Easy Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches:
The best French Dip ever! I am not joking, this slow cooker meal offers delectable, tender, and flavorful beef, wrapped in melted Provolone cheese, and the perfect, crunchy exterior, soft interior French Demi Baguette. Plus it is so easy to make! Just 10 minutes prep.
Serve with Crinkle Cut Fries or a Tossed Green Salad for the ultimate meal.
Easy Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
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I don’t even know where to start with this recipe, other than to say it is a MUST TRY. I never knew beef could be this flavorful, this tender, this delicious. To describe the flavor I would have to say it is rich, smoky, deeply layered with onions and garlic, with a touch of sweetness and a touch of salt. Honestly, I can’t even describe it. Insane. Mouthwatering. The thing my French dip dreams are made of. Just try it!
A good French Dip is one of those things in life you just need to have. I have tried several and order them often, but knew if I wanted the perfect sandwich I would probably have to make it myself. Don’t forget the sweet potato fries to compliment your sensuous sandwich.
The Search
I have been trying to find or develop a recipe that does the idea of perfectly seasoned beef, layered with cheese and bread and dipped in au jus justice. And I can proudly say it has happened.
To give credit, where credit is due, I started with a recipe from my friend Jen. Her slow cooker French dip is really amazing. Tender, juicy, and flavorful, as it should be. But for some reason I kept wanting something a little different, it just wasn’t quite right for me. I wanted a slightly smokier flavor, and a touch more sweetness. And I wanted onions. So I played with her recipe until I got just that. And woah! So good.
The Perfect Baguette
While the meat is important, and where you get the flavor for the au jus, a good French dip also requires the right bread. This is a sandwich you dip into a flavorful broth (Au Jus), so you don’t want something that will go limp, or gooey, or fall apart on you. You need something that can handle getting wet, that will carry the flavor of the beef and the au jus, and that adds to the whole with texture. The answer, La Brea’s Take and Bake French Demi Baguette. But you can use any baguette you want.
This meal really couldn’t be simpler. A crock pot beef. A freezer roll, and cheese. Always cheese. Then dig in and stuff your face because you will be dreaming about the rich flavors, tender juicy meat, delicious au jus, and perfect french demi baguette for days to come. It is inevitable, don’t fight it!
Dip Tips
- Without the perfect Baguette, you may as well not Dip!
- Go guiltless! Per calorie, beef supplies no more cholesterol than chicken or turkey.
- If you love to live on the edge, try Spiking the dip with horseradish.
- Caramelize the onions, just right.
- Invite friends and family to the good times!
Complimentary Entrees
- Super Easy Mashed Potatoes
- Light Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Oven Baked Steak Fries
- Apple Pear Crisp
- Pineapple Limeade
Easy Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3 lb beef chuck roast trimmed of excess fat
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 Baguettes La Brea Bakery Take and Back French Demi
- 12 slices provolone cheese
- 2 onions Large thinly sliced
- 1 Tbs garlic minced
For Crockpot/Slow Cooker
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 Tbs onions dry minced
- 1 Tbs beef bouillon
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp oregano dried
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/4 tsp thyme dried
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper and cook until seared on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer to a slow cooker.
- Slice onions thin, and mince garlic, and add to now empty skillet, cook for about 3-5 minutes, until slightly browned.
- Add to slow cooker along with all the slow cooker ingredients (soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, liquid smoke, beef broth, dry minced onions, beef bouillon, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, pepper, dried thyme, bay leaf)
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours.
- Remove roast from slow cooker, and slice into thin pieces, against the grain. Return to slow cooker for an additional 1-2 hours.
- Prepare take and bake La Brea French Demi Baguette according to package directions.
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cut demi baguette in half and line insides with provolone cheese slices.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes, until cheese is nicely melted.
- Remove roast and fill french demi baguettes.
- Take the liquid left in the slow cooker, and strain it over a bowl, removing the onions and fat.
