Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich

If you love tender, juicy beef and melty cheese, this homemade French dip sandwich recipe is life changing. Slow-cooked in a Crockpot or Instant Pot, the meat falls apart effortlessly and soaks up all the rich flavors of the au jus. Perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying a cozy night in, these sandwiches are easy to make and packed with flavor in every bite.

How did I forget about French dip sandwiches? Honestly, I’d only had the sliced roast beef kind from the deli, and that’s just not my style. This time, I went all in with a slow cooker French dip sandwich recipe, and wow… game changer! It kind of reminds me of our famous pot roast sandwich. The pot roast falls apart perfectly, and the au jus? Absolutely dreamy.

The idea actually came from a reader who suggested French dips when I asked what to make with some beef broth. I knew I wanted fresh homemade hoagie rolls, tender roast beef, and rich, dip-worthy jus… no deli shortcuts allowed. Slow cooking keeps the meat juicy and flavorful, but you can use an Instant Pot to speed things up too. And yes, we added a little cheese because why wouldn’t you? The magic is in the meat, the bread, and the dipping juices! Don’t skip a single step.

Ingredients For This French Dip Sandwich Recipe

To make the best French dip recipe, you only need a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s everything that goes into this slow cooker classic melt-in-your-mouth tender cooked beef, melty cheese, and that perfectly salty, savory au jus:

• Tri Tip Steak: Wait for a good sale, or use chuck roast or rump roast as a substitute.
• Soy Sauce: Adds rich, savory flavor to the beef.
• Beef Broth: Cooks the meat and forms the base for the au jus sauce.
• Bay Leaf: Infuses the beef with aromatic flavor.
• Dried Spices: Black pepper, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder for seasoning.
• Hoagie Rolls: Store-bought works, but homemade is best; you’ll need warm water, instant yeast, sugar, honey, all-purpose flour, salt, unsalted butter, egg white, and milk. You can substitute for baguettes or another type of crusty roll too. 
• Swiss Cheese: Melts perfectly; provolone cheese is a great alternative.

Jump down to the recipe card for all the exact measurements you need to build the most perfect sandwich.

How to Make This French Dip Sandwich Recipe

This is one of those wonderfully simple recipes that tastes like you spent all day on it. These delicious french dip sandwiches come together almost effortlessly because the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting, leaving you with the best meat. Here are the easy steps to make the magic happen:

1. Combine: Add all ingredients to a Crockpot for slow cooking.
2. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until the meat is tender.
3. Shred: Uncover and use two forks to shred the meat, then cover and let it cook for another hour.
4. Assemble: Divide the meat among hoagie rolls and top with Swiss cheese.
5. Broil: Place sandwiches under the broiler to melt the cheese perfectly.
6. Serve: Pour the leftover juices into small bowls for dipping and enjoy!

These sandwiches shine next to a simple green salad or a pile of hot, crispy french fries. Or go totally against the grain and pair them with something unexpected! The world is your oyster. When you’re ready to cook, keep scrolling to the end of the post for the full recipe card you can print or save for later.

Can I Make This French Dip Sandwich Recipe In The Instant Pot?

Yes, very easily! Here’s how to make this Crockpot french dip sandwich recipe in an Instant Pot:

1. Prepare: Follow steps 1 and 2 from the recipe card, then place the lid on the Instant Pot and close the steam valve.
2. Pressure Cook: Set the Instant Pot to “manual” on high pressure for 70 minutes.
3. Release: Once cooking is complete, perform a quick release of the pressure.
4. Finish: Remove the roast and continue with steps 4–8 from the recipe card to shred, assemble, broil, and serve.

What Meat and Cheese to Use

ur top pick for these sandwiches is tri tip. It’s juicy, beefy, and packed with flavor from the soy sauce and spices. If tri tip is hard to find or a little pricey, chuck or rump roast works just as well. Once the meat is shredded and piled onto your hoagie buns, don’t forget to save the cooking juices. They’re perfect for dipping and can be strained for a smooth, flavorful jus.

When it comes to cheese, we love Swiss for that classic French dip vibe, but provolone is a delicious alternative. Either way, you’ll get melty, gooey cheese that pairs perfectly with the tender, savory meat.

Reheating and Storage Instructions

If you have leftover shredded meat, it stores beautifully in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4–5 days, or you can freeze it for later use. Leftover meat is perfect for making more sandwiches or adding to soups and stews. Avoid storing fully assembled sandwiches, as the bread will get soggy. Save the meat and ditch the bread for best results.

To reheat, I like to use a saucepan on the stovetop. Add a splash of leftover au jus or some beef stock to keep the meat juicy and flavorful. Once warmed through, assemble your sandwiches just like in the recipe for that fresh-from-the-kitchen taste all over again.

Slow cookers sure make life easy, but they also make life delicious! When you make this slow cooker french dip sandwich recipe, your house smells like heaven and the whole family is going to be dying for you to say that dinner is ready! Oh, and don’t skip the au jus!

More Slow Cooker Recipes:

• Asian Sticky Slow Cooker Ribs
• Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken
• Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
• Chili Sauce and Grape Jelly Slow Cooker Meatballs
• …All of Our Slow Cooker Recipes!

Watch This Short Video to See How They are Made…