French Dip Sandwiches

There’s no getting around the truth–this easy, crockpot French Dip Sandwich recipe is absolutely mouthwatering! Perfect to make on busy nights or for a group. As always, we’ll show you how to prep this meal ahead for the freezer, too.

Or try our Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches.

I make this easy crockpot recipe at least once a month for my family, because it’s SO easy to throw together and everyone loves it. After slow cooking the roast and sauce all day, you’ll end up with melty, flavorful, meaty sandwiches to dip in the savory juices left in the crockpot.

French Dip is a hot roast beef sandwich recipe in which the juices left behind from cooking the roast serve as a dipping sauce. This sandwich is typically served on a French roll or baguette and can include some melty cheese, like Swiss or Provolone, or cooked onions. Our version is super simple yet yields amazing results every time!

Take a peek at how easy it is to make this French Dip Sandwich recipe in the crockpot…

Gather up the following ingredients for this simple dump-and-go meal…

• 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (For gluten-free: Use coconut aminos or GF Tamari soy sauce.)
• 1-2 tablespoons dried minced onion (I personally like 2 T!)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed in hand
• 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1 (approx. 2.5 lbs) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
• 6 French steak rolls or ciabatta rolls (For gluten-free, either omit or use GF rolls.)
• 6 slices Provolone cheese (or 12 slices, if you want double the cheese) (For dairy-free, either omit or use DF cheese slices.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let’s walk through how to make this French Dip Sandwich recipe together…

Before getting started, go ahead and season both sides of the roast with salt and pepper and trim off any excess fat.

In the crockpot, whisk together the broth, soy sauce, minced onion, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes. Then, add in the roast. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the meat shreds easily.

Transfer the roast to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Return the meat to the cooker and stir it into the au jus (leftover juice).

Optional: Position the top oven rack about 6 inches below the broiler. Preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place opened steak rolls or ciabatta rolls on the baking sheet and broil 1-2 minutes until toasted inside. Remove from oven. 

Using a slotted spoon, add a layer of the shredded meat (be sure to drain the liquid first) to the roll. Top with 1 or 2 slices of cheese. Optional: Place the opened up sandwiches back under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted. 

Serve each sandwich warm, with a small bowl of the juices from the cooker alongside for dipping.

More FAQs About French Dip

For sure! Try our Instant Pot French Dip recipe. It’s simple and tasty!

The roast for French Dip cooks on LOW in the crock pot for 8 to 10 hours or on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours. Be sure to grab our Crockpot Cooking Times Chart here…

Ready to make some gourmet French Dip sandwiches? Let’s do this!