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Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches

Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches are easily made with only five ingredients! So tender and flavorful and cooked until tender in au jus gravy!

AN EASY AND TASTY BEEF DIP SANDWICH

These French dip sandwiches are a staple recipe in my house. We make them pretty often because they’re easy and anyone in my family (even the ones that don’t enjoy cooking) can pop it all in the slow cooker and get dinner going for us. You can serve with chips or French fries and a little au jus sauce on the side and you have the perfect, easy weeknight meal!

a closeup photo of the inside of a beef dip sandwich.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FRENCH DIPS:

What is the difference between beef dip and French dip?

They are the same thing. Different regions will call it either one or the other. But both are made with beef (usually thinly sliced) that is cooked until tender in a broth (au jus). Then it is put on a sub roll and topped with cheese. It is served warm along with some of the au jus to dip the sandwich into.

What if I can’t find a beef round steak?

Any kind of chuck roast will work. You can even use sliced roast beef for this recipe. Sometimes my grocery store carries shaved steak and I will use that for this. It cooks up a lot quicker when its already sliced but it still tastes amazing.

I don’t like to use packaged seasoning, what else can I use?

I have a recipe on my site for Homemade Onion Soup Mix that you can make if you want to use that. You can leave out the au jus seasoning if you don’t want to use pre-packaged ingredients. Or perhaps try a beef broth base (it’s a thick paste sold in jars.) There are a few brands on the market that are all natural and preservative free. Just check the ingredients on the back of the jar.

What are the best rolls to use for beef dip?

Use your favorite sub rolls here. I use a 6-inch soft sub roll. French bread will also work for this.

a Caucasian hand folding half a beef ip sandwich and dipping it into a bowl of au jus.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • beef round steak (or any type of beef roast)
  • onion soup mix
  • au jus seasoning
  • beef broth or stock
  • water
  • mozzarella or provolone cheese
  • sub rolls 
beef round steak, onion soup mix, au jus seasoning, beef broth, water, provolone cheese and sub rolls.

HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES:

This step is optional but adds great flavor. In a hot pan with a little oil, brown both sides of he pot roast really well. Don’t cook it all the way through, just brown each side in the hot skillet.

browning a round steak in a cast iron skillet.

Put beef roast in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine beef broth, onion soup mix, au jus seasoning and water and stir until combined.

beef broth shown being poured into a bowl along with seasonings.

Pour mixture over beef, put cover on slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours. An hour before serving, shred meat with two forks or take it out and slice thinly.

sliced cooked round steak shown on a baking sheet.

Place meat back in the slow cooker for about another hour.

large serving spoon holding up some of the shredded beef from the crock pot.

When ready to serve, place some subroles on a baking sheet and top the rolls with some of the shredded beef.

shredded cooked beef placed on two sub rolls on a baking sheet.

Add slices of cheese onto the top of shredded beef.

slices of provolone cheese added to the tops of sub rolls.

Place under the broiler (or use broil option on toaster oven). Watch carefully, broil for just a couple of minutes until cheese is melted and roll is just slightly toasted.

two sub rolls with shredded beef and melted cheese on top.

Serve sandwich with a bit of Au Jus from the slow cooker (you may want to strain it first). Also, I added just a bit more beef broth to our Au Jus to make sure there was enough for all of the sandwiches.

hand holding a slice of beef dip sandwich in front of a slow cooker.

CRAVING MORE RECIPES?

Originally published: May 2011
Updated and republished: January 2022

closeup photo of a hand dipping a French dip into some gravy.

Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches (+Video)

Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches are easily made with only five ingredients! So tender and flavorful and cooked until tender in au jus gravy.
4.98 from 35 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 3-4 pounds beef round steak (or any type of beef roast)
  • 1 packet onion soup mix
  • 1 packet au jus seasoning
  • 15 ounce can of beef broth or stock
  • ½ cup water
  • 6 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese for serving
  • 6 sub rolls for serving

Instructions

  • This step is optional but adds great flavor. In a hot pan with a little oil, brown both sides of the 3-4 pounds beef round steak. Don't cook it all the way through, just brown each side really well in the hot skillet.
  • Put browned beef roast into an oval slow cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, combine 1 packet onion soup mix, 1 packet au jus seasoning, 15 ounce can of beef broth or stock and ½ cup water and stir until combined.
  • Pour mixture over beef, put cover on slow cooker and cook on low for about 8 hours.
  • An hour before serving, shred meat with two forks or take it out and slice thinly.
  • Place meat back in the slow cooker for about another hour.
  • When ready to serve, place 6 sub rolls (open faced) on a baking sheet. Top one side of each sub roll with some of the shredded beef. Then take your 6 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese and place them on top of the beef.
  • Turn on your oven broiler. Place baking sheet in the oven and broil until cheese is melted and buns are toasted (note, please keep an eye as it broils because it can burn very quickly.)
  • Serve sandwich with a bit of Au Jus from the slow cooker and enjoy! Note: you may want to strain the sauce in your slow cooker before serving.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • Optional toppings include onions, green peppers and mushrooms.
  • We also enjoy adding some mayonnaise to our buns. 
  • Also, instead of the water, you can substitute with more beef stock if you like.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 580kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 62g | Fat: 17g | Sodium: 1600mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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65 Comments

  1. I saw this at the Tattertots & Jello link up party and had to check it out. I'm always looking for stuff to do with my crock pot and this looks super easy.

  2. Looks great! Congrats on your new domain. Simple and delish! As always another great recipe to add.

  3. 5 stars
    These sandwiches look so good! No wonder your husband can't talk when eating these, because his mouth is full of wonderful dripping au jus, beef and soft bread. Another added benefit is that you can make them in the slow cooker!

  4. 5 stars
    Oh Bran, this looks FABULOUS! I love beef dip sandwiches, whenever we go to a new restaurant I always order that as my gauge of how good the restaurant will be. haha! Love it!

  5. It's my first time here and following now and that recipe looks fabulous! I'm a sucker for steak sandwiches:)

  6. 5 stars
    theres just something so homey about dipping into gravy/sauce… looks melt in your mouth delicious!

  7. 5 stars
    So THAT is what I need to do to get a ring on my finger?! haha those look seriously good. I can't imagine talking during eating one of those either…

  8. I am bummed- I would make this today but I have no au jus. Heading to the store after work- I am always looking for a no-fuss dinner that is ready when I come home from work!

  9. Ooh! Ths is another one I'm gonna have to put on my list! My hubby would definitely like this (I would too!) and it would be super easy for me to toss in the slow cooker before work.

  10. I REALLY need to invest in a slow cooker. I cannot believe how many wonderful recipes there are.
    🙂 Mandy

  11. I just got done eating dinner, and I think I might be hungry again after reading this. Looks so good! I love a French Dip sandwich!!

  12. 5 stars
    You have the best, most comforting recipes, Brandie! This is something I haven't made in years, but after seeing your photos, I think French Dip sandwiches need to make an appearance on our menu!

    PS..do you think Bill will finally trim my red bud tree if I make these???! Worth a shot 🙂

  13. My hubby loves beef dip sandwiches, so I def need to make these for him. They look delicious!

  14. HOT DIGGITY DAWG! Oh I'd call these sexy too! Mmmmmm I use this exact recipe when I make ours! They be soooo yummy! : )