Cooked low and slow these Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches are an easy and delicious recipe that is amped up and served on garlic bread. The perfect family meal that everyone will enjoy!
When it comes to dinner time, I love when I can do the least amount of work as possible but still have an amazing recipe in the end.
That is exactly what you will get with these Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches. So much flavor from the meat and the garlic bread and then the au jus.
I love how this recipe makes its own au jus, it just makes it so much easier and time-saving when you have all that flavor from cooking and not have to resort to a packet mix.
All that melty cheese ties it all together! Making this stuff homemade is better than anything you’ll get from the grocery store. Yay for slow cooker recipes!
I have always loved French Dips, we grew up on them, and have always been a family favorite recipe that has continued in our household.
The meat turns out super tender, and paired with the garlic bread you have a crusty outside with a delicious garlic butter flavor, the two are a match made in heaven.
If you are like me and want a fun and easy recipe that is perfect for any time of the week, that also doesn’t require much effort, then these are the sandwiches you need.
Some of our other favorite sandwiches we have on our site include: Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches and Easy Muffuletta Sandwiches.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Super easy ingredients help this recipe come together in no time.
- You can double it to serve more people.
- You can swap out the garlic bread for another crusty bread!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- Chuck roast
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Montreal Steak Seasoning
- Dried oregano
- Bay leaves
- Garlic
- Beef stock
- Water
- Garlic bread, or crusty bread
- Provolone cheese
- Pepper
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES:
- Cut roast into smaller chunks and rub it with the onion powder, garlic powder, steak seasoning and oregano.
- Place the seasoned meat into the crockpot and add all the bay leaves and garlic cloves.
- Add the stock and just enough water to cover the meat.
- Cover and place on low heat for 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. You want it to cook until it is fall-apart tender. Take out the meat and slice it as thin as you can.
- Make sure you take out the bay leaf and throw that away. Smash the garlic in the pot.
- Add the meat back to the post and put it on the warm setting.
- Cook frozen garlic bread to the directions on the package.
- Cut garlic bread into four equal pieces and pile on the meat, adding two slices of provolone cheese. Place the sandwiches on a sheet tray and pop it back in the oven, just long enough to melt the cheese.
- Serve with the remaining au jus from the crockpot for dipping! Save any leftover meat for more sandwiches or another meal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT TYPE OF MEAT IS BEST FOR A FRENCH DIP?
Normally a French Dip is made with either a chuck or rump roast. We like to use a chuck roast for this recipe as it has great marbling that will help it get super tender.
It is made to be cooked in the crockpot and always has great results, and is perfect when cooked at a slow temperature but you can also cook this on high. So chuck roast has and will always be our go-to for this recipe.
DO I HAVE TO USE GARLIC BREAD?
Absolutely not! You can use any other smaller crusty bread or sub rolls for this recipe. We like the taste of the garlic bread because it gives that garlic and butter which is an extra bonus.
But do not feel obligated that that is your only choice. You will want a great bread that will nicely soak up the au jus but still be intact and not soggy.
DO I HAVE TO USE PROVOLONE CHEESE?
While we love provolone on these sandwiches, you may not. There are other great cheeses that pair with this Crock Pot French Dip, mozzarella, parmesan, gruyere, etc.
You can essentially use your favorite cheese, we like slices as it is easier to layer on the sandwich itself, but if need be you can use shredded cheese as well.
ANY ADDITIONS?
I like to melt a little cheese into the hoagie rolls sometimes. More cheese is always better, right?
- Caramelized onions: Adding a layer on top of the tender roast beef enhances the classic French dip sandwich with a sweet depth.
- Sauteed mushrooms: A savory addition that complements the mouth-tender beef perfectly.
- Horseradish sauce: Spread a thin layer on the crusty roll for a sharp, zesty contrast to the juicy beef.
- Green bell peppers: Sautéed until just tender, these add a fresh crunch to the hot sandwich, perfect for those who enjoy a bit of texture.
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce: Elevate the flavor of the au jus, making it even more savory and rich, a trick for the best French dip sandwich recipe.
- A bit of soy sauce: Incorporating this into the au jus can intensify the umami flavor, making every dip irresistible.
- Arugula: For a peppery bite, sprinkle some fresh arugula on the tender meat before closing the sandwich.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: These can add a tangy, intense tomato flavor that pairs well with the melty provolone cheese.
- Hot pepper rings: For an extra kick, add a few rings to your sandwich, balancing the savory au jus with a bit of spice.
- Extra au jus sauce: For those who can’t get enough of dipping, serving the sandwich with additional au jus on the side is always a good idea.
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
From the beef to the dipping sauce, you can change all kinds of things here.
- Rump roast: A fantastic substitute for beef chuck roast if you’re looking for a slightly different texture or flavor in your French dip sliders.
