Easy French Dip Sandwiches {Crockpot or Instant Pot Recipe} (2024)

4.79 from 70 votes

• 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)

• 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.

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.