Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

These Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches have tender, melt in your mouth beef, and are cooked with savory onions. Perfect for sandwiches!

Pair this slow cooker chuck roast sandwiches with creamy my Instant Pot Potato Salad or a Simple Macaroni Salad for a complete meal.

If you’re looking for a comforting and satisfying meal that requires minimal effort, slow cooker French dip sandwiches with onion soup mix are the way to go.

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

This classic dish features tender and juicy beef that’s been slow-cooked in a savory broth until it’s falling apart, piled high on a soft roll, and served with a side of rich au jus for dipping. With just a handful of ingredients and a few hours of cooking time, you can enjoy a restaurant-quality sandwich in the comfort of your own home. 

What Are French Dip Sandwiches? 

French Dip Sandwiches are hot sandwiches, made with shredded or thinly sliced roast beef and commonly served with cooked onions and melty cheese inside, along with a dish of the cooking broth produced from the beef  – “au jus” or “with juice”. 

Ingredients for French Dip Sandwiches

A few simple ingredients go in the crock pot with a chuck roast to make the beef for the sandwich! The rest is for sandwich assembly. Make sure to check the recipe card for the printable recipe! 

• Onions – a sweet variety such as white or yellow 
• Chuck Roast
• Black pepper
• Au Jus Gravy Mix
• Onion Soup Mix
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Beef Broth – can be regular or low sodium 
• Hoagie Rolls
• Butter
• Provolone Cheese – 
• Parsley – fresh for garnish

How To Make French Dip Sandwiches

Don’t let the seven-to-eight-hour cook time intimidate you; most of that is the slow cooker working its magic on the beef.

Prepare Beef

Place the sliced onions in the bottom of the slow cooker, then season the chuck roast with black pepper on both sides.

I know it’s tempting to also salt the roast, but there is plenty of sodium from the seasoning mixes and beef broth, so no extra salt is needed.

Add Seasonings

Add the roast on top of the onions. Sprinkle the au jus mix and onion soup mix over the top of the beef. Mix together the Worcestershire sauce and beef broth and then pour into the slow cooker.

PRO TIP: Use more beef broth if you want more gravy for dipping at the end. 

Slow Cook Beef

Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 7 to 8 hours, till the beef is really tender and falls apart easily.

Carefully remove the beef from the slow cooker and use a slotted spoon to remove the onions from the bottom and place them in a separate bowl for later use. 

Strain Au Jus

Using a fine-mesh strainer, pour the dripping from the slow cooker into a bowl or gravy boat. This is the dipping sauce for the French Dip Sandwiches. 

Assemble Sandwiches

Cut the sandwich rolls open and spread butter (if desired) in the middle and toast until lightly browned. Top with the shredded beef, onions, and provolone cheese. Garnish with parsley if desired. 

Dip the toasted warm sandwiches in the dipping sauce and enjoy! 

Which Cut of Beef To Use

Many cuts of beef are used to make French Dip sandwiches, including rump roast, steak, prime rib, shaved deli beef, or a chuck roast. We’re going with a beautifully marbled chuck roast, because it’s tender and flakes beautifully when cooked, and it’s easy to find in most grocery stores and meat counters! 

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• The provolone Cheese can be substituted with gruyere, swiss, or smoked gouda. 
• If you don’t have beef broth, you can substitute it with 2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of beef bouillon. 
• The hoagie rolls can be swapped with crusty ciabatta bread or sliced french baguettes.

More Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

There’s nothing better than easy beef recipes for a slow cooker, especially in the summer! Here are a few of my favorites. 

• Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef
• Crock Pot Smothered Beef Burritos
• Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
• 5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast

I hope you enjoy these tender and juicy easy french dip sandwiches as much as we do!