Description

Restaurant-quality French dip sandwiches made in a slow cooker with minimal effort. The secret is searing the chuck roast first to create a rich, savory jus without the blandness of a standard dump-and-go recipe.

Ingredients

Scale

3–4 lbs beef chuck roast
2 tbsp unsalted butter
Salt and black pepper
1.5 cups beef broth
2 tbsp soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 envelope (1 oz) dried onion soup mix
6–8 small French rolls or hoagie rolls
6–8 slices Provolone or Swiss cheese

Instructions

Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and once foaming, place the roast in the pan.
Sear the roast for 3-4 minutes per side until a deep brown crust forms. Sear ends if time permits.
Deglaze the skillet with a splash of beef broth, scraping up browned bits (fond). Pour this into the slow cooker.
Add remaining broth, soy sauce, minced garlic, and dried onion soup mix to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
Place the seared roast into the slow cooker. Pour liquid mixture over meat until it comes halfway up the sides.
Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours, or until meat is fork-tender.
Remove roast and let rest for 10 minutes. Shred meat using two forks or meat claws, discarding large fat pieces.
Strain the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh sieve to create a smooth dipping jus.
Slice rolls in half, fill with shredded beef, and top with cheese. Serve immediately with warm jus on the side for dipping.

Notes

Searing the meat is non-negotiable for flavor depth. Do not cook on HIGH as it affects tenderness. If the jus is too thin, boil it in a saucepan for 10-15 minutes to reduce. Store meat and jus separately in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 sandwich with 2 tb
Calories: 580
Sodium: 950
Fat: 22
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 2
Protein: 35

Keywords: crockpot french dip, slow cooker beef, easy dinner, chuck roast recipe, french dip sandwiches, meal prep, comfort food