Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches are the ultimate sandwich made with your favorite beer with thick slices that are super tender with an amazing crust.
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches are late to the game on this site. They are actually one of the first slow cooker sandwiches we used to make when we first started dating, but back then we weren’t quite as well versed in all the awesome tips in how to make them even more amazing.
The recipe for Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches which posted earlier is actually based on our recipe for this post as well as the grilled cheese sandwiches. The beer in this Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches recipe is the secret weapon to this sandwich. 
Tips for making this the best Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches ever:
- In a large dutch oven, brown the heck out of the beef on both sides and season aggressively.
- Use a darker beer for more flavor if you’ve got it. If you want to avoid beer altogether use additional beef broth.
- Butter the rolls before toasting, they taste amazing buttery and toasted.
- Dip the meat slices in the slow cooker liquid before adding to the sandwich if you don’t want to dip the sandwiches.
- Let the meat cool for ten minutes before slicing, this helps it stay together more.
- There are some recipes that use beef consomme or onion soup mix. Those are totally fine to use, you can swap out the consomme for half the broth or add the onion soup instead of the fresh onion, but this way is going to make an amazing sandwich, I pinky promise.
- Make sure you’re using a chuck roast for this recipe, using cuts that are leaner will result in tougher meat.
If you’re keeping track here are the other slow cooker sandwiches we’ve got so far:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Roast Beef Sandwiches with Horseradish
- Slow Cooker Pastrami Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Reuben Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker McRib Sandwiches
- Turkey Moist Maker Sandwich <— turkey made in the slow cooker
Tools Used in the making of these Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches:
Slow Cooker: Love this slow cooker and how programmable it is, it has been a workhorse for me… until…
My New Slow Cooker: This recipe was made in this slow cooker. For larger roasts I also brown the meat in the insert and not lose a bunch of the flavor by transferring the meat and leaving the browned bits behind. If you’re thinking of a new slow cooker, consider it if your budget is open.
Worcestershire Sauce: I have been using this brand most of my life and when my husband came home with the store brand one day and I figured “eh no biggie” I could immediately taste the difference. Stick with the original.
Strand Brewing Company Beer: Love their beer, if you are in California you can even buy it at Costco. No sponsorship here but just lots of delicious beer.
Ingredients
- 4-5 pounds chuck roast
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 can beer I like a dark beer
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 6 hoagie rolls
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12 slices Provolone Cheese
Instructions
- In a large dutch oven, or if you have an aluminum insert for your slow cooker add the canola oil and heat on high.
- Add the Kosher salt and pepper to your chuck roast.
- Brown on both sides aggressively (3-5 minutes on each side).
- Don't move the beef before flipping (this lets the meat get a deep crust).
- In a slow cooker add the meat, any meat juices from the pan, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, beer and onions.
- Cook on low for 6 hours.
- Remove the meat and slice thickly.
- To assemble, butter your hoagie rolls and toast.
- Top with provolone cheese.
- In a small bowl add a cup of the liquid from the slow cooker and dip the sandwich in the bowl.
Nutrition
Hi! I misplanned my day. Lol can I cook this on high for less time??
Sorry I missed this! If you need it again for the future on high for 4-5 hours would do the trick.
What exactly do you mean by dark beer? Like an amber dark? Or Guinness dark?
Yes, those would both work. I have used both, I prefer Guinness.
Hi,
I was wondering if I could cook this in a Dutch oven? If so then what temp and how long do you think?
I plan to make this tomrorow and am very excited but I do have a question. Does the alcohol completely burn off ? I’m not sure how this works in a crockpot? Thanks
Yes it will!
It says this is for 12 servings, but only six rolls. I’m confused. ?
Delicious! I’m not gonna lie, I’m no fan of French dip sandwiches. But I saw your pictures and couldn’t resist. I halved everything because my roast was only 2.5lbs but wow was it everything I hoped for and more. I didn’t have any beer so I just added extra broth and I did add some garlic butter to the rolls before I toasted them. It was so good that I’m making them again today for the second time in a week lol! Thank you for the recipe!
I have never before left a review of anyone’s recipes, but my husband and all four kids LOVED this and wanted seconds. Fantastic recipe! So happy with the delicious results!
So amazingly delicious !
I had to leave a review.
For the beer, I used a cheap-o, brand from Walmart.
Also used a rump roast even though the recipe says to use chuck only.
I just wanted to see how it would turn out.
I pressure cooked at 10# pressure for 80 min and allowed pressure to completely leave on its’ own before removing meat.
Smoley Hokes!!
It’s so delicious and I am thrilled to find a way to use up some of that typically dry rump roast we get with our 1/2 beef.
Thanks for the recipe!
If I only have a 2lb cut of meat, do I still cook it for 6hrs? Thank you!
No, it will probably be cooked in about 4 hours.
Tried recipe for first time a few weeks ago and this has already moved in front of baby backs for the annual Super Bowl meal. Thanks for posting this super easy recipe.
Yay!! You’re welcome, Steve.
Great recipe! My guests all loved it and the women asked for the recipe! I will make it again maybe next weekend.
That’s awesome Jo Ann! Thank you!
Have made a few other French dip recipes posted on Pinterest. This one is by far the best.
Thanks, Beth.
Used 1 bottle of Shiner Bock we will see how the troops like it!
Making now and smells delicious! Used 1 bottle of Shiner Bock we will see how the troops like it!
My husband said these were better than the restaurant version. That means success! No beer. Just broth. But everything else I followed to a T in the half-version size (2 lbs. meat) since I am cooking only for 2.
Thanks for coming back to let me know, James! So glad you both enjoyed it.
Delicious! Made exactly as recipe indicated. I do slice the meat thinly as possible without it falling apart though and pile it in top of the provolone so it melts better
Can a chuck shoulder roast be used instead of a chuck roast? Are they the same thing.
Awesome recipe. My hubbs couldn’t get enough, if i wasn’t so full off the first sandwich i would have had seconds. Did not use beer, just two cups of broth and i can’t wait to make it again.
Looks food but my recipe has a lot of spices to it. Sure is good but I will try your recipe.
Entire family loved it and even went for seconds. Used 2cup beef broth and no beer.
I always want to go for seconds with this dish! 🙂
I have to take dinner out of town next weekend. Could I make this the day ahead and keep cold in slow cooker or how would you recommend ?
I would recommend cooling in a separate container in the fridge and then reheat in slow cooker or on stove top. This will ensure that it is brought to the safe storage temperature, as the crockpot can keep residual heat for a long while.
Hi, I’m Eva, I dont mean to be a but-in-ski, but the laws must be vastly different from state to state. Oregon state requires an ice bath cool down and a Quick reheat and then into the crock pot. The Food Inspector marked me down for reheating our beef stew in the crock pot. He said that the reheating process is as important as the cooling process and a crock pot doesn’t heat up fast enough. I think that is a little anal but I got chewed out anyway. Lol.