Slow Cooker Garlic Beer French Dips


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Easy Slow Cooker Garlic Beer French Dips are the best weeknight meal. The garlic and beer add so much flavor to the au jus.

French Dip Sandwiches were one of the first recipes that I made in my slow cooker years ago. I have many ways I like to make French dips, but I seem to always go back to adding beer with the beef. This recipe goes GREAT with French Onion Soup!

3 french dip sandwiches on teal platter.
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What’s great about making the French dip meat in the slow cooker is that the drippings are used for dipping the sandwiches in, that flavorful broth that’s made is called au jus. I like to degrease the drippings before serving, as a chuck roast can have a lot of fat.

How to make Slow Cooker French Dips:

Gather these ingredients:

  • 4 lbs. beef chuck roast (bottom round works great too)
  • 1 large white onion. sliced
  • 10.5 oz. can Campbell’s French onion soup (do not add water)
  • 12 oz. bottle beer (use your favorite)
  • 10 garlic cloves
cooked roast in juices with onions and garlic in the slow cooker.

Directions:

  • Add the sliced white onion to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chuck roast on top.
  • Add the garlic cloves on top of the roast. Pour over the French onion soup and beer.
  • Cover and cook on low for 10 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • When the cooking time is done, remove the roast on to a plate. Shred the meat with 2 forks. 
  • I like to remove the grease from the drippings in the slow cooker. I do this by laying paper towels over the top and quickly remove. Discard paper towels. 

How to serve:

  • Toast the buns in the oven under the broiler, then add the meat and cheese and put back in the oven until the cheese melts.
  • Don’t forget the sandwiches in the oven, they will burn very quickly under the broiler.
  • Serve the sandwiches with the drippings (au jus) in the slow cooker, ladle the au jus into small containers, but big enough that you can dip the sandwich into it.
3 open face french dip sandwiches with swiss cheese on top.

What can I use other than beer?

  • Beef broth
  • Water
3 french dip sandwiches on a platter

How do I stretch the au jus so it serves more people?

  • Add water and a sprinkle of salt if you need more au jus than what is in the crockpot.

Can I use an au jus packet instead of french onion soup?

Yes! Use one au jus packet and a cup of water in place of the french onion soup in this recipe. Still add the beer, garlic, and onion as the recipe states.

Can I use something other than beef?

More slow cooker sandwich recipes:

3 french dip sandwiches on a teal tray with au jus on the side.

Slow Cooker Garlic Beer French Dips

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 hours
Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Beer and garlic au jus simmer all day with a chuck roast and make the BEST french dip sandwiches.

Ingredients 
 

  • 4 lbs beef chuck roast
  • 1 large white onion., sliced
  • 10.5 oz. can French onion soup, (do not add water)
  • 12 oz. bottle beer, (use your favorite)
  • 10 garlic cloves

For serving

  • rolls
  • swiss cheese

Instructions 

  • Add the sliced white onion to the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chuck roast on top.
  • Add the garlic cloves on top of the roast. Pour over the French onion soup and beer.
  • Cover and cook on low for 10 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • When the cooking time is done, remove the roast on to plate. Shred the meat with 2 forks. 
  • I like to remove the grease from the drippings in the slow cooker. I do this by laying paper towels over the top and quickly remove. Discard paper towels. 
  • To serve, I like to toast the buns in the oven under the broiler, then add the meat and cheese and put back in the oven until the cheese melts. Don’t forget the sandwiches in the oven, they will burn very quickly under the broiler. Serve the sandwiches with the drippings (au jus) in the slow cooker.

How to Video

Sarah’s Notes

Nutritional values are approximate. If you require a special diet, please use your own calculations. Value below are for 1/8 of recipe (beef and au jus). It does not include rolls or cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 451kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 378mg | Potassium: 964mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 2.2mg | Calcium: 56mg | Iron: 4.8mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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31 Comments

  1. Kara says:

    5 stars
    This was outstanding! I don’t even like French dips. I made them for my husband and father and was so surprised! I LOVED this! Made just as instructed. Added horseradish cream to the toasted roll. Will make again and again!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Love all the recipes!

  3. Anonymous says:

    5 stars
    Thank You

  4. Susan says:

    Though the sandwiches were very tasty , next time I will use less beer! I am not a beer drinker, and I could definitely taste it in the au jus! For the last 30 minutes of cooking, I added sliced sweet peppers to the pot…a “must have” for me! Also, I was puzzled by the fact that I couldn’t shred the beef…I had my son slice it for me! Not the result I expected, but I will make this again!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      You may need to cook a little longer so it will shred. 🙂

  5. Tanisha says:

    Can I do this in instant pot?

  6. Alan Kalleberg says:

    This looks great. I want to make a two pound roast, can I still use a full can of soup and a full can of beer with 10 cloves or should I cut them by half.

  7. Tara says:

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe but now I need to go dairy free as I’m nursing. Any thoughts on a substitute for the French onion soup? Thanks!

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Beef conssomme from Campbell’s is great!

  8. Anonymous says:

    I know this sounds silly but would this be ok to serve to kids since it has the alcohol in it

    1. Tim Mahoney says:

      Alcohol burns off leaving the flavor of the beer or wine added but no
      Residual alcohol. Remember, we’re only talking ONE can or bottle of beer and this recipe calls for it to be simmering in the crock pot for TEN HOURS!

      Guaranteed it’s safe to give to minor children and alcoholic relatives!!