- Add onions to the sandwiches if desired
- Use the broth that was strained into the bowl as the au jus.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Tracee says
Stumbled onto your site on FB and I have so many recipes I am excited to try! Today I’m making this French Dip with Au Jus – started it later than I would like so turned my slow cooker from LOW to High for a few hours. Hoping it doesn’t change the texture too much. So exciting – the house smells amazing.
Rachael says
Oh thank you! I hope you love it as much as we do. It is crazy flavorful. Not sure if changing the temp will hurt it, it may just not be quite as tender. But will probably still taste amazing.
Maureen says
Just tried this and it was amazing. So perfectly flavorful that I wanted to drink the Au jus! I am very challenged when it comes to cooking and this was very easy for me. Will be definitely making this again! Thanks you!
Rachael says
Maureen,
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I agree, it is so delicious! I am glad you found it easy to make. It is one of my go-to recipes since it is so simple and I can get it done in the mornings and have a fantastic meal that night. Thanks for taking time to let me know. Rachael
Joy says
Trying this recipe this week while family home for the holidays! Sounds amazing and so flavorful!! What do you serve with the sandwiches…any suggestions?
Rachael says
Hi Joy, I am sure you guys will love it. I just served it tonight to guests. I served it with fresh cut veggies, chips, and punch. I also super love it with this classic greek salad: https://www.eazypeazymealz.com/classic-easy-greek-salad/
chuck says
I tried the recipe and found it to be mediocre at best i will not be doing it again .. just lacked tasting good .. and I followed the directions 100% .. the added ingredients seemed to kill any positive beef taste .. back to the basics.. think it is time to reuse the American Test Kitchen ..
Rachael says
Well Chuck, I am sorry you felt that way, I stand behind this recipe. It is one of my favorites, and honestly, I have made it for several people, and have never had a complaint. I can’t please everyone I guess. So, what French Dip recipe have you had and loved?
Megan says
Beef bouillon…the cube or the concentrate? If it’s the cube, do I just toss it in or does it need to be dissolved beforehand?
Rachael says
Cubes work great. And just toss them in.
Katie says
This recipe was delicious! Prepared everything the night before and then set my crockpot the next morning. It came out wonderfully!!
Kim says
I just put it all together this morning. My mouth is watering!!! Can’t wait to eat it later!
Rachael says
I am so excited for you! I am sure you will love it.
Mio Woods says
Smells delicious while it cooks in my crockpot!!! Can’t wait for dinner
Christine says
Do you know the fat content and nutrition values
Rachael says
I do not, but you could try using my fitness pal to figure it out.
Alisha says
I don’t often comment on a recipe, but I have to in this case. My hubby and I both said that This was THE BEST beef dip we have ever tasted. This is a meal I will be making for guests. DELICIOUS.
Rachael says
Thank you for taking time to comment Alisha! I am so glad your family enjoyed it.
Shannon says
Instead of taking the roast out after 5 hours and slicing could I just leave it in longer and it will just pull apart ??
Rachael says
Definitely. That is of course a great option.
MalissaH says
My whole family LOVED this recipe! It was so easy and so good! My only adjustment was leaving out the onions and liquid smoke. I also added extra broth and I will do that again next time, too. Will definitely make again soon! ?
Rachael says
So happy your family enjoyed it! We make it a lot because it is so good. Sometimes I make it in the instant pot too when we are in a hurry.
Bonnie says
Could this cooked in a pressure cooker? For how long?
Becca says
Just made this today and it was insanely tasty. Thank you for such an easy recipe! I will definitely be making it again.
Rachael says
I am so glad you enjoyed it. It is one of our favorites.
Beth says
Tried this before and loved it. I’m going to try to make it for more of a crowd this time. Could I mix some chicken in with the beef to lower the cost? Any idea of so as to proper ratio?
Thank you !
Rachael says
You can, but it will cook at different rates, so you won’t want to cook it together or the chicken will end up very dry.
Emily says
I’ve made this multiple times and my entire family loves it!!
Rachael says
I am so glad!