Easy French Dip Sandwiches {Crockpot or Instant Pot Recipe}

Super EASY French Dip Sandwiches (aka Beef Dips)...with only 5 ingredients for the beef! These sandwiches include strips of tender beef stewed in an au jus gravy sauce, topped with melted provolone cheese...all on a toasted hoagie roll!

Served with a side of the au jus gravy sauce for dipping!

The video shows the French Dip Sandwiches (aka Beef Dips) being made in the Crock pot, but instructions for Instant Pot and Stove top are also included here or on the recipe card.

This is a "cheater" version of French dip sandwiches because it uses store-bought mixes of au jus and brown gravy. But it makes it SO easy to make, and adds so much flavor! You will love this "dump and go" time-saving recipe!

If you don't count water (and adding salt and pepper if needed), the beef only requires these 5 ingredients:

• Beef Roast or Steak
• Brown Gravy Mix
• Au Jus Mix
• Onion Powder
• Garlic powder

What types of beef can be used for Easy French Dip Sandwiches?

We have tested this recipe with various cuts of beef, all with great success! We just use whatever is on sale at the time, and have tried it with:

• Chuck Roast
• Sirloin Steak
• Petite Sirloin Steak

Lately, petite sirloin steaks have been the cheapest, so we mostly use those. My guess is any boneless beef roast or steak will do!

How to make Easy French Dip Sandwiches in the Crock pot

For the Beef:

• Place the sliced beef, onion powder, garlic powder, au jus mix, brown gravy mix, and water into the crockpot insert.

• Stir to combine.

• Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours, or until beef is fork tender.
• Stir the beef, and add salt and pepper taste (I used ½ teaspoon each). 

• Serve on sandwiches, or on its own, with sides of your choice (like…veggies, bread rolls, rice, potatoes).

To make Sandwiches:

• Preheat the broiler on HIGH. (You can also bake the rolls, see notes.)
• Place open hoagie rolls on a foil-lined baking sheet (butter the inside if desired.) 

• Broil for about 1-2 minutes, or until insides are lightly browned. (Watch carefully to not burn!)

• Remove the tray from the oven. Take the top buns off each roll, remove them from the tray and set aside.
• Place beef strips on top of each bottom roll, then top with sliced provolone.
• Broil until cheese is melted (about 1 minute).

• Remove from oven, and place the top bun on.

• Serve each beef sandwich with a side of au jus gravy sauce from the crockpot for dipping.

Alternative Cooking Methods for Easy French Dip Sandwiches

Instant Pot Instructions:

• Place the sliced beef, onion powder, garlic powder, au jus mix, brown gravy mix,  and water into the Instant Pot insert, and stir to combine.
• Close the lid and set the valve to “sealing”.
• Turn the Instant Pot on “Manual” mode for 35 minutes (or pressure cook on “HIGH”).
• Once done, allow a 10 minute natural release (meaning: leave it alone!), then set the valve to “venting”.
• Stir the beef, and add salt and pepper taste (I used ½ teaspoon each).  
• Serve on toasted hoagie rolls with melted cheese. You can also just serve it on its own, with sides of your choice (like…veggies, bread rolls, rice, potatoes).
• If making into sandwiches, follow instructions on recipe card for toasting rolls. 

Stove Top Instructions:

(Note: For Stove top method, adjust the amount of water to 2.5 cups.)

• Place the sliced beef, onion powder, garlic powder, au jus mix, brown gravy mix, and water into a Stock Pot, or a Dutch Oven, and stir to combine.
• Bring to a simmer on medium-high.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1.5-2 hours, or until beef is fork tender. 
• Stir the beef, and add salt and pepper taste (I used ½ teaspoon each).  
• Serve on toasted hoagie rolls with melted cheese. You can also just serve it on its own, with sides of your choice (like…veggies, bread rolls, rice, potatoes).
• If making into sandwiches, follow instructions on recipe card for toasting rolls.

To Slice or Not to Slice?

Either way works! I love the flavor each piece of beef gets when cooked sliced! But, we have tried cooking the whole roast (to save time), then shredding after it's cooked...and it was still so delicious!

Enjoy! 🙂

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Easy French Dip Sandwiches {Crockpot or Instant Pot Recipe}

Super EASY French Dip Sandwiches (aka Beef Dips)...with only 5 ingredients for the beef! These sandwiches have strips of tender beef stewed in an au jus gravy sauce, topped with melted provolone cheese...all on a toasted hoagie roll!

