Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches
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Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches will become your new best friend on a busy night. Pressure cook your roast to perfection in our flavorful sauce. You’ll end up with fall-apart, shredded beef and an au jus you may just want to drink.
Or try our Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches.
About Our Instant Pot Recipes
Easy Instant Pot meals are our jam. Especially Instant Pot Freezer Meals. If you browse through our site, you’ll quickly discover that our website recipes and our Instant Pot cookbook recipes are:
- Made with primarily whole foods. No processed junk!
- Family-friendly. We aim to make meals that work for both kids and adults.
- Approachable. We use ingredients you recognize and made the steps as simple as possible.
- Freezer-friendly. Almost all of our recipes has been tested both as a fresh meal and from frozen.
- Delicious! We aren’t here to waste anyone’s time. Our standard is pretty high when it comes to taste!
This Instant Pot French Dip recipe is no different. We know you are going to love it!
Ingredients for Instant Pot French Dip
The key to a delicious French dip sandwich is a great au jus (aka, the sauce it cooks in and what you dip it in at the end). To create depth of flavor, here are the ingredients you’ll need.
- Low-sodium beef broth
- Low-sodium soy sauce (Gluten-Free Option: gluten-free Tamari soy sauce or coconut aminos)
- Dried minced onion
- Garlic powder
- Salt & pepper
- Dried oregano
- Ground thyme
- Bay leaf
- Red pepper flakes
- Chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 2×2 inch pieces
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s walk through how to make this French Dip Sandwich recipe together…
Season and Cut Up the Roast
Before getting started, go ahead and season both sides of the roast with salt and pepper and trim off any excess fat. Then cut it into 2×2 inch pieces. This is a very important step, which will help the meat cook evenly and turn out tender!
Pressure Cook Roast & Sauce in Instant Pot
In the Instant Pot, 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 cut-up roast. Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes. Then, release any remaining pressure (aka quick release).
How to Make It In the Crockpot
If you’d prefer, try our crock pot version instead. No need to cut up the roast first and it will slow cook all day while you’re at work.
Shred the Meat
Transfer the roast to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Return the meat to the Instant Pot and stir it into the au jus (leftover juice).
Toast the Rolls
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.
Build & Toast the Sandwiches
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 with Au Jus
Serve each sandwich warm, with a small bowl of the juices from the cooker alongside for dipping.
How to Freeze French Dip for the Instant Pot
We LOVE making freezer meals for the Instant Pot because you can safely cook your frozen meal directly in the pressure cooker. The USDA says that’s not the case for the crock pot!
In fact, did you know we spent two years researching and writing a popular cookbook with freezer-friendly Instant Pot recipes called From Freezer to Cooker? We honed in one the best methods for freezing meals just like this one.
Here’s how to prep Instant Pot French Dip for the freezer:
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1 and 2. Place the sauce and the meat in a gallon-sized freezer bag or round container. Seal and freeze (if using a freezer bag, set it in a bowl or round container with a diameter similar to the Instant Pot so it will fit in the pot when frozen). Place the cheese and bread in separate freezer bags or containers. Seal and freeze alongside the meat.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw the bread and cheese. Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Transfer the frozen meat to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press “Cancel.” Follow steps 4 through 7. (The frozen meat will cook in the same amount of time as fresh.)
Alternatively, you can fully cook and cool the meat and juices. Then, freeze in an air-tight container.
Instant Pot Cooking Times Chart
After testing hundreds of Instant Pot recipes, we have honed in on the best timing and methods for cooking different types of meals in the Instant Pot.
What to Serve with Instant Pot French Dip
Looking for some side dish ideas to go with these yummy sandwiches?
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches
Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches are piled high with fall-apart, shredded beef and melty Provolone cheese and then dipped in an au jus that you may just want to drink. This easy drop-and-go meal can be made in the Instant Pot OR the Slow Cooker.
Ingredients
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (Gluten-Free Option: Us coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari soy sauce.)
