This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
This French Dip Sandwich is one of the most popular recipes we have published! It’s such an easy recipe and it’s made in the crockpot. Your whole family will love this one and your house will smell amazing while these are in the slow cooker.
These slow cooker French dip sandwiches will just melt in your mouth! They’re so easy to toss together in the morning and you’ll come home to a delicious smelling house and the most amazing French dip sandwich ever!
We love this 3 ingredient french dip recipe! The meat turns out so tender and flavorful and it’s delicious on a hoagie roll with some cheese!
We shared this recipe on Facebook and it instantly went viral. The video now has over 80 million views and the recipe was so popular that one of the ingredients was sold out in many grocery stores for over a month!
We’ve also shared a version of this that’s quite a bit quicker. Check out our Instant Pot French Dip!
What is French Dip?
This popular sandwich is made with slow roasted beef, either shredded or thinly sliced, and best served on a French roll with a side of au jus.
The au jus is a savory broth made from the juice of the roasted beef and seasonings and it’s excellent for dipping the sandwich into.
Ingredient Notes:
Beef – We like to use chuck roast for this recipe, but rump roast works as well.
French Onion Soup – We’re using canned French onion soup to add flavor. It’s a simple way to get that savory flavor.
Beef Consomme – Consomme is similar to beef broth, but more concentrated with a richer texture. You can find canned beef consomme with the canned soups.
What We Love About This Recipe:
- It’s Easy! Open up a couple cans of soup, add them to your slow cooker with a roast, and walk away!
- It’s Tender! The crockpot does all the work and the meat turns out fall apart tender!
- The Dipping Sauce! The liquid from the slow cooker makes the best dipping sauce. Just reduce it on the stove to concentrate the flavors and dig in!
What Readers are Saying!
“I’ve been making your recipe for years and my family loves it. This is our favorite French Dip recipe. So yummy! I make exactly as written. I like to add horseradish to my sandwich. MMMM! Thank you” -Staci
How To Make Slow Cooker French Dip:
Add the chuck roast, soup, and consomme to the slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 8 hours or until the beef is tender.
Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it up with two forks.
Transfer the liquid in the crockpot to a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Let the liquid reduce down by half to concentrate the flavors. This will make a delicious dipping sauce for your French Dip.
Build your sandwiches by spooning the meat onto hoagie rolls and topping them with slices of provolone cheese. Pop them in a hot oven or under the broiler for just a minute or two to melt the cheese.
Fat Separator!
If you enjoy making your own gravies and sauces, this fat separator makes it so easy! The built in strainer catches the leftover bits and the broth comes out the bottom, leaving the fat behind.
Helpful Tip!
Amp Things Up!
- Flavor Boost: Add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce or a cube of beef bouillon to amp up the flavor a bit.
- Au Jus: Use a fat separator to remove the fat from the broth before you boil it down.
- Rolls: We’re obsessed with crusty French rolls for this recipe, but you can use any type of hoagie roll you like. A good french roll really soaks up the juices without falling apart too much though.
Crockpot Recommendation!
In the market for a new slow cooker? We love this 7 quart Crockpot. It’s simple to use, cooks evenly, and is very budget friendly. Plus, it has a 4 1/2 star rating with over 5,000 reviews on Amazon!
Karly’s Tips:
All slow cookers cook a bit differently – some run hotter than others! If your roast is not fall apart tender after cooking, it’s just not done yet. Keep cooking until it’s tender enough to easily shred with a fork. It’s very difficult to overcook a roast in the crockpot, so just keep cooking until it’s tender!
If you want a less greasy au jus for dipping your sandwiches, trim the fat from your chuck roast before cooking. You can also remove the fat from the liquid using a fat separator! This tool comes in handy any time you’re making gravy!
You may notice that we add a packet of Au Jus seasoning to our Instant Pot French Dip sandwiches. This is because we find things need extra seasoning when cooked under pressure. You may add it to this slow cooker french dip sandwich recipe as well, if you like a bolder flavor.
Freezing & Storage Instructions:
I don’t think we’ve ever cooked a chuck roast without having some leftovers. They’re a large cut of meat and perfect for feeding a crowd! And if you’ve got extra, it’s just as good the next day.
You can keep any leftovers stored well covered or in an airtight container in your refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days.
The meat can also be frozen for up to a few months. Let it cool completely before transferring to a freezer safe bag or container. Thaw overnight before reheating.