- Whole wheat baguette or hoagie buns: A healthier bread option that doesn’t compromise on the classic French dip sandwich experience.
- Swiss cheese: An excellent alternative to melted provolone cheese, offering a milder, nutty flavor that melts beautifully over the hot sandwich.
- Beef consomme: For those who prefer a clearer, more defined beefy flavor in their au jus, replacing beef stock with beef consomme is a great choice.
- Italian seasoning: A versatile swap for Montreal Steak Seasoning, adding a different herbaceous note to the tender roast beef.
- Olive oil brushed on good bread: For a simpler, less indulgent option than garlic bread, brushing olive oil on a crusty roll or French roll provides a lighter but still delicious base for the sandwich.
HOW TO STORE:
If you do not assemble your sandwiches, you can store your meat with some of the au jus in an airtight container in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 5 days.
You can assemble the sandwiches and I like to wrap them in foil and bake at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Chuck and rump roast are best for this, chuck is our go-to.
- This can be doubled, just place in a larger crock pot.
- You can substitute the garlic bread with other breads if you like, something sturdy and crusty is best.
- If you are not a fan of provolone, see my tips above on other cheeses you can use.
- This can be cooked on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
If you want a delicious meal that you can fix and forget, you absolutely cannot go wrong with this Crock Pot French Dip!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried this CROCK POT FRENCH DIP let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
Crock Pot French Dip
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds chuck roast
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 garlic cloves
- 32 ounces beef stock
- Water
- 1 large frozen loaf of garlic bread or crusty bread
- 8 slices provolone cheese
- Fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cut roast into smaller chunks and rub it with the onion powder, garlic powder, steak seasoning and oregano.
- Place the seasoned meat into the crockpot and add all the bay leaves and garlic cloves.
- Add the stock and just enough water to cover the meat.
- Cover and place on low heat for 7-8 hours or high 3-4 hours. You want it to cook until it is fall-apart tender. Take out the meat and slice it as thin as you can.
- Make sure you take out the bay leaf and throw that away. Smash the garlic in the pot.
- Add the meat back to the post and put it on the warm setting.
- Cook frozen garlic bread to the directions on the package.
- Cut garlic bread into four equal pieces and pile on the meat, adding two slices of provolone cheese. Place the sandwiches on a sheet tray and pop it back in the oven, just long enough to melt the cheese.
- Serve with the remaining au jus from the crockpot for dipping! Save any leftover meat for more sandwiches or another meal.
Notes
- Chuck and rump roast are best for this, chuck is our go-to.
- This can be doubled, just place in a larger crock pot.
- You can substitute the garlic bread with other breads if you like, something sturdy and crusty is best.
- If you are not a fan of provolone, see my tips above on other cheeses you can use.
- This can be cooked on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Nutrition
Comments & Reviews
Leigh Anne@Yourhomebasedmom.com says
Always looking for yummy new things to make in my crock pot! This looks deliciosu.
I’d love for you to come over and share at Finding the Pretty & Delicious Linky Party.
http://www.yourhomebasedmom.com/finding-the-pretty-delicious-linky-party-3/
Cinthya says
This looks so amazing! I am obsessed with using my crock pot lately and I just have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing at Anything Goes At Eye Heart Monday’s. Have a great week.
Katie @ The Inveterate Homemaker says
Yum! Never would have thought of serving with garlic bread. Thank you for sharing!
Rose :: Fine Craft says
Looks like a VERY sophisticated sandwich!!
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks Rose!
T'onna says
Yummy!! Thanks for sharing @ Submarine Sunday!
April @ Angel's Homestead says
I still cant get over never thinking of making French Dips on garlic bread! Thank you so much for sharing with Saturday Spotlight. Have a great week and come back soon!
Charlene says
Thanks so much for this recipe, this was the featured entree at our Super Bowl party this weekend! Let’s just say, I had to hide a part of the sandwich for my lunch on Monday!!! This was to die for and soooooo easy!
Dana DeVolk says
YAY! I’m so glad to hear you tried it out, thanks so much for letting me know! This really has made my day!
The Busy Bee's says
These look delish! I love French dip sandwiches.
We are hosting a link party that goes live tonight! We would like to invite you to link up and share this with our readers.
Thanks!!
The Busy Bee’s,
Myrna and Joye.
http://thebusybhive.blogspot.com/
Melissa says
Just pinned this! I know what my family is having for dinner tomorrow night! Life to the full, Melissa
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks Melissa!!
Diana Rambles says
Dana~ Thanks for letting me feature this post in a guest blogger spot while I was on vacation. I’ve pinned this post.
Dana DeVolk says
Thanks so much for having me!
Betty's Houy says
enjoyed reading the recipes some of them r from the past but r still wonderfull. I use to eat them as a child my mother made them. So happy to see them again.