Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches
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 in about an hour.
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 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!
What’s in the French Dip Sauce?
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
Mix it all together and then add it to the Instant Pot.
How Long do I Cook a Chuck Roast in the Instant Pot?
Cut a beef chuck roast into evenly-sized smaller chunks, trimming the fat off as you go. We recommend 2 x 2 inch pieces. Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes and then use a natural release for at least 10 minutes. After that, you can quick release the rest of the pressure. Remove the meat (but don’t discard the liquid!!)
On a cutting board or in a shallow dish, use two forks to shred the meat. Then, add it back to the sauce.
Want a free cheat sheet to remember this Instant Pot cooking time for chuck roast?
While researching for our cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, we quickly learned that there are a LOT of varying opinions on how long to cook a chuck roast in the Instant Pot.
During our two years of research and testing, we learned EXACTLY how long to cook meals in the Instant Pot both from fresh OR from frozen. Be sure to download and print off our Cheat Sheet here. It’s so helpful to have inside your cabinet.
Assemble the Sandwiches
OK, your meat is perfectly cooked. Next step: make those french dip sandwiches! On a lined baking sheet, give those ciabatta rolls a quick toast. I like to do this with the oven broiler, but you could also use your toaster or toaster oven.
Next, use tongs to add some of that delicious shredded meat over your rolls and top it with a slice of provolone cheese. If you want, put the sandwich back under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the cheese has melted. (Keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn!)
Remember that leftover juice in the Instant Pot? Time to put it to use. Ladle some of it into a small bowl and dip your sandwich in it!
Can I Make Instant Pot French Dip Sandwiches a Freezer Meal?
I recently took this exact meal to a cousin who is going through chemotherapy. I sent her the slow cooker version which is why the meat isn’t cut up in 2×2 pieces in the picture below. But the point is, like so many of our fabulous freezer meals, this is a great meal to take to others!
How to Freeze French Dip Sandwiches:
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.
How to Prepare French Dip From Frozen in the Instant Pot:
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 cooking instructions. (The frozen meat will cook in the same amount of time as fresh.)
Another option is to freeze the fully cooked, shredded meat in the sauce. Then, thaw and gently warm it on the stovetop, in the Instant Pot, or in the microwave when ready to eat. This would be a great way to freeze this meal to take to someone else.
Want More Freezer Meals for the Instant Pot?
We’ve got you covered. Hop over to this post highlighting 20+ Best of the Best Freezer Meals for the Instant Pot. It includes freezer meal instructions for EVERY recipe plus tons of pro tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years.
Can I Make French Dip in the Slow Cooker?
As I mentioned above, we love providing versatility in our recipes. If you want to make this in the slow cooker instead, we’ve got you covered! Just hop over to our Slow Cooker French Dip Grilled Cheese recipe and follow the instructions.
You can make them as a grilled cheese or just follow the sandwich instructions in this recipe.
What to Serve with Instant Pot French Dip
Looking for some side dish ideas to go with these yummy sandwiches?
Corn on the Cob (Here is how to cook corn in the microwave by the way!)
Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette Dressing
Roasted Asparagus
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PinDescription
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 boneless beef chuck roast (about 3 pounds), trimmed of excess fat
- Salt and pepper
- 6 Ciabatta Rolls, sliced (Gluten-Free Option: gluten-free buns or omit this ingredient)
- 6 slices provolone, cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper Jack cheese (Dairy-Free Option: Use dairy-free cheese slices like Daiya brand or omit this ingredient.)
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 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 ciabatta roll. Top with a slice of cheese.
- Optional: Place back under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Place the top of the bun on the sandwich. Serve 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
Here are instructions on how to make French Dip in the Slow Cooker.
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!
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. 🙂