Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches (Printable)
Tender slow-cooked beef on hoagie rolls with savory au jus for dipping—hearty, easy, and delicious.
# What You'll Need:
→ Beef
01 - 2 lbs chuck roast, trimmed of excess fat
→ Broth & Liquids
02 - 2 cups beef broth
03 - 1/4 cup soy sauce
04 - 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
05 - 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Spices & Seasonings
07 - 1 tsp dried thyme
08 - 1 tsp dried rosemary
09 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
→ Bread & Cheese
11 - 4 hoagie rolls or French rolls
12 - 4 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
# How-To Steps:
01 - Arrange sliced onions and minced garlic evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Rub the chuck roast thoroughly with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Place the seasoned roast directly on top of the onion layer.
03 - Pour beef broth, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce over the roast and onions, ensuring the beef is partially submerged.
04 - Cover with the lid and cook on low setting for 8 hours until the beef becomes fork-tender and easily shreds apart.
05 - Transfer the cooked beef to a cutting board and shred using two forks. Return the shredded meat to the slow cooker and stir well to absorb the au jus.
06 - Preheat the oven broiler. Split the hoagie rolls open, fill generously with shredded beef, and top each sandwich with a cheese slice.
07 - Arrange sandwiches on a baking sheet and broil for 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
08 - Present sandwiches alongside small bowls filled with au jus from the slow cooker for dipping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The beef becomes impossibly tender after eight hours of slow cooking, practically falling apart when you look at it
- That homemade au jus is pure liquid gold, better than any restaurant version
- Everything happens in one pot, leaving you with almost no cleanup
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking, every time you do you add 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time
- Letting the beef rest in the juices after shredding helps it absorb even more flavor
- Toast the rolls slightly under the broiler before adding the beef to prevent them from getting soggy
03 -
- Sear the roast in a hot pan before adding it to the slow cooker for deeper flavor
- Add a splash of red wine to the cooking liquid for extra complexity