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Jul 31, 2021

French Dip Sandwich au Jus made in the Slow Cooker

This French dip sandwich has got to be one of the best dishes I've ever tried in the slow cooker. It's really tasty and incredibly easy to make. 

French dip with potato chips on a plate.




Take a chuck roast, which is a great cut for braising, toss it into your Crock Pot with an umami rich broth, and let all of the flavors meld until everything is perfectly melt-in-your-mouth tender. 

Slice and set the beef on a crusty baguette half, top the beef with some of the onions in the braise, and broil some Swiss cheese on top. Dip it in the juices for the absolutely perfect beef dip sandwich. 

French dip with jus.




Plus, your house will smell amazing while this beef is braising. 

Ingredients:

Chuck roast

Yellow or brown onion

Beef stock

Soy sauce

Worcestershire sauce

Creole or spicy brown mustard

Garlic

Thyme

Swiss cheese

French baguettes, demi baguettes, or hoagie rolls: If you're really ambitious you can actually make your own

Bowl of beef sandwiches.




The beef is cooked for about 6 to 7 hours on low, then sliced and placed back into the slow cooker and kept warm. I think this step of keeping the sliced beef warm in the juices is key, as it really infuses the beef with the flavors of the au jus. 

I left the sliced beef in the slow cooker for about an hour, and was amazed with the flavor. The beef also is excellent warmed up the next day. It's ridiculously good.

How to assemble the sandwiches:

First, slice the rolls in half lengthwise and place them on a sheet pan. 

Baguettes cut in half.



Next toast the bread under the broiler. Be sure to keep an eye on it so that your bread doesn't burn. 

I prefer a chewier roll such as a baguette. It holds up super well when you dip the sandwich into the au jus. 

Toasted baguettes.




After that, remove the top halves of the bread, pile some of the beef on the bottom halves of the bread, top with some of the braised onions, along with sliced Swiss cheese. 

You could also use provelone cheese if you prefer. 

Cheese on meat on bread on a sheet pan.



Place the sheet pan under the broiler again until the cheese gets all melty. 

Top with the other half of the bread and serve with a side of juices from the slow cooker for dipping. 



Close up of French dip sandwich.






French dip sandwiches originated in Los Angeles, and there is evidently a debate as to who invented them, Philippe's The Original, or Cole's French Dip. They both claim to be the "home of the French dip sandwich." 

I've never been to Cole's, but I remember my grandmother taking me to Philippe's for lunch when we went shopping in downtown Los Angeles, and later my dad taking me there to lunch when visiting me in college (as well as Julie's Trojan Barrel, which is now closed). This restaurant, along with The Original Pantry, are wonderful places to visit for a sense of old working class Los Angeles.

Open faced French dips on a plate.




This is an updated post from July, 2015. I used to participate in a group called Secret Recipe Club, where we would, on a monthly basis, make a recipe from another member's blog. It was a lot of fun and I met so many wonderful food bloggers with whom I am still friends. 

I can't give myself any credit for the deliciousness of this slow cooker version of the French dip. I found it on the blog The Spiffy Cookie, my Secret Recipe Club assignment for that month. 

The Spiffy Cookie is a blog by Erin, who has her Ph.D in microbiology. Yup. She's really smart! Check out her About page.

Sunday Funday logo.


This month, the Sunday Funday group is celebrating National Sandwich Month. We're bringing you lots of sandwich recipes to enjoy all month long.



French Dip Sandwich au Jus on a plate.




French Dip Sandwich Recipe

French Dip Sandwich Recipe
Yield: 8 sandwiches
Author: Karen's Kitchen Stories
Prep time: 45 MinCook time: 7 HourTotal time: 7 H & 45 M
This French dip sandwich has got to be one of the best dishes I've ever tried in the slow cooker. It's really tasty and incredibly easy to make.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 3/4 C beef stock/broth
  • 1/4 C reduced sodium soy sauce
  • 1/2 C water
  • 1 T Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 T Creole or spicy brown mustard
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 2 teaspoons minced thyme
  • 3 pound chuck roast
  • Salt and pepper
  • 6 to 8 sandwich rolls, or three demi baguettes, sliced into three rolls each
  • 8 slices aged Swiss cheese

