This french dip sandwich recipe is our absolute favorite! Just the smell alone is amazing, but it’s also awesome because it’s made in the slow cooker.
Seriously? Had I really forgotten all about French Dip Sandwiches? I’m not even exaggerating. French Dip sandwiches are something that I haven’t had a lot of, but the few I’ve had were always made with sliced roast beef or deli slices. Not my style. This time I kicked things up a notch with a slow cooker french dip sandwich recipe.
I think that’s probably why I never thought french dip sandwiches were worth remembering.This french dip sandwich though, it’s killer! It kind of reminds me of our famous pot roast sandwich, but man that au jus is seriously wonderful.
A while back I said I needed to use some beef broth and posted about what to make on facebook. Lisa, from Gourmified suggested french dips! Aha! Genius. I was hooked on the idea, but I knew I wanted to make fresh bread and I wanted it to be good, tender, moist roast beef and nothing from the deli. I set out to make it and let me tell you, DELICIOUS!
The pot roast just falls apart in the slow cooker and it makes the most amazing au jus for dipping. The secret to a tender, juicy pot roast is to let it cook low and slow. You can actually use your instant pot to really speed things up, so I’ll add notes in for that as well.
But the real winner isn’t just the meat, it’s the combination of the meat, the HOMEMADE HOAGIES, yes homemade, and the au jus for dipping so don’t try to cut any corners. We added a little cheese to this version because why not?!
French Dip Sandwich
French Dip Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 1 3 lb Tri Tip
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1 can Beef Broth
- 1 Bay leaf
- 1/2 Teaspoon Fresh Black Pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- [Easy Hoagie Rolls Recipe]
Instructions
- Remove and discard the fat from the roast.
- Place the trimmed roast in a crockpot on low.
- In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, beef broth, bay leaf, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and garlic powder.
- Pour mixture over the roast.
- Cover, and cook on Low heat for 8 hours.
- Pull the meat out and shred it and then let it cook 1-2 hours more, or until meat is very tender.
- Remove meat from broth, reserving the broth.
- Distribute the meat on hoagies and top with swiss cheese.
- Place under a broiler until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted.
- Use reserved broth for dipping!
- To Cook in an Instant Pot
- Place lid on Instant pot with steam valve closed.
- Switch Instant Pot setting to "manual" and set for 70 minutes on "high" pressure
- Once finished cooking, do a quick release.
- Remove from roast from instant pot, and proceed with the recipe.
Video
Perfect Hoagie Rolls
Want to learn how to make the perfect hoagie rolls?! Check this post out!
Pot Roast Sandwich
I would use a sprig if fresh rosemary, it will stay on the twig and not get lost in the jus.
That is a great idea!
I’m making this tonight and I’m wondering if anyone has any tips for filtering the rosemary out of the broth when you transfer the drippings from the crock pot to a separate dish? I always run into this problem when I make pot roast because I use the drippings to make gravy and I can never get rid of all the little rosemary needles. So I have a feeling I’m going to run into the same issue tonight, even though i’m not making a gravy, I still prefer not to have the rosemary needles left in the dipping sauce.
I like to use a fine mesh strainer in a situation like this. Sometimes a few sneak through, but it should catch most of them!
I’m just making these now! And the hoagies are rising 🙂. However, I’m just wondering how big a can of beef broth is in the US. I’m in Canada so I don’t know if it’s different 😊. Thanks!
These look delicious!
We used to make these at a restaurant I worked at in college! They smell so good!!
I love a blast from the past when you make a recipe!
I am this today for dinner. It was a huge hit…even our 18 month old grandson loved it!
Thanks for the recipe!
So happy to hear that!
Looks so tasty and I see it’s very easy to prepare.
We made a pot roast in the insta pot last Sunday we cooked it for 70min. It was a pretty sirloin it was so tough. It had great flavor. But what. Dissapointment
I love French dip I also like grilled onions and mustard on it. It’s yummy. Can’t wIt to try this. I will buy my hoagie buns. Lol
Oh no!!! Was the pressure valve turned the right way? I’ve done that before and the meat was so tough!
What is a tri tip? I do not recognize the term. Thanks.
Hi Rebecca,
A tri tip is a cut of beef. Your local butcher can help you or you can substitute a beef roast.
Your blog is beautiful and this looks amazing! Definitely adding it to my meal plan. Do you have a link for the bread?
Thank you so much! Here you go, https://ohsweetbasil.com/easy-hoagie-rolls-recipe.html
Any suggestions for making a smaller amount? Maybe cut it in half or thirds? Would I just half/third all of the ingredients and cut the cook time down a bit?
Hi Danielle, you can certainly cut it down and cut the time down a little, but what really works well is just cooking it all, cooling and freezing in sealeable bags for future use.
Thank you so much for the delicious recipe! I made it yesterday for a large group and doubled the recipe. It was a hit! I will definitely be making it again.
Katie, I’m so glad you all enjoyed it! Cade just requested I make them again so I’m glad you reminded me!
I would love to get your bread/hoagie recipe! Where may I find it?
Thanks in advance!
This looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it! Just waiting for the bread recipe! 🙂
Making it this weekend to post!
Yay, thanks!!
I would LOVE to have your hoagie bread recipe!
Same here!
Love to get the hoagie recipe
What size and what kind of roast are you recommending? This looks AMAZING!!!
We use a 3 lb roast but anywhere around there is great
Ok looks good, but where is the bread,beef recipe??
Is that a 13 pound tip roast or 1- 3 pound? How many aprox. will this feed.
Think she means 3 lbs. – prob. feeds 4-6.
This looks great! My husband is thanking you profusely.
I just adore French Dips and I'd love to get my hands on one of these babies right now!
mmmm. I love a good french dip!! Haven't had one in a while
I love french dip! You're right though, a lot of french dips are not worth remembering. My fiance has a beef-ban in our house, so whenever he goes out of town I whip one up. I can just imagine how delicious yours must have been with the fresh bread.