Incredibly tender and full of flavor, Mississippi French Dip Sandwiches are an easy weeknight dinner made in the slow cooker. These sandwiches combine a Mississippi pot roast with a classic French dip sandwich for the perfect bite!
Thereโs nothing better than coming home to the smell of a slow cooker pot roast! This super easy, flavorful Mississippi French Dip Sandwich is made easy in the crock pot for quick preparation on a weekday. Plus it's made with several pantry staple ingredients that you probably already have at home!
Mississippi Pot Roast has become a very popular recipe thanks to the savory and tangy flavors of ranch seasoning, pepperoncini peppers, and beef. Acidity from the peppers also helps tenderize the beef while the butter adds flavor and richness. If you love ranch, I like to use my DIY ranch seasoning here.
One night I had the thought of bringing a Mississippi Pot Roast and classic French Dip Sandwich together. With a few ingredient adjustments and additions, BAM, a beautiful Mississippi pot roast sandwich was born! Itโs now a family favorite and soon to be yours too!
Table of Contents
Why Youโll like this Recipe
- Easy to Prepare: Itโs SUPER easy to make with simple ingredients!
- Comfort Food: Itโs an excellent comfort food meal that is also versatile!
- Great Flavors: Itโs packed full of amazing flavors, like ranch and pepperoncini!
- Slow Cooker Meal: Itโs an excellent set-it and forget-it dinner!
Ingredients in Mississippi French Dip Sandwiches
Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below
- Chuck Roast: Known for its rich, beefy flavor, this roast absorbs all the yummy flavors and becomes incredibly tender.
- Olive Oil, optional: Contributes to the rich and savory flavors of caramelizing the beef.
- Campbell's French Onion Soup: Contains sweet caramelized onions and a rich broth base that adds savoriness and flavor to the dish.
- Pepperoncini Peppers: Mild and tangy, these peppers add texture, savoriness and pair perfectly with the beefy flavor notes.
- Au Jus Packet: Adds savoriness to the hearty meat and contributes the perfect broth for crockpot French dip sandwiches.
- Ranch Dressing Mix: With it's addition of over 8 herbs and spices, this seasoning blend adds an abundance of flavor to these sandwiches.
- Mushrooms: An optional add, mushrooms add texture and volume to the dish and are incredible paired with the beef.
- Butter: Enhances the richness of the dish and contributes to the tenderness of the beef.
- Butter or Oil: Gives the bread the moisture and fat content to yield a perfect crispy crust.
- Hoagie Buns: Tender and just the right size to make the perfect hearty sandwich.
- Provolone Cheese: Elevates this sandwich with it's mild flavor ooey gooey cheesy goodness!
Tools Youโll Need
- 6 Quart or Larger Crockpot
- Large Skillet (optional)
How to Make Mississippi Pot Roast Sandwich
- Season with salt and pepper and sear roast(s) 2-3 minutes per side in oil in a large skillet on high heat.
- To a Crockpot, stir together French onion soup, ยฝ cup of the pepperoncini pepper juice (discard the rest), pepperocini peppers, au jus packet, and ranch packet.
- Transfer the roast to the Crockpot. Swirl ยผ cup water in the skillet and pour into the Crockpot. Place butter and mushrooms on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours. Once complete, remove the roast, shred, and return to the Crockpot.
- Butter or brush with oil and broil or toast hoagie buns. Add cheese slices and add a serving of drained meat/veggies to each bun. Serve sandwiches with Crockpot juices on the side for dipping.
Making Mississippi Pot Roast in the Instant Pot
Great news! Yes, this Mississippi pot roast can be made in the Instant Pot. If you prefer to cut down on the cook time by using a pressure cooker rather than a slow cooker follow my instructions below.
- Yes! Turn on the Instant Pot and select the โSautรฉโ function. Once hot, add oil and sear the beef roast on all sides until browned. Remove the roast.
- Add butter and stir until melted. Stir in the French onion soup, ranch dressing mix, au jus packet, pepperoncini peppers, pepperoncini juice, and water. Return the beef and add the mushrooms on top.
- Close the lid and select the "Meat/Stew" function. Set the timer for 60-90 minutes, depending on the size of your roast and how tender you want it to be.
- Once the cooking time is complete, let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for 10-15 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Open the lid and carefully remove the beef roast from the Instant Pot.
- Shred the beef roast with a fork and return it to the Instant Pot, stirring to combine it with the sauce.
Making Mississippi Pot Roast in the Oven
If you'd rather go the traditional route, make this Mississippi French dip in the oven by roasting the meat instead.
After searing in an oven safe pan on the stove top, place the roast in a roasting pan or baking dish.