???? More Slow Cooker Favorites:
- Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing
- Pulled Pork with Pickle Slaw
- Pulled Pork & Pintos
- Grape Jelly Meatballs
- Beer Cheese Chicken Sliders
- Mississippi Pot Roast
- Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
wprm-recipe-video
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 3 pounds beef chuck roast
- 21 ounces condensed French Onion Soup (2 10.5 ounce cans)
- 10.5 ounces Beef Consomme (1 can)
- 8 sandwich rolls
- 8 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Place the roast in a slow cooker. Pour the soup and consomme over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, or until the beef easily shreds apart with a fork.
- Remove 3 cups of the liquid from the slow cooker with a measuring cup or ladle and add to a small sauce pan. Turn heat to medium and bring to a boil. Reduce to a hard simmer and let cook until reduced by half, about 10-15 minutes.
- Transfer the beef to a shallow dish and shred with a fork.
- Place the sandwich rolls on a baking sheet and spoon meat into each roll. Top with provolone cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
- Serve immediately with the sauce on the side for dipping.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in March 2016. It was updated in January 2023. Original photo below:
Bernie says
This was a great recipe.. Thank you will double the meat next time.. So tasty I did add a seasoning call the Keg to the meat ?
Bernie says
This was a great recipe.. Thank you will double the meat next time.. So tasty I did add a seasoning call the Keg to the meat ?
Lisa says
This was great. We got a good cut of roast on sale and it turned out great. I would highly recommend this recipe for new cooks. It’s super simple and tastes great.
Rebecca says
These were delicious! These will absolutely be going on meal rotation. So simple and so good. To anyone reading comments to decide if you will make it or not… MAKE THIS! And don’t worry if you are making it for one or two, you will eat these leftovers.
Terrah Siwik says
Want some additional flavor in the meat?? Put a few jarred peppperocinis on top…. It won’t make the meat spicy, but adds seriously great flavor!
Meghan says
Absolutely delicious! Melted the provolone on the buns in the oven before and it was perfect! Definitely worth it to take the time to reduce the au jus. So delicious!! Thank you so muvhn
Karen Nagle says
Has anyone tried seasoning with salt and pepper, then searing the meat before the crock pot? too salty? Searing not necessary?
Karly says
Haven’t tried it, but I don’t think ti would be too salty.
Cindy says
I watched video and made grocery list before I checked the actual recipe. I only bought one can of French onion soup. How critical are two cans? Really don’t want to go back to store. Thanks
Karly says
I think you’ll be fine. Add in some fresh onions or a bit of Worcestershire sauce to give it extra flavor if you think it needs it.
Jo says
How did it turn out? I too made grocery list before coming to actual site
Allen Harper says
I’m making this today. All looks good however it is smelling like some bad prepackaged steak sandwich meat I had purchased before and could not stomach it. I hope this tastes better than it smells and I’m not wasting this food and time! 🙁
Jessica Dies says
So stupid question do you add water or put the soup and consume in concentrated?
Scott says
Great recipe! Busy military family. So this easy dinner was perfect. I used some of the suggestions made above. I also used Swiss cheese on a few (that is what my mom added to her French Onion Soup). It was a hit as well. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Karly says
Glad it was a hit!
Julie says
Made this tonight, only thing I added was grilled onions on top of meat then the cheese on top. Super easy and delicious. Better than any French dip we’ve ordered in a restaurant.
Karly says
Grilled onions had to be a great addition!
Rob says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It was so good! We were skeptical, as it sounded too easy. So glad my girlfriend is smarter in the kitchen than I am…..but I’m learning.
Karly says
Glad you two enjoyed it!
FUCHESS says
Hi! I just got this recipe from a gf on fb and it immediately shouted out to me! My husband is getting the ingredients now and I will cook it tomorrow! I’m so glad you indicated NOT to add any other seasonings because I always do but will refrain this time. I will probably thought add a lil smoke flavoring. I will definitely let you know!
Karly says
Hope you enjoy them! You can certainly add additional seasonings as desired, but I’d be careful about adding extra salt. 🙂
FUCHESS says
Well, I made it! It is real good. My husband went out of his way to say it was good…definitely not too salty. I added some Worcester sauce and a cap full of smoke. I did add garlic and pepper to the meat. I cooked on high for almost 5 hrs and shredded easily. The only thing for me is that the meat itself was kinda bland, altho the juice was excellent. Next time, and there will definitely be a next time and time again, I will add a little more seasonings…something to give it a little bolder taste. Bottom line, I like it very much! Great for a lot of company too. Leftovers tonight!!! Thank you.
Karly says
Glad to hear you guys enjoyed it! I bet the smoke addition was great!
Lisa says
If using the condensed soup as recipe calls for, do you add the water or just the cond soup? Ty ?
Karly says
Just the soup!