Slow Cooker French Dip sandwiches loaded with tender, melt-in-your-mouth sliced roast beef, caramelized onions and gooey melted provolone cheese. Serve on toasted rolls with rich au jus for dipping. Easy, delicious crockpot meal perfect for busy days!

You guys! This new Slow Cooker French Dip recipe has easily become my new favorite recipe! Tender sliced roast beef layered high on warm, toasted sandwich rolls topped with caramelized onions and plenty of gooey melted Provolone cheese.

Of course a side of rich, beefy au jus for dunking completes it. Load the ingredients into your crockpot then sit back and take in the amazing aroma.

There are two ingredients that make almost any dish better: cheese and gravy. This one has both. Technically it’s au jus – which, translated means ‘with juice’ – thinner than gravy but also made from meat drippings.

What happens to an inexpensive chuck roast here is pure magic.

what’s a french dip sandwich?

It’s no ordinary roast beef sandwich! This hot sandwich of sliced roast beef on a toasted slider side roll or larger baguette is topped with cheese and caramelized onions and must be served with a bowl of au jus for dipping.

tips for the best slow cooker french dip sandwich:

Sear the beef. For the few extra minutes it takes, you’ll be rewarded with incredible taste. Be sure to actually sear not just brown the meat. Let it get a dark crust then turn it over and do the same on the other side.
Be sure to cook long enough but don’t overcook it. Check the roast at the minimum time show below. You want it fork tender but not mushy.
Use hearty rolls that can stand up to the au jus and the layers of beef. See more below.
Include the little package of au jus that brings the whole dish together.

what kind of meat is best for this recipe?

I stick with chuck roast for this recipe. As the meat slow cooks, it breaks down to delicious, tender beef with incredible flavor. It’s also a budget friendly cut of meat and the fat from it helps create the au jus.

what rolls are best for a french dip sandwich?

Hearty rolls are best for this recipe. I don’t recommend soft Hawaiian rolls – though they’re great for other recipes. You want the bread to be able to stand up to the au jus and hold a thick layer of sliced beef.

The rolls I buy are crusty outside, tender inside – usually available in the bakery department of the grocery store.

what’s in this slow cooker french dip?

You’ll see soy sauce in the list of ingredients. The small amount won’t give it an Asian taste, but will elevate the flavor of the au jus helping give it a deep, rich taste.

chuck roast
salt and pepper
olive oil
butter
sliced onion
worcestershire sauce
soy sauce
beef stock
package of McCormick Au Jus gravy mix
sprig of fresh rosemary
crusty slider size rolls
sliced provolone cheese

how do i make slow cooker french dip?

Generously season the beef with salt and pepper (remember this is a large piece of meat!). If you have coarse salt, use it for a crustier sear but whatever you have on hand will be great.

In a large skillet melt the butter then add the olive oil. Carefully place the roast into the skillet salt side down then generously season the other side. Leave the roast without touching or moving it for 3-4 minutes to sear then turn it over and sear the other side. Transfer to the slow cooker after searing.

In the same skillet add the onions and lightly season them with salt and pepper then cook 3-4 minutes or until the onions have softened.

Pour in the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, beef stock and package of au jus whisking until it’s completely blended then pour the au jus and onions over the roast. Top with the rosemary sprig then cover and cook 3-4 hours on HIGH or 5-6 hours on LOW.

The beef is done when it’s fork tender. I prefer slicing it to shredding so I take it out of the slow cooker before it reaches the shredded point but either way it delicious.

how to make a french dip sandwich:

Place the cooked beef on a cutting board and slice as thinly as possible.

Cut the rolls in half then butter the inside of each and place on a baking sheet. Bake the rolls at 400° for 5 minutes to warm and lightly toast them then remove from the oven.

Layer the sliced beef onto the bottom half of each roll, top the beef with the onions from the slow cooker and the provolone cheese (I find 1/2 slice is ideal for smaller rolls). Broil 1-2 minutes or just until the cheese is melted.

Spoon the au jus into individual small bowls for dipping then serve right away.

what goes with a french dip sandwich?

A French Dip sandwich is a complete meal by itself, but if you’d like to add something with it, here are a few suggestions:

Macaroni and Cheese – easy homemade mac and cheese from scratch – stovetop or baked with a buttery crisp breadcrumb topping.

Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes – creamy, buttery mashed potatoes with smoked Gouda cheese!

Potato Chips – your favorite brand.

Pickles – homemade crunchy garlic-dill pickles with just 5 minutes prep! Easy, no cook, small batch recipe.

Interested in more slow cooker recipes?

Pot Roast (slow cooker and oven method included)

Applesauce

Lasagna Soup

4 Ingredient Salsa Chicken for Tacos

Enjoy!

If you tried this Slow Cooker French Dip recipe or any other on the blog then I hope you’ll leave a comment and some stars!

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