French Dip Sandwich Recipe

A classic French Dip Sandwich with tender beef, melty cheese and savory au jus. A mouthwatering sandwich, made in the instant pot or slow cooker, that will leave the whole family asking for more! 

In my never-ending quest to find weeknight meals to help me feed my family and help you feed yours, I am always looking  for a meal that everyone will love. A meal that gets rave reviews from the entire table. This French Dip Sandwich recipe is just that.

What is a french dip and how was it invented?

Did you know that the french dip sandwich was an accident? It is hotly debated who first developed it both Phillipe the Original and Coles claimed to have created it in Los Angeles in the early 20th century. No matter who you believe the rest of the story is pretty much the same.

The story goes that a chef accidentally dropped a beef sandwich into the roasting pan it cooked in. Essentially “dipping” it in the juices. Instead of throwing it out, the customer ate it anyway. And the french dip was made. Now,  you’ll find a version of the french dip sandwich on almost every pub/bar menu across the US.

What ingredients do you need for a french dip sandwich?

Bread: I love using hoagie rolls for this recipe. If you toast them ever so slightly under the broiler you get a slight cruch yet the bread is still soft enough that it soaks up the au jus perfectly.

Beef: Several french dip recipes will use more expensive cuts of beef like rib-eye, this recipe, however, uses inexpensive chuck roast. After cooking in the instant pot (or slow cooker) it is so tender, you wouldn’t even know this is a budget recipe.

Cheese: Cheese is optional in this recipe but I always use it. I prefer to use provolone because it melts well and adds just a touch of smoky flavor.

Beef Broth: Use low sodium beef broth so that you can control the salt content.

Worcestershire Sauce: this sweet, savory and tangy sauce pairs perfectly with beef and I use it in lots of beef recipes.

Soy Sauce: not just for use in Asian dishes! Soy sauce adds tons of flavor to dishes from many cultures.

Herbs and aromatics: You will need sliced onions and garlic. I also throw in summer savory which is one of my favorite herbs. It has a slight peppery flavor. If you cannot find it, you can substitute thyme instead.

Instructions for Instant Pot Preparation:

Season both sides of the chuck roast with salt and pepper.
Turn the instant pot to saute and add avocado oil. Cook roast on both sides until browned, about 5 minutes per side.

Add soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, beef broth, savory, onion and garlic.

Place lid on instant pot and seal. Cook on high pressure for 75 minutes. Do a 20 minute natural release.
Shred meat and strain au jus if desired.

Place bottom of hoagie rolls on a baking sheet, top with shredded beef and cheese. You can also put the top half of the hoagie rolls on the baking sheet to toast them as well. Place under broiler just until cheese melts 1 – 2 minutes. Serve with au jus.

How to make French Dip Sandwiches in the crockpot:

Below you will find the instructions to make this recipe in the Instant pot, but this French Dip recipe is easily adaptable for the slow cooker too. Season the meat on both sides with salt and pepper, heat avocado oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet and sear chuck roast on all sides. Transfer chuck roast to slow cooker add in soy sauce, worcestershire, 2 cups beef broth, savory, onion and garlic. Cook on low for 6 – 8 hours or until tender. Finally, place shredded beef on hoagie rolls, top with cheese and place under the broiler for 1 – 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with au jus.

Want to spice things up a bit? Slather some Horseradish Cream Sauce over the bun before serving. You won’t regret it!

Looking for more sandwich recipes? Here are some of my favorites:

Spicy Shrimp Sandwich 

Ham Salad Sandwich

Pot Roast Grilled Cheese

Wondering what to serve with this French Dip Sandwich Recipe? Try these Easy Side Dishes

Jojo Potatoes Recipe

Sauteed Broccoli 

 

Note: This post was originally published in 2019. It was updated with a new video in 2021.