Description
Succulent French Dip Sandwiches invite carnivores on a flavor-packed culinary journey through classic American comfort cuisine. Juicy roast beef, melted provolone, and rich au jus create an irresistible sandwich experience you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 lbs (907 grams) beef chuck roast
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
Liquid and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces / 430 milliliters) beef broth
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) soy sauce
Bread and Cheese:
- 6 hoagie rolls or French baguettes
- 6 slices provolone or Swiss cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional for toasting rolls)
Instructions
- Prepare the roast by generously coating the chuck roast with salt and pepper, ensuring even seasoning across all surfaces.
- Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet with olive oil over medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling environment for searing.
- Carefully place the seasoned roast into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a rich, caramelized crust for approximately 4-5 minutes per surface.
- Transfer the beautifully browned roast to a slow cooker, preserving the flavorful exterior.
- In the same skillet, sauté sliced onions and minced garlic until they become translucent and fragrant.
- Deglaze the pan by adding beef broth, soy sauce, thyme, rosemary, and a bay leaf, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
- Pour the aromatic liquid mixture over the roast in the slow cooker, ensuring it’s mostly submerged.
- Cover and allow the roast to slowly tenderize, cooking on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours until the meat becomes incredibly tender and easily falls apart.
- Remove the roast from the slow cooker and discard the bay leaf, then use two forks to gently shred the meat into succulent, bite-sized pieces.
- Lightly butter and toast the hoagie rolls to add a crisp texture and rich flavor.
- Assemble the sandwiches by piling the shredded beef onto the toasted rolls and topping with a slice of melting cheese.
- Serve immediately with a small bowl of the rich, flavorful cooking liquid (au jus) for dipping, creating a classic French dip experience.
Notes
- Choose a well-marbled chuck roast for maximum tenderness and rich flavor that melts in your mouth during slow cooking.
- Lower cooking temperatures help break down tough meat fibers, creating incredibly soft and juicy beef perfect for shredding.
- Strain and skim excess fat from the au jus before serving to create a cleaner, more concentrated dipping sauce that enhances sandwich flavors.
- For gluten-free options, swap regular hoagie rolls with gluten-free bread or serve over cauliflower rice to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 5 hours (on High)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg