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This Slow Cooker French Dip is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner! Tender, juicy beef is piled onto hoagie rolls and served with a rich, savory au jus dipping sauce.
This Is the Most Requested Sandwich in My House
I love meals like these Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches that only takes a few minutes to prep and then the slow cooker does all the work. It's a no-fuss dinner–just grab some good quality hoagie rolls and toast them with melty provolone. The juice from cooking the beef turns into your au just for dipping.
My biggest tip, don't skip the searing step! It makes a big difference in flavor. I like to add a packet of onion soup mix to the slow cooker for extra depth. When you strain the au jus, taste it and add salt, if needed. Don't throw the au jus out, it freezes great for future meals!
Make sure to try more of my sandwich recipes, like a Cuban Sandwich, Sloppy Joes, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Meatball Subs, Patty Melt, Salmon Burgers, and Lobster Rolls.
How to make Slow Cooker French Dip:
Sear the Roast: Season a chuck roast with salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme then sear on all sides in a hot skillet with a little olive oil until lightly browned.
Slow Cook: Place the roast in the slow cooker with onion soup mix, garlic, beef broth, cola, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook on low for 4 hours then slice the meat thin and return it to the slow cooker for 1 more hour.
Broil and Serve: Butter and load hoagie rolls with sliced beef and cheese, then broil until melted and golden. Ladle the au jus from the slow cooker into bowls for dipping. Serve with a salad recipe like a Wedge Salad, Burrata Salad, or Potato Salad.
To Make French Dip Sandwiches in the Oven:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Sear the seasoned meat in a large Dutch oven or oven-safe pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add the remaining ingredients (garlic, onion soup mix, beef broth, coke, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce) directly to the pot. Cover with a lid and bake for 3 to 4 hours, or until the roast is completely fork-tender. Slice the meat, return it to the pot with the hot au jus, and proceed with assembling and broiling the sandwiches as directed.
French Dip Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3.5 pounds chuck roast
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 packet Onion Soup Mix, (dry), or homemade
- 3 cloves garlic, , minced
- 2 1/3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup coca cola coke, (not diet)
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
For serving:
- 16 slices Swiss or provolone cheese, or your favorite kind
- 8 hoagies or sub rolls
Instructions
- Season all sides of the chuck roast with salt and pepper, oregano, and thyme.3.5 pounds chuck roast, salt and freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Add olive oil to a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add meat to the pan and sear on high heat for 30 seconds or so on all sides, just until lightly browned.1 Tablespoon olive oil
- Place meat in the slow cooker and sprinkle with French onion soup mix and garlic. Pour broth, coke, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce on top.1 packet Onion Soup Mix, 3 cloves garlic, 2 ⅓ cups low-sodium beef broth, 1 cup coca cola coke, 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Cook on LOW for 4 hours and then remove meat to a cutting board. Thinly slice the meat and then return it to the slow cooker and continue to cook on LOW for one more hour.
- When ready to serve, preheat oven to High broil. Slice rolls in half and lightly butter the top side. Add a few slices of meat to the bottom halves and top with two slices of cheese.16 slices Swiss or provolone cheese, 8 hoagies or sub rolls
- Broil for a few minutes, just until the cheese its melted and bread is golden. Ladle the au jus sauce from the slow cooker into small bowls for dipping. Enjoy.
Notes
- Make it healthier: serve on a whole wheat bun and leave off the cheese.
- Make it “Philly style”: add caramelized onions and bell peppers
- Add some heat: jalapeños, yellow pepper, diced chilies, or crushed red pepper.
- A Salad: Cucumber Avocado Salad or Classic Wedge Salad would both taste great.
- Coleslaw
- Fries
- Potato Salad
- Veggies and dip
- Chips
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I originally shared this recipe September 2016. Updated April 2020 and September 2026.
Best French dip sandwiches ever! Everyone went back for seconds and thirds, including two picky grandsons. I followed the recipe exactly (using your recipe for homemade onion soup mix) and cooked the chuck roast in the slow cooker for 9 hours on low. Absolutely awesome! I’ve pinned your recipe and will be making it again and again!
is there anything i can substitute the coke for?
I’d suggest another soda, like root beer or doctor pepper (not diet). The carbonation and sugar in the sodas add flavor and tenderize the meat.
Could I use a 24 oz bison chuck roast?
Yes, that should be fine. Enjoy!
I followed the recipe exactly using a chuck roast but it was pretty dry. Maybe just a bad cut? Any ideas? I’d love to try this again just not sure how to change it up!
Couldve been a bad cut, on LOW should be alright though, was it 3 lbs 3.5lbs? If its bigger than tht I’d say cook it longer eap if its chewy like. Also cutting it then letting it cook on LOW another hr even made our deer meat super tender n juicy. Dont forget to search them in pil brown em on all sides, it locks in the moisture thts already there. But if you do cook on high you may end up boiling it… not good. Good luck!!
Did everyone take their meat out after 4 hrs and cut it and put it back in for an hour? I would think that would make it drier. Thoughts?
That’s why the directions currently say and it’s absolutely delicious that way!! We used 1lb of deer meat and 2 chick roast pcs one was 2 lbs and 1 was 1.67 tender as all get out!!!! Madea ton no 8 servings we each had 2 rolls and was stuffed got enough for probably 2 more meals at least!!!. I signed for email love these recipes. This is the 3rd one I belive from better from scratch , they do NOT disappoint!!!
WOW!!! So all I could get was a 3lb bottom round, and I cooked it in the slow cooker for 6 hrs. Let it rest , sliced it while I was roasting my rolls and put it back in the pot, OMG!!! Absolutely melt in your mouth delicious!!!! I will absolutely be making this again!!!! Seriously just as good as the Pub!!!! Thank you!!!!
Can you make this recipe in a conventional oven
Awesome recipe! I did bake mine in the oven bc I am not a fan of the slow-cooker (personal preference). I also did not use coke as we do not keep soda in our house, therefore, I subbed dry red wine, but only 1/2 cup. Turned out great! Thanks so much for sharing. PS I also toasted Tuscan Rolls (Artisian Rolls from Costco) only bc they hold up better than the soft rolls when you dip in au jus.
Thank you for the Coke substitution. I haven’t drank soda in over 20 years nor do I keep any on hand!
Curious as to why a diet coke can’t be used….just not wanting the added sugar 🙂
I have found when using diet items in recipes sometimes they leave the bitter after taste .
Can this be made in instant pot? How?
Can I make this in instant pot? How long to cook on what setting? Thanks!!
I am lazy and was gonna brown meat in same pot on saute setting lol
Sure, the meat will need to cook on high pressure for 50 minutes with a natural release.