, red wine, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Add herbs. Pour the stock mixture over the beef, then add the thyme and bay leaf.
- Slow cook. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4–5 hours or LOW for 6–8 hours, until the beef shreds easily with a fork.
- Shred the beef. Transfer the roast to a cutting board or platter. Discard large pieces of fat, then shred or thinly slice the beef.
- Finish the au jus. Skim excess fat from the top of the cooking liquid and discard the thyme stems and bay leaf.
- Assemble the sandwiches. Pile the beef onto toasted rolls and top with Swiss cheese.
- Melt the cheese. Broil the sandwiches for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve. Ladle the warm au jus into small bowls and serve alongside the sandwiches for dipping.
To make the BEST French Dip Sandwich ever, I like to place a slice of provolone in the bottom of the roll top with the beef, and then sprinkle with shredded Swiss cheese. Next, I pop it under the broiler for a couple minutes to make sure everything is topped with melty cheese until magically amazing.
Kellie’s Tips for the Best French Dip Sandwiches
- Use a well-marbled chuck roast. The fat helps keep the beef tender and flavorful.
- Don’t skip the sear. Browning the beef first adds richness to both the meat and the au jus.
- Cook until fork tender. If the beef does not shred easily, it needs more time in the slow cooker.
- Toast the rolls. This keeps the bread from getting soggy when dipped.
- Skim the au jus. Remove excess fat from the top of the cooking liquid before serving.
- Keep the beef warm in the jus. This is the easiest way to serve a crowd.
- Broil at the end. A minute or two under the broiler makes the cheese melty and the rolls lightly crisp.
We love this programmable slow cooker with auto warm setting by CrockPot! It’s a great way to make dinners easy and keep them warm until you’re ready to eat. We pull this one out at least once a week and the price can’t be beat!
What is a French Dip?
A French Dip Sandwich is a hot roast beef sandwich served on a long roll with a side of warm beefy au jus for dipping. Despite the name, the sandwich is not actually French; it’s commonly associated with classic American diners and sandwich shops.
The best French dip sandwiches have three key parts: tender beef, sturdy bread, and a flavorful dipping sauce. Cheese is optional, but I love adding Swiss or provolone and melting it over the beef before serving.
Best Beef for French Dip Sandwiches
For slow cooker French dip sandwiches, chuck roast is my favorite cut of beef. It has enough marbling to stay juicy and becomes tender enough to shred after cooking low and slow.
You can also use:
- Rump roast: Leaner than chuck, but still works well when slow cooked.
- Boneless short ribs: Rich, tender, and flavorful.
- Prime rib: A great option if you’re using leftover Prime Rib Recipe.
- Deli roast beef: A quick shortcut option if you’re making a stovetop version with prepared au jus.
For this recipe, chuck roast gives you the best balance of flavor, tenderness, and value.
Best Bread for French Dip Sandwiches
The best bread for French dip sandwiches is sturdy enough to hold juicy beef and stand up to dipping. Soft sandwich rolls can get soggy quickly, so choose bread with a little structure.
Good options include:
- Hoagie rolls
- French rolls
- Baguette rolls
- Ciabatta rolls
- Sourdough rolls
For the best texture, split the rolls and toast or broil them before adding the beef. This keeps the inside soft while giving the bread enough structure for dipping into the au jus.
Best Cheese for French Dip Sandwiches
Swiss cheese is a classic choice for French dip sandwiches because it melts well and pairs perfectly with beef. I also love provolone for its mild flavor and creamy melt.
Other good cheese options include:
- Provolone
- Gruyère
- Mozzarella
- Havarti
- Cheddar
For extra cheesy sandwiches, place a slice of provolone on the bottom of the roll, add the hot beef, then top with shredded Swiss before broiling.
How To Make Au Jus for French Dip
The best part of this slow cooker French dip recipe is that the au jus makes itself while the beef cooks. The chuck roast, onions, garlic, herbs, beef stock, wine, Dijon, and Worcestershire sauce simmer together until the cooking liquid turns into a rich, savory dipping sauce.
To serve, remove the beef from the slow cooker and skim excess fat from the top of the liquid. Discard the thyme stems and bay leaf, then ladle the warm au jus into small bowls for dipping.
For a little more body, you can whisk together 1 teaspoon cornstarch with 1 teaspoon water and stir it into the hot au jus. It should still be thin and dippable, not thick like gravy.
French Dip Sandwich Variations
- Make it cheesy: Use Swiss, provolone, Gruyère, mozzarella, havarti, or cheddar.