Instructions

  1. Slice the onion into 1/4 inch thick round slices. Do not separate. Place the slices on the bottom of a slow cooker.
  2. Add the broth, soy sauce, water, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, and thyme to the cooker.
  3. Salt and pepper the roast on all sides and lay it on top of the onions.
  4. Cook the meat on low for 6 to 7 hours.
  5. Transfer the beef to a cutting board and let sit for about 15 minutes while you prepare the au jus.
  6. Remove the onions from the pot and place them in a small bowl.
  7. Strain the liquid into a fat separating measuring cup and let the fat rise to the top. Alternatively, skim the fat off of the top.
  8. Thinly slice the roast and return it to the slow cooker and switch it to "warm." Add the onions and the liquid. Let sit for about an hour.
  9. To make the sandwiches, slice the rolls/baguettes in half, lengthwise, and place them on a baking sheet. Toast under a broiler, keeping a close eye, about 1 minute.
  10. Remove the pan from the oven, and remove the top halves of the rolls from the pan. Pile the beef and onions on the bottom halves of the rolls, top with the cheese, and broil until the cheese is melty. Top with the other half of the bread and serve with small bowls of the jus.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

742.33

Fat (grams)

26.52

Sat. Fat (grams)

10.24

Carbs (grams)

75.67

Fiber (grams)

3.90

Net carbs

71.77

Sugar (grams)

5.88

Protein (grams)

50.31

Sodium (milligrams)

1290.34

Cholesterol (grams)

116.27
French dip
Slow cooker, sandwiches
Did you make this recipe?
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Would you like to comment?

  1. Happy Reveal Day! This recipe will be great for the up coming football season!
    Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  2. My slow cooker is one of my best friends in the kitchen. This slow cooker french dip is genius! Happy reveal day!

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  3. Wow - that looks seriously good. I've never heard of French dip sandwiches before, but now I can't wait to try one. Extra kudos for making your own baguettes.

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  4. I really think I need a slow cooker! A few years back RJ and I ate at The Pantry - I love a good old fashion diner (although now I'm thinking about pancakes ;D). Great SRC pick

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  5. I love making french dip sandwiches in the slow cooker. Great SRC choice.

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  6. SAVED to make on the next drizzly and wet day! It looks AMAZING! Karen

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  7. I am all about making slow cooker meals in the summer. No oven needed. These look delicious. Great pick!

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  8. One of my husband's favorite sandwiches! I love it too, so your choice is perfect with us! ;-)

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  9. One of our favorite sandwiches, especially when made on a garlic hoagie roll! Great pick this month :)

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  10. Drool.... that looks absolutely wonderful!

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  11. I haven't had a French Dip in over 8 years, but I can still remember what it tasted like. Yours looks fantastic, I'll definitely need to give it a try.

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  12. I'm a sucker for a delicious beef dip. This looks like a delicious beef dip.

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  13. Oh I love that you made this and chose to make your own homemade baguettes too! Thanks so much Karen!

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    1. Love your blog Erin! Love the story about who gets to clean up the kitchen too =)

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  14. Oh man, I need to make this when it cools off and we get to be cozy watching football games!
    Total yum! Great Pick!!

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  15. This looks great! I love french dip sandwiches and this is a great use of the slow cooker. Pinned!

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  16. Mmm, this looks and sounds SO good. My husband loves french dip sandwiches, but we've only bought them from delis - I've never tried making one at home. Must try this!

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    1. I'm pretty sure he'd be very happy with this =)

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  17. I haven't had a french dip sandwich in so long...I need to try this! Love the fact that I can make it in the slow cooker!

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    1. Thank Michelle. It smells sooo good when it's cooking too!

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  18. I love this. I always like meat and onion cook in slow cooker. The meat becomes tender and absorb all flavors from the sauce. Onion after long cook, also absorb sauces and taste sweet. :)

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  19. Beautiful photos! This looks absolutely delicious. My slow cooker is always collecting dust in the garage. I will definitely have to pull it out for this. I loved being assigned your blog this month! I have so many bread recipes pinned for fun days in the kitchen with my son.

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    1. Thanks so much Tara! I love that you make the Rgaif! You have sent some great traffic my way too. I love how you totally capture the spirit of SRC.

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  20. Karen, this looks like a recipe B.O.B. Bob would totally love! Thanks for sharing it on Crockpot Monday, I made sure to pin it to my Crockpot Monday Ideas page!!! Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck - Colleen

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  21. My all time favorite sandwich. I make mine in the slow cooker as well. Turns out perfectly each and every time.

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  22. This looks mouthwatering! Just perfect!

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  23. I bet you used home baked bread Karen for your French Dip Sandwich. An interesting sandwich recipe.

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  24. I don't have a slow cooker, but I might borrow one to try this! French Dip is Jake's favorite sandwich.

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  25. Loving all the flavours that goes in this sandwich. Such a delicious and yummy sandwich

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