Name: French Dip Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 490 min
Total time: 515 min
Ingredients: 3-4 lb chuck roast or bottom round beef roast; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1 Tbsp olive oil; 1.25 oz pkg dry au jus mix; 12 oz beer; 3 Tbsp butter (melted); 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 12 slices provolone cheese; 8 hoagie rolls; 1 Tbsp freshly chopped parsley (optional)

Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe

French Dip Sandwiches are a delicious and easy dinner when you are busy! The roast beef is slow cooked all day in your crock pot so it’s falling apart tender when you pile it high in your toasted hoagie roll with melted provolone cheese. Don’t forget to dunk it in the salty au jus to finish it off.

These sandwiches can also be made in the instant pot using this method! Serve it with roasted vegetables or lemon asparagus to finish off this quick and easy meal using your crock pot!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

I decided to introduce you to this Crockpot French Dip Sandwich! Everyone seems to love my Instant Pot French Dip Sandwich and they are easy to make in the slow cooker too!

Personally, I’m such a sucker for that toasted hoagie bun that I’ll take these any day of the week. These are the kinds of sandwiches I used to order in restaurants but now we make them at home. My Tuna Melt and Monte Cristo Sandwich are other favorites we like to make, too!

Why this Recipe Works!

What’s not to love about a buttered and toasted bun piled high with fall-apart tender roast beef and that melted Provolone cheese?
The roast slow cooks all day until it’s fall apart tender. All you need to do is assemble the sandwich for an easy dinner.
It’s make ahead friendly, plus freezer friendly so you can serve it whenever you’d like!

Ingredients Needed

Roast – We recommend a chuck roast or bottom round beef roast.
Seasoning – Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder
Olive oil – You will use this to sear the roast, but you could also use butter for this.
Dry au jus mix – It comes in a packet so easy to grab and keep in the pantry!
Beer – If you don’t want to use alcohol substitute chicken or beef broth.
Butter – Grab salted butter for this recipe.
Provolone cheese – This our favorite cheese for this sandwich, but you can use any type you’d like.
Hoagie rolls – Any type of hearty roll will work!
Freshly chopped parsley – Optional garnish

Steps to Prepare French Dip Sandwiches

Prep – The first thing you want to do is remove you roast from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. After that you will season it with salt, pepper and onion powder.
Sear – To sear it add your olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once that is hot place roast in the skillet and sear on all sides.
Slow Cook – Remove the roast from the skillet and place it in the slow cooker. Sprinkle the Au Jus seasoning over the roast, then pour beer over it. Place lid on slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours.
Shred Meat – When the 8 hour cooking time is up you will want to transfer the meat to a plate and shred it. It’s usually so tender it just falls apart!
Make Sandwiches – Next, set your oven to broil and put the hoagie rolls on a baking sheet. Mix the butter and garlic powder together in small bowl and brush overs rolls. Then broil the roast on low heat until just golden brown. Remove from oven and pile with shredded meat and top with cheese. Return to broil until cheese is melted. Top sandwiches with fresh parsley if desired.
Make Au Jus – Strain the liquid left in the crock pot with fine mesh strainer and serve with sandwiches for dipping!

Do I need to Sear the Roast?

It’s not a must, but we highly recommend taking the time to do this step. It creates a nice crust on the roast and gives it so much more flavor!

Tips for Making Au Jus

Super simple! It’s actually the liquid left in the crock pot from cooking the roast.

I highly recommend getting a fine mesh strainer and straining the liquid to get any pieces of out of it. Just place the strainer over a bowl and pour the liquid through the strainer and the bowl under it will collect the juice!

Then I serve it in my favorite Ramekin dishes so it’s easy to dip your sandwich in!

Make Ahead Tips!

This is a great recipe to make ahead of time if you are hosting a party, prepping dinners or lunches.

Simply slow cook the roast beef in the crock pot then cool and place in an airtight container with juices and refrigerator.

To reheat warm in crock pot 1-2 hours then serve according to recipe directions.

Ideas for Leftover Roast!

Here are a few quick ideas to use up leftover roast beef if you have it left! Of course, you can always make

You can make a quick Minute Steak Sandwich by frying thin slices of your roast beef in a skillet then putting them on top of a baguette. Top that with sauteed onions and cheese then toast it under the broiler.

Another great idea is making a Sloppy Joe twist on it. Simply chop up the roast beef. Then simmer with chopped onions, garlic, tomato sauce and light brown sugar to make a sloppy joe. Pile it on top of a sandwich bun!

Personally, I’m really boring and I love it cold, piled with ketchup on a bun. It’s one of those comfort foods I remember from childhood!

Storage Tips

Cool cooked roast and place it in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. We recommend storing it in the leftover juices for extra moisture and flavor.

Leftovers will last for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

To freeze leftovers let the beef cool completely, transfer juices and meat to a heavy-duty freezer bag, squeeze out the extra air and seal. Label and freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to use thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

To reheat use the slow cooker, stove top or microwave.

Crockpot – Place leftover juice and meat into slow cooker and heat on low 1-2 hours or until warmed through.
Stove Top– Heat a Dutch oven with meat and juice in it on medium heat, stirring occasionally until warmed through.
Microwave – Place juice and meat in a microwave safe dish. Microwave 60 seconds, stir and continue to microwave in 30 second intervals until warmed through.

Easy Side Dishes to serve with your French Dip Sandwich!

Love ranch? Combine ranch seasoning, cheese and bacon to make these amazing Crack Potatoes!
You can never go wrong with our easy Roasted Vegetables that are so easy to make and versatile with whatever vegetables you have in the house.
Grab your Air Fryer and make these seasoned Sweet Potato Fries!

Try it and love it? Rate it, please! Seriously though a five-star rating below will make my day!

If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!!