- 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 (2-3 lb) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
- Salt and pepper
- 6 French steak rolls or ciabatta rolls, sliced open (Gluten-Free Option: gluten-free buns or omit this ingredient)
- 6 (or more if desired) Provolone cheese slices (Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free cheese slices like Daiya brand or omit this ingredient.)
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Instructions
Make It Now:
- In the Instant Pot, whisk together the broth, soy sauce, minced onion, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, and red pepper flakes.
- Cut the meat into 2 × 2-inch pieces, trimming off excess fat as needed. Pat dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and black pepper on all sides. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- Place the beef in the Instant Pot with the sauce.
- Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the roast to a cutting board and shred with two forks. Return the meat to the pot and stir it into the sauce.
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Optional: Position the top oven rack about 6 inches below the broiler. Preheat the broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place sliced steak rolls or ciabatta rolls (open side up) on the baking sheet and broil 1-2 minutes until toasted. Remove from oven.
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Using a slotted spoon, add a layer of the shredded meat (be sure to drain the liquid first) to the roll. Top with 1 slice of cheese (or more cheese, if desired).
- Optional: Place back under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve sandwich with the warmed juices from the cooker in small bowls alongside for dipping.
Freeze For Later: Follow steps 1 and 2. Place the sauce and the meat in a gallon-sized freezer bag or round container. Seal and freeze (if using a freezer bag, set it in a bowl or round container with a diameter similar to the Instant Pot so it will fit in the pot when frozen). Place the cheese and bread in separate freezer bags or containers. Seal and freeze alongside the meat.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw the bread and cheese. Set the Instant Pot to “Sauté.” Transfer the frozen meat to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press “Cancel.” Follow steps 4 through 7. (The frozen meat will cook in the same amount of time as fresh.)
Notes/Tips
Crockpot Version: Here are instructions on how to make French Dip in the Slow Cooker.
Gluten-Free Version: Instead of soy sauce, use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari soy sauce. Use gluten-free rolls. Sometimes I just skip the rolls and eat the meat by itself.
Dairy-Free Version: Omit the cheese or use dairy-free cheese slices.
Make French Dip Grilled Cheese: For an extra amazing sandwich, make your sandwich into a grilled cheese using sourdough bread that’s buttered on the outside. Toast in a skillet on both sides. Yum!
Meal Prep These French Dip Sandwiches
This recipe was handpicked to be in one of our 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions.
You can easily make 6 meals in 1 hour with the help of this prep session. We even include a free video tutorial with it! Don’t miss out on this time-saving, money-saving, sanity-saving resource. Get it now!
Delicious and easy
★★★★★
These are easy and great
★★★★★
A fave around our house too. Thanks for the review!
I want to make this for a birthday party in a week. Which way is the best way to make it? In the instant pot or the slow cooker? Can I shred the meat, then freeze it? If I do, can I then Just warm it up in the slow cooker? On low or high and for how long?
Hi Jennifer. I think it’s easiest to make in the slow cooker, since you won’t have to cut up the roast in advance using that method. For the best results, I’d do at least 8 hours on low or until it shreds easily. You can for sure cook, shred, and freeze it in the juices. Then, I would just warm it up over low heat in the slow cooker for maybe 2 hours beforehand. Here is the recipe for the slow cooker: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/slow-cooker-french-dip-grilled-cheese-sandwiches/
I hope that helps!
Very good, easy to make dinner. The whole family enjoyed it
★★★★★
Woo hoo! Love hearing that. Thanks, Kristia!
These are amazing! Such a quick assembly and cook time in the instant pot and you have a sandwich that’s as good as a restaurant French dip. You probably have all the ingredients right in your pantry. Worth the extra 2 minutes to broil the buns and to broil with the cheese when assembled. I will be making this again soon!
★★★★★
Thanks for the review, Esther!
So good!
★★★★★
When I make this for my husband he literally dances! And then he says “aus jux” about 100 times. It’s a favorite and so easy to make!!!
★★★★★
Ha, ha!!! This is awesome. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. 🙂