Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus
There is nothing better than a cozy dinner on a cold night! Let this Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus recipe slowly cook all day for a simple supper of rich and tender shredded beef on a warm, crusty roll.
What are French Dip Sandwiches in with Au Jus?
My slow cooker is basically my best friend during the winter months in Minnesota. I love her. She is easy to use, easy to clean and she gets the job done every time.
I just love having a hot meal that essentially cooks itself, especially on a cold day.
These easy French Dip Sandwiches have always been one of my “go-to” meals to feed a crowd at a holiday party or just for the four of us for a weeknight dinner. They are easy and everyone loves them.
I use a rump roast from my grocery store, and let it slow cook all day in my crock pot in beef broth and some seasoning. Once fully cooked, I simply shred it up using two forks, and serve on warm, ciabatta rolls.
The flavorful liquid that the meat has cooked in all day is called Au Jus. Spoon some of that into a small bowl on the side to use as a dipping sauce, and you’ll have a great tasting, hearty meal on the table.
Bonus Slow Cooker Recipes
Looking for other great recipes to make in your crockpot? Try Shredded Chicken Sandwiches with White BBQ Sauce or Chicken and Dumpling Soup.
What ingredients do you need to make French Dip Sandwiches?
- rump roast or chuck roast
- a can of beef broth like this
- packet of Au Jus gravy mix (I like this one)
- beef bullion cube
- Good Seasons Italian Dressing packet
- ciabatta rolls like these
How do you make Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus?
Remove any plastic or paper packaging from your roast and discard. Place the roast in the bottom of your slow cooker. You will want a roast that is approx 3-4 lbs.
Open a can of beef both and pour that over the top of roast.
Pro Tip: To avoid your Au Jus from tasting too salty, take note of the size of your roast and select your broth accordingly. If I am using a smaller roast, around 3lbs, I use a low sodium beef broth. If I have a roast that is 4 or more lbs, than I use a regular beef broth as I have more meat to season.
Open the Au Jus gravy and the Italian dressing packets and sprinkle them into the slow cooker. Toss in a single beef bouillon cube and place the lid on the slow cooker.
Cook on low for 9-10 hours or high for 6-8.
Once meat is fully cooked, use two forks to easily shred it. The best way to do this is right in the crockpot to allow the newly shredded beef to mix into the liquid (its cleaner than transferring meat to a cutting board).
*Note: Depending on the size your roast, cook times may vary. If the roast is still a bit tough and not easily shredding with the a fork, return the lid and cook for another 30-60 minutes while keeping and eye on it.
Follow package directions to warm ciabatta rolls in the oven. Slice them in half.
Use tongs or a slotted spoon to scoop the shredded meat onto the toasted roll.
Use a spoon to drizzle a little Au Jus gravy over the top of the meat before placing the top bun on the sandwich. I also like to spoon some extra sauce into a small bowl on the side, and dip my sandwich into it.
Store leftover meat in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Can you freeze French Dip Sandwiches?
You bet! This Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich recipe is actually a fantastic freezer meal.
Store the cooked meat in the cooking liquid in an air-tight container. I like to use glass ones like these. The tender beef will last in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat the meat, simply let it thaw on the counter and then transfer to a pot on the stove. Add in some additional beef broth and let it reheat over medium-high heat.
You can store unused ciabatta or french rolls in the freezer as well. Simply store them unopened or in an airtight ziploc baggie in the freezer until you are ready to use.
What’s the difference between a rump roast and a chuck roast?
A rump roast is from the back end of the cow just above its tail. A chuck roast is from it’s shoulder.
Both are tougher cuts of meat which makes them ideal for a slow cooking process over low heat such as a crock pot.
Of the two cuts, a rump roast is a bit more tender. They can often be used interchangeably in recipes.
What can you serve with French Dip Sandwiches?
- a side of extra Au Jus sauce
- french fries or sweet potato fries
- onion rings
- potato chips or pretzels (serve with this pretzel dip)
- dill pickles or sliced onions
- potato salad or coleslaw
- pasta salads like this or this
- fruit salad
- best side salad
Alternative Serving: If you’d like to add melted cheese to these delicious sandwiches, I recommend swiss cheese or provolone cheese. Simply lay the sandwiches out open face on a baking sheet, and place them under your broiler for 30-60 seconds or until the cheese melts. You could even top with some sauteed bell peppers or caramelized onions.
FAQ’s
When the roast is fully cooked, it will be “fork tender” meaning that it will fairly easily shred apart with just a little pressure of the two forks. If the meat is not easily shredding for you, simply cook it for another 30-60 minutes and try again.
No. You will want some fat on the meat to provide flavor.
Yes! No need to sear the roast ahead of time. Simply place it in the bottom of your crockpot with the liquid and seasoning, and the beef cooks evenly.
I have not tested this recipe in an Instant Pot.
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Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker large enough for a 3-4 lb roast
- 2 forks
- 1 sheet pan
- 1 tongs
Ingredients
- 3 lb rump roast between 3-4lbs is ideal
- 14.5 oz beef broth
- 1 beef bouillon cube
- 1 packet Au Jus Gravy Mix
- 1 packet Italian Dressing Mix Good Seasons
- 8 ciabatta rolls
Instructions
- Remove any plastic or paper packaging from your roast and discard. Place the roast in the bottom of your slow cooker. You will want a roast that is approx 3-4 lbs.
- Open a can of beef both and pour that over the top of roast.
- Open the Au Jus gravy and the Italian dressing packets and sprinkle them into the slow cooker. Toss in a single beef bouillon cube and place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 9-10 hours or high for 6-8 hours.
- Once meat is fully cooked, use two forks to easily shred it. The best way to do this is right in the crockpot to allow the newly shredded beef to mix into the liquid.
- Follow package directions to warm ciabatta rolls in the oven. Slice them in half.
- Use tongs or a slotted spoon to scoop the shredded meat onto the toasted roll. Use a spoon to drizzle a little Au Jus gravy over the top of the meat before placing the top bun on the sandwich. I also like to spoon some extra sauce into a small bowl on the side, and dip my sandwich into it.
Notes
- a side of extra Au Jus sauce
- french fries or sweet potato fries
- onion rings
- potato chips or pretzels (serve with this pretzel dip)
- dill pickles
- potato salad
- coleslaw
- pasta salads like this or this
- fruit salad
- best ever side salad
