Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich – This comforting sandwich combines tender, slow-cooked beef, an amazing dipping sauce, melted Provolone, and wonderfully crusty French bread for an incredible sandwich experience. Talk about the best of comfort foods! This drool-worthy sandwich takes the cake, or in this case, the sandwich.
There have been numerous arguments about where this impressive sandwich came from. However, the fact that it is not a French invention is undisputed. The only thing French about this sandwich is the French bread and the word for meat juice, au jus.
Eating this scrumptious sandwich is only half of the delectable experience. Just imagine the decadent aroma of slow-roasting beef filling the house. And, if you make your own French bread, you’ll enjoy the smell of fresh-baked bread at the same. Ooooohhhh, how mouthwatering!
What Is a French Dip Sandwich?
Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet and Philipe’s (both LA restaurants have been operating since the early 1900s) continue arguing about who really invented the French Dip Sandwich. Traditionally, you serve the sandwich piping hot, piling juicy, thinly sliced, slow-roasted beef on crusty French bread or a baguette. Then you serve it with a side of beef broth, au jus, just in case you want more soppy goodness.
This finger-licking-good sandwich dipped in those juices creates an incredible dining experience. But some top it with melted cheese and onions, and I don’t have a problem with that. Just be prepared to enjoy getting a little messy.😉
Recipe Ingredients
- Sirloin Tip Beef Roast – This cheap but flavorful cut of beef benefits from slow cooking. However, you can replace it with chuck roast, skirt steak, shin, bottom round, brisket, or my absolute favorite, oxtail.
- Beef Broth – Kick up the beefiness of any dish without watering it down. Low-sodium broth allows you to control the salt content.
- Red Wine – This remarkable substance adds umami and a wonderful touch to anything with the word French in the title. If you don’t have wine, you can replace it with broth.
- Seasonings – Soy sauce, Creole seasoning, Italian seasoning, garlic, onion, black pepper, and bay leaves add fantastic flavor for an incredible dipping sauce.
- French Rolls – The crusty exterior of this beautiful bread holds up better to the delectable juices that will be soaking the sandwich. Hoagie buns, baguettes, and ciabattas also work well.
- Butter – This creamy substance makes everything better—nuf said.
- Provolone Cheese – A deliciously soft and mellow Italian cheese with a lightly smoked flavor. Swiss cheese, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Manchego, or Havarti are also delicious, or you can omit it altogether.
How to Make a French Dip Sandwich
Slow-Cooked Roast Beef
- Remove Fat – Remove and discard any excess fat from the roast, if desired. Place the roast in the crock of a slow cooker. (Photo 1)
- Mix – Whisk broth, wine, soy sauce, and seasonings in a medium bowl. (Photo 2)
- Pour the mixture over the roast, cover, and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours. (Photos 3-4)
- Rest – Transfer the meat to a cutting board, allow it to rest for 10 minutes, slice it, and then return it to the warm slow cooker for 30 minutes. (Photos 5-7)
Assemble the Sandwich
- Melt the Cheese – When ready to serve, split the roll and spread with butter. Place under a broiler for 1-2 minutes until the butter is melted. (Photo 8)
- Toast the Sandwich – Remove buns from the oven, layer them with meat, and then top with cheese. Return to the broiler for another 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts, and the bread is toasted. (Photos 9-10)
- Serve – Enjoy a bite with the liquid jus from the slow cooker for dipping.
Recipe Variations
- Meat Swap – Chicken, pork, lamb, etc., all make good sandwiches. So don’t think you must wait hours to have this deliciousness.
- Spread Swap – Mayonnaise spiced with a little horseradish is also an excellent spread for this sandwich.
- Main Course – Skip the sandwich and serve the roast beef and au jus over mashed potatoes. Yum!
- French Dip Bowl – If you’re looking for an elegant, mess-free alternative, a sourdough bread bowl hollowed out, filled with roast beef, drizzled with au jus, and topped with melty cheese is fantastic.
Tips and Tricks
- Slice the meat as thin as possible. Using cheaper but tougher cuts of meat not only makes a more economical meal but also gives you more flavor. Slicing it thin (shaving it if possible) makes a tender sandwich with lots of flavor.
- In a hurry? If you have an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, you can speed the cooking process up from 7-8 hours to 70 minutes. Also, there’s no need for a guilt trip if you only have deli roast beef and brown gravy.
- Add horseradish, just a tad, for an additional pleasant spicy flavor.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Assemble the sandwiches, except for the dip, and wrap them in aluminum foil. Store the au jus separately in an airtight container for up to two days. Heat the foiled sandwiches in the oven until the cheese melts. Then heat the au jus. When both the sandwiches and the au jus are hot, they’re ready to serve.
Serving and Storage Instructions
Leftover beef with its juice in an airtight container or freezer bag will last 3-4 days in the fridge or for up to two months in the freezer.
FAQs
The sky’s the limit on this one. Caramelized onions, onion rings, cole slaw, and sauteed mushrooms are divine.
Traditionally, they’re served hot. And honestly, they’re best because gravy is simply better hot than cold.
The name comes from the French baguette, but any bread crusty enough to hold up to the dip will work. Baguettes and artisan sourdough are delicious.
What to Serve With French Dip Sandwiches
French fries, salad, and soup are all perfect sides to serve with this incredible sandwich, or any other sandwich, for that matter.
More Deliciously Beefy Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Mouthwatering roast beef smothered in gravy of delicately crusty bread is absolute heaven. Have you tried this recipe yet? Then please pin it on Pinterest; that way, you won’t lose it.😍
French Dip Sandwich
Ingredients
The Roast Beef
- 3 pounds (1.4k) sirloin tip beef roast
- 2 cups (474ml) low-sodium beef broth
- 12 ounces (355ml) red wine, can sub with the same amount of broth
- ¼ cup (60ml) soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons (10g) Creole seasoning
- 2 teaspoons (3g) Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon (5.5g) kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (2g) onion powder
- ½ teaspoon (1g) black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
The Sandwich
- 4 French rolls (hoagie buns and baguettes also work)
- 2 tablespoons (28g) butter, softened
- 8 slices Provolone cheese
Instructions
The Roast Beef
- Remove and discard any excess fat from the roast if desired. Place the roast in the crock of a slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, wine, soy sauce, and seasonings. Pour the mixture over the roast, cover, and cook on low heat for 7-8 hours.
- Transfer the meat to a cutting board, allow it to rest for 10 minutes, slice it, and return it to the warm slow cooker for 30 more minutes.
The Sandwich
- When ready to serve, split the rolls and spread them with butter. Place them under a broiler for 1-2 minutes until the butter is melted.
- Remove buns from the oven and layer them with meat, then top with cheese. Return to the broiler for another 2-3 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.
- Serve with the liquid juice in the slow cooker for dipping.
Tips & Notes:
- Slice the meat as thin as possible. Using cheaper but tougher cuts of meat not only makes a more economical meal but also has more flavor. Slicing it thin (shaving it if possible) makes a tender sandwich with lots of flavor.
- In a hurry? If you have an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, you can speed the cooking process up from 7-8 hours to 70 minutes. Also, there’s no need for a guilt trip if you only have deli roast beef and brown gravy.
- Add horseradish, just a tad, for an additional pleasant spicy flavor.
- Caramelized onions are another awesome topping.
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
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