Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

The Best Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

If you’re looking for a comforting, flavorful, and effortless meal, these Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches are a must-try! They’re one of my all-time favorite slow cooker meals, perfect for busy evenings when you want a set-it-and-forget-it dinner.

The depth of flavor in these sandwiches is beyond what you’d expect, thanks to a combination of rich seasonings, beef bone broth, and bone marrow (if you have it!). But don’t worry—if bone marrow isn’t readily available, butter, olive oil, or lard work beautifully as the cooking fat.

How to Make Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 4-5 lbs chuck roast (I buy the two-pack from Costco and use it all—leftovers are amazing!)
• Lot’s of Umami-rich seasonings (onion powder or a seasoning blend like Kinder Caramelized Onion Butter + lots more seasonings you probably already have in your pantry!)
• Beef bone broth (or high-quality store-bought broth) I make bone broth often in my Instant Pot and love to have it on hand! I specifically like to buy marrow bones. I’ll roast the bones and strain the fat for cooking, and then make broth with the bones.

1. Sear the Meat

Start by seasoning both sides of the chuck roast generously with salt and pepper. Don’t hold back—this is where the flavor starts!

Heat a high-quality cooking fat in your slow cooker (if it has a saute function) or in a separate pan. Sear the meat well on both sides until it’s beautifully browned. This locks in flavor and gives the meat an incredible crust. This is the slow cooker I have, I really love how I can do everything in this one pot and the non-toxic non-stick surface.

2. Slow Cook to Perfection

After searing, switch your slow cooker to low heat and set it for 10 hours.

Add all your seasonings directly on top of the meat. If you’re missing an ingredient, don’t stress—just use what you have on hand. The key is to layer onions, garlic, and umami-rich flavors to deepen the taste.

Next, pour in your beef bone broth. Let it slow cook for 8-10 hours, flipping the meat halfway through to ensure even cooking and full flavor absorption.

Serving Your French Dip Sandwiches

Once the meat is done cooking, you can add an extra touch by sprinkling it with some freshly chopped parsley. Then, use tongs to transfer it to a carving board. It should be fork-tender and easy to shred. Pile the juicy, flavorful meat onto sandwich buns and top with melted Swiss, provolone, or white cheddar cheese.

Don’t forget the best part—the au jus! The leftover broth in the slow cooker becomes your dipping sauce. Pour some into a small bowl and serve alongside your sandwich for the ultimate French dip experience.

Homemade Hoagie Buns for an Extra Special Touch

Want to take your French Dip Sandwiches to the next level? Try making homemade sandwich buns!

I use my Quick Sourdough Sandwich Bread recipe with 1 egg added to the dough. Instead of baking it as a loaf, I shape the dough into 8-10 hoagie-style buns, let them proof for an hour, and then bake at 375°F for 15-18 minutes.

Topping Ideas: Pickled Red Onions

For a bright, tangy contrast, add pickled red onions to your sandwich. Here’s a quick recipe:

• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp salt & sugar
• A few peppercorns
• Hot water (to cover onions in a mason jar)

Let them sit for 30 minutes, then store in the fridge. They’re ready to use right away and add an amazing pop of flavor!

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

The best French Dip recipe in your slow cooker. So delicious and easy to make! Serve with homemade buns and swiss, provolone, or white cheddar cheese. Top with quick pickled red onions & dip your sandwich in the leftover Au Jus sauce. SO yummy!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 hours hrs

Total Time 10 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine French

Servings 8

Equipment

• slow cooker

Ingredients

  

• 1-2 tbsp bone marrow, butter, or olive oil Any high quality cooking fat. Bone Marrow takes it up to the next level of delicious.
• 5 pounds beef chuck roast season well with salt and pepper before searing
• 1.5-2 cups beef broth homemade bone broth is the best!

Seasoning Blend

• 1/4 cup dried onion flakes
• 1 tsp onion powder or Kinder Carmelized Onion Butter Blend
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp umami blend
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp celery seed
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tsp garlic powder

For Serving

• 8 French rolls or hoagie buns
• 8 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
• Quick Pickled Red Onions – For topping

Instructions

 

• Using the saute function of your slow cooker or in a separate pan, sear meat in cooking fat of choice a few minutes on each side to form a crust.
• Turn the slow cooker to low. If you used a separate pan, transfer meat to slow cooker. Add in the season blend and broth.
• Let cook on low for 10 hours. Flip meat at some point during the cooking process to cook both sides evenly.
• Remove the meat and shred with a fork.
• Make sandwiches with rolls, melted cheese, the meat, and top with pickled red onions and leftover broth as your Au jus sauce. Serve some extra Au Jus on the side for dipping.

Keyword slow cooker

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