French Dip Sandwich, or French Dip Au Jus, is a delicious and easy way to enjoy crockpot beef! We create a Beef Au Jus sandwich with tender beef, provolone cheese, toasty bread, and of course the dipping sauce. Such a simple crockpot French dip recipe that the entire family will love. This French Dip Sandwich Recipe is a winner!
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What’s in a Crockpot French Dip Sandwich?
French Dip Sandwiches are so good! They definitely hit the spot when we’re craving comfort food. The tender roast beef, the melted cheese, and that amazing au jus. Yum!
- Roast Beef: A top or bottom round roast (AKA: boneless chuck roast) works best. The long cooking time will help to make tougher cuts more tender.
- Au Jus Sauce Mix: 2 packets of this flavorful mix enhance the flavor of the beef and the dipping sauce.
- Italian Dressing Mix: 2 packets of this flavorful spice blend add a deeper flavor to the meat and broth. You can use homemade Italian seasoning in place of the dressing mix if you prefer.
- Beef Broth: The braising liquid for the beef. Helps keep the beef tender and moist, and creates the base for the dipping sauce.
- Provolone Cheese: The perfect melting cheese for these sandwiches.
- Hoagie Buns: Also known as sub rolls, these are the perfect size for these beefy sandwiches.
Variations on French Dip in the Crockpot
This simple recipe is pretty much perfect as is. For a lighter au jus, you could swap the beef broth for vegetable broth. For a lower sodium option, you can skip the au jus sauce mix and add homemade Italian seasoning instead of Italian dressing mix.
Feel free to swap the Provolone for mozzarella if you prefer. Try adding some caramelized onions or roasted mushrooms to your sandwiches to take them up a notch!
How to Store and Reheat
I recommend storing the meat, cheese, au jus, and buns separately until ready to reheat. Store the French dip beef and au jus sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Follow step 8 in the recipe to reheat.
How to Freeze
You can freeze the French dip meat and au jus separately in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these delicious French dip sandwiches with homemade french fries or air fryer potato wedges to sop up all of that delicious au jus. Sandwich shop sides like coleslaw and potato chips would be just the perfect complement.
Notes from the Test Kitchen
It doesn’t get much easier than this recipe for French dip in the crockpot. Made with a chuck roast, pre-packaged seasoning mixes, and beef broth, these sandwiches are so simple and flavorful!
Crockpot French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 pounds top or bottom round beef roast (aka: boneless chuck roast)
- 2 ounces au jus mix (2 packages)
- 1.4 ounces Italian dressing mix (2 packages)
- 32 ounces beef broth (1 Tetra Pak)
- 8 hoagie buns
- 8 slices Provolone cheese
Instructions
- Spray the crockpot with nonstick spray
- Place the beef roast into the crockpot.5 pounds top or bottom round beef roast
- Sprinkle the au jus mix and Italian dressing mix onto the beef roast.1.4 ounces Italian dressing mix, 2 ounces au jus mix
- Pour the beef broth over the roast.32 ounces beef broth
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until beef is fork tender.
- After cooking, remove roast and strain broth into a bowl. Broth can be used for french dip sandwiches or for open-faced roast beef sandwiches.
- Slice roast beef in thin slices.
- Place roast beef and provolone on hoagie buns. Wrap sandwiches and warm in oven for 10 minutes at 400°F.8 hoagie buns, 8 slices Provolone cheese
- Unwrap and enjoy! Use broth as dipping sauce.
Video
Becky’s Tips
- You can use a tougher cut of beef since we are slow cooking it. It will come out tender!
- For a lower-sodium option, skip the au jus packets and swap out the Italian dressing mix for a salt-free Italian seasoning.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make a French Dip Sandwich Step by Step
Season the Meat: Spray your crockpot with nonstick spray. Place a 5-pound top or bottom round beef roast into the crockpot. Sprinkle 2 ounces (2 packages) of au jus mix and 1.4 ounces (2 packages) of Italian dressing mix onto the beef roast.
Cook the Meat: Pour 32 ounces of beef broth over the roast. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until beef is fork tender. After cooking, remove the roast and strain the broth into a bowl. Broth can be used for French dip sandwiches or for open-faced roast beef sandwiches.
Assemble the Sandwiches: Slice the roast beef in thin slices. Place roast beef and 8 slices of provolone on 8 hoagie buns. Wrap sandwiches and warm in oven for 10 minutes at 400°F. Unwrap and enjoy! Use the broth as a dipping sauce.
Because it’s traditionally served on a French roll. That was easy…huh? We like it on a hoagie because you can really hold on while you dip in that amazing sauce.
For this French Dip recipe, you want a creamy white cheese such as mozzarella, Provolone, or if you live in St. Louis like me, Provel is an awesome option!
The au jus sauce will automatically be made in the slow cooker as the beef cooks. If you need more sauce you can always prepare extra according to package instructions on an au jus packet. But you should have plenty of sauce made in your crockpot as your beef cooks.
We use a top or bottom round roast (boneless chuck roast) for this French Dip Au Jus Recipe. It’s okay to use a tougher cut for this recipe because it will get super tender in the crockpot.
If I use a smaller roast (i.e. 2 1/2-3 lbs), should I use only 1 packet of au jus and 1 packet of Italian dressing mix with 16 oz of beef broth? Or should I just go ahead and use the 2 packets of au jus/2 packets Italian dressing/32 oz beef broth?
You want enough broth to cover the roast, so use your best judgment!
This is my 5th time making this recipe. It is perfect every single time!!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing, Paige!
Insanely easy recipe and delicious! Perfect hearty meal for group parties and I cut the hoagie rolls in half so my guests could eat it with one hand while holding their plates. Highly recommend this one!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with us, Jim!
What kind of Au jus mix do you use? Haven’t tried the recipe yet.
Any mix works, whatever is in stock at your store!
What size crockpot do you use?
A large crock pot. One that will fit the roast.
YUMMY
I’m glad you loved it!
I haven’t tried this yet, but I’ll be making it tomorrow, and cannot wait to taste the yumminess! French Dips au jus have been a favorite of mine for as long as I can recall and when a friend of mine sent me this link today, I said to my husband, “French Dips for dinner tomorrow!!” (to which he replied, “WOOHOOOO!!!”)
We love it too! Thanks River :)
Very nice… you always give the newest food recipes every day .. this really helps my wife to cook,,, thank you so much dear..
What kind of beef roast are you using here?. I am so happy to have found your iced butter cookie recipe going to make those tomorrow.
Thanks so much, and HappyHolidays !!
Mary Holt
We use lean top or bottom roast. Since it cooks so long in the crock pot a tougher roast can be used. We always buy one that has the fat trimmed. Hope that helps, and enjoy the cookies! Happy holidays:)
do you use a top or bottom round roast?
Well, just wanted to let you know that I did try this recipe, and it was…. delicious!!! My family loved it!! I used provel cheese instead, it was great.
Yay!!! I’m so glad you liked it!! I want to use provel next time. Would be even better I think.
What is Provel cheese?
Provel cheese is a white processed cheese particularly popular in St. Louis, it is a combination of cheddar, Swiss, and provolone cheeses. So delicious!!!!