- Add horseradish: Spread creamy horseradish sauce or horseradish mayo on the rolls.
- Add mushrooms: Top the beef with sautéed mushrooms before broiling.
- Add caramelized onions: Spoon caramelized onions over the beef for extra sweetness.
- Make sliders: Use dinner rolls to make French dip sliders for parties or game day.
- Use leftover beef: Leftover prime rib or roast beef works beautifully in a shortcut version.
- Skip the wine: Replace the red wine with extra beef stock.
What to Serve With French Dip Sandwiches
French dip sandwiches are rich, savory, and hearty, so they pair well with crispy, fresh, or simple sides.
Try serving them with:
- Parmesan Truffle Fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Crispy Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Bread and Butter Pickles
- Coleslaw
- Our Best House Salad
- Mashed potatoes
- Chopped Italian Pasta Salad Recipe
For a casual dinner, I love serving these with fries or chips and pickles. For a heartier meal, add mashed potatoes or a crisp salad.
Storage, Freezing, and Reheating
- Storage: Store leftover beef and au jus together in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store the rolls separately so they don’t get soggy.
- Freezing: Freeze the beef with enough au jus to keep it moist for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Reheat the beef and au jus together in a saucepan over low heat until warmed through. You can also microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals.
- Make ahead: Cook and shred the beef up to 2 days in advance. Store it in the au jus, then reheat gently before serving.
- Serving leftovers: Toast fresh rolls, add the reheated beef, top with cheese, and broil until melted.
More Easy Sandwich Ideas
If you’re looking for more slow cooker sandwich recipes you have to try this Slow Cooker Philly Chicken Cheesesteak or one of my all time favorites Italian Roast Pork Sandwich, which is just like the one you find at Dinic’s in Reading Terminal Market. Maybe better!
Or, if you’re a burger fan, you definitely need to sink your teeth into this French Dip Burger, it’s insanely amazing. No joke.
Want to see what else we’re cooking up? Follow us on Instagram!
French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
- slow cooker or CrockPot
- measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- large skillet
- kitchen tongs
- chef's knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- 3 lb chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 sweet onion, peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
- 3 cups beef stock
- 1/4 cup dry red wine, or additional beef stock
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 5 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 long rolls or hoagie rolls, toasted
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 8 slices provolone cheese, optional
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the chuck roast and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over high heat.
- Add the chuck roast and sear for 4–5 minutes per side, until browned on all sides.
- Transfer the roast to the slow cooker.
- Add the sliced onion and garlic on top of the beef.
- In a bowl, whisk together the beef stock, red wine, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the stock mixture over the beef. Add the thyme and bay leaf.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4–5 hours or LOW for 6–8 hours, until the beef shreds easily with a fork.
- Transfer the beef to a cutting board or serving platter. Discard large pieces of fat, then shred or thinly slice the beef.
- Skim excess fat from the au jus and discard the thyme stems and bay leaf.
- Arrange the beef in toasted rolls and top with Swiss cheese and provolone, if using.
- Broil for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese is melted.
- Ladle the warm au jus into small bowls and serve with the sandwiches for dipping.
Video
Notes
- If the beef does not shred easily, continue cooking until fork tender. Cooking time can vary depending on the size and shape of the roast.
- To make this recipe without wine, replace the red wine with additional beef stock.
- For sturdier sandwiches, toast the rolls before adding the beef.
- For extra melty cheese, broil the assembled sandwiches for 1–2 minutes.
- Store leftover beef and au jus together in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze leftover beef with some au jus for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can I use a white cooking wine that I have on hand, or does it have to be a red wine, or I’ll just go with the beef stock see at how it isn’t that much?
Not a big wine drinker. Can you recommend a good red wine to use.
I use a cabernet or chianti because that’s usually what I have on hand. It doesn’t have to be expensive.
Fantastic!!!! What an amazing sandwich. It has so much flavor and the only thing I wish I had done was add some sauteed mushrooms. The cheese was perfect added to the sandwich. Also thanks for the video. It makes it so much easier to follow a new recipe.
These were great! Adding this to my dinner collection!
5 stars! Not 3.
Thank you!
Thank you so much!
My husband LOVES these! So good!
They’re my favorite!
What a great crock pot meal! We have been in love with french dip wraps that are made in the oven. A good crusty roll with this crock pot mixture would definitely be irresistable!
I want this right now! So delicious looking 🙂
Oh, these were magnificent! Best French dip sandwiches I’ve made!