4.78 from 72 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 sandwiches

Equipment

• Instant Pot (6 quart)
• Crockpot
• Dutch Oven
• Large Stockpot

Ingredients

• 3 lb beef steak or roast, thinly sliced (into about 2-3" strips) (Chuck roast, sirloin steak, petite sirloin all work! See notes)
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 packet au jus gravy mix (1 oz. packet) *see notes
• 1 packet brown gravy mix (1 oz. packet)
• salt & pepper to taste (If needed. I added ½ teaspoon each.)
• 8 hoagie rolls, or french bread rolls
• 8 provolone cheese slices (or more if you want it extra cheesy!)
• butter, optional (for buttering bread rolls)

Instructions

• Place the sliced beef, onion powder, garlic powder, au jus mix, brown gravy mix, and water into the crockpot insert and give it a quick stir.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours, or low for 6-8 hours, or until beef is fork tender.
• Stir the beef, and add salt and pepper taste (I used ½ teaspoon each).
• Serve on toasted hoagie rolls with melted cheese. You can also just serve it on its own, with sides of your choice (like…veggies, bread rolls, rice, potatoes).

To Make Sandwiches:

• Preheat the broiler on HIGH. (You can also bake the rolls, see notes.)
• Place open hoagie rolls on a foil-lined baking sheet (butter the inside if desired.)
• Broil for about 1-2 minutes, or until insides are lightly browned. (Watch carefully to not burn!)
• Remove the tray from the oven. Take the top buns off each roll, remove them from the tray and set aside.
• Place beef strips on top of each bottom roll, then top with sliced provolone.
• Broil until cheese is melted (about 1 minute). Remove from oven, and place the top bun on.
• Serve each beef sandwich with a side of au jus gravy sauce from the crockpot for dipping.

Video

Notes

 

Types of Beef:

We have tested this recipe with various cuts of beef, all with great success! We just use whatever is on sale at the time. We have tried with:

• Chuck Roast
• Sirloin Steak
• Petite Sirloin Steak

Lately, petite sirloin steaks have been the cheapest, so we mostly use those! So my guess, is any beef steak or roast will do!

To Slice or Not to Slice?

Either way works!

I love the flavor each piece of beef gets when you cook it sliced! But, we have tried cooking the whole roast, then shredding after and it was still so delicious! 

See notes on the blog for times/tips on cooking whole roast or steak. 

To Bake Rolls:

If you prefer to bake rolls instead of broiling, here are instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. 
• Place open hoagie rolls on a foil-lined baking sheet, (and butter the inside if desired.) 
• Bake for about 5 minutes, or until insides are lightly browned/toasted.
• Remove the tray from the oven. Take the top buns off each roll, remove them from the tray and set aside. 
• Place beef strips on top of each bottom roll, then top with sliced provolone. 
• Bake until cheese is melted (about 2 minutes). Remove from oven, and place the top bun on.
• Serve each beef sandwich with a side of au jus gravy sauce from the crockpot for dipping. 

 

Instant Pot Instructions:

• Place the sliced beef, onion powder, garlic powder, au jus mix, brown gravy mix,  and water into the Instant Pot insert, and stir to combine.
• Close the lid and set the valve to “sealing”.
• Turn the Instant Pot on “Manual” mode for 35 minutes (or pressure cook on “HIGH”).
• Once done, allow a 10 minute natural release (meaning: leave it alone!), then set the valve to “venting”.
• Stir the beef, and add salt and pepper taste (I used ½ teaspoon each).  
• Serve on toasted hoagie rolls with melted cheese. You can also just serve it on its own, with sides of your choice (like…veggies, bread rolls, rice, potatoes).
• If making into sandwiches, follow instructions on recipe card for toasting rolls. 

 

Stove Top Instructions:

(Note: For Stove top method, adjust the amount of water to 2.5 cups.)

• Place the sliced beef, onion powder, garlic powder, au jus mix, brown gravy mix, and water into a Stock Pot, or a Dutch Oven, and stir to combine.
• Bring to a simmer on medium-high.
• Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1.5-2 hours, or until beef is fork tender. 
• Stir the beef, and add salt and pepper taste (I used ½ teaspoon each).  
• Serve on toasted hoagie rolls with melted cheese. You can also just serve it on its own, with sides of your choice (like…veggies, bread rolls, rice, potatoes).
• If making into sandwiches, follow instructions on recipe card for toasting rolls. 

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: French

Keyword: beef, beef dip, crockpot, easy recipe, instant pot, sandwich, stove top

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Watch the VIDEO on how to make Easy French Dip Sandwiches! Make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Cooking Channel  so that you never miss a recipe video!  🙂

Looking for more easy Crockpot or Instant Pot recipes? Try out one of these:

• Easy Mexican Shredded Beef
• Shredded Chicken Taco Meat
• Easy Carnitas
• Beef Chile Colorado