In a separate bowl, stir together the French onion soup, pepperoncini juice and peppers, au jus packet, ranch, mushrooms, water and butter. Pour the mixture over the roast and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
Place in a preheated 275ยฐF oven for 3.5 to 4 hours, flipping the roast halfway through cooking. The beef should easily shred with a fork when done. Remove from the oven, shred the beef and discard any residual fat.
Tips and Substitutions
- Mississippi French Dip sandwiches can be made with any cheese of choice.
- These sandwiches are excellent served with a side salad, french fries, tater tots, roasted vegetables or raw veggies and dip.
- The sodium content can be adjusted to your preference. To lower the content, you can omit salting the beef before searing. You can also make the french onion soup, au jus packet, and ranch seasoning from scratch.
- You can use ranch seasoning from a ready-made seasoning packet or 2 tablespoons from Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
- A homemade au jus packet can be made by combining 2 tablespoons regular or low-sodium beef bouillon granules or beef base, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ยฝ teaspoon onion powder, ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder, ยฝ teaspoon dried thyme and ยผ teaspoon black pepper.
Storage and Freezing
Once the meat has cooled to room temperature, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. If you want to store it for longer, you can freeze it for up to three months.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You can eat it plain or you can serve it over mashed potatoes, pasta or rice.
Chuck roast/chuck tender roast or rump roast work best for these sandwiches. These cuts are typically more affordable and have enough fat and connective tissue to become tender and flavorful when slow-cooked.
Yes, it can be cooked on high for 4-5 hours, but this impacts the end result tenderness.
No. Swiss, American, provolone, Colby jack, Monterey Jack, Cheddar or pepper jack could all work on this sandwich.
While many folks have expressed that they love this dish with chicken, itโs not one of my personal favorites. Some folks also like it made with a pork shoulder.
Choose the lower sodium au jus packet, ranch seasoning and/or French onion soup products or make them from scratch. You can also forgo seasoning the beef before searing to lower the salt content.
The main component of a Mississippi pot roast sandwich is slow-cooked pot roast. This roast is typically seasoned with a packet of ranch dressing mix, a packet of au jus gravy mix, butter, and pepperoncini peppers. A French dip sandwich is made with thinly sliced roast beef, typically just seasoned with traditional beef seasonings before roasting or slow cooking.
More Comfort Food Recipes:
Mississippi French Dip Sandwiches (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Ingredients
Seasoned Beef
- 3 pound chuck roast
- Salt and Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 10.5 ounces can Campbell's French Onion Soup
- 16 ounces jar sliced pepperoncini peppers
- 0.87 ounce au jus packet
- 1 ounce packet ranch dressing mix
- 8 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 4 tablespoons butter sliced
Sandwiches
- 1-2 tablespoons butter or oil
- 6 hoagie buns
- 6 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet on high heat. Season roast on both sides with salt and pepper and sear 2-3 minutes per side.ย (Seasoning and searing first is optional.)
- To a 6 quart or larger Crockpot, stir together French onion soup, ยฝ cup of the pepperoncini pepper juice (discard the rest), the pepperocini peppers, au jus packet and ranch seasoning. Transfer the roast to the Crockpot. Swirl ยผ cup water in the skillet and pour into the Crockpot. Place butter and mushrooms on top.ย
- Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours.ย Once complete, remove the roast, shred, and return to the Crockpot.ย
- Butter and broil or toast hoagie buns with cheese. Add some of the drained beef and veggies to each bun. Serve with Crockpot juices for dipping.
Video
Notes
- Mississippi French Dip sandwiches can be made with any cheese of choice.
- These sandwiches are excellent served with a side salad, french fries, tater tots, roasted vegetables or raw veggies and dip.
- The sodium content can be adjusted to your preference. To lower the content, you can omit salting the beef before searing. You can also make the french onion soup, au jus packet, and ranch seasoning from scratch.ย
- You can use ranch seasoning from a ready-made seasoning packet or 2 tablespoons from Homemade Ranch Seasoning.
- A homemade au jus packet can be made by combining 2 tablespoons regular or low-sodium beef bouillon granules or beef base, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, ยฝ teaspoon onion powder, ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder, ยฝ teaspoon dried thyme and ยผ teaspoon black pepper.
Gaby
this is my second time making this meal ๐ let me tell you my girls love it it's so easy to make delicious
Laura Ashley
That is FANTASTIC! Itโs comments like this that make my heart so happy! Iโm so happy youโve made it more than once and that itโs a hit!
Alex
So good and so easy!
Laura Ashley
Thank you so much!! Iโm so happy you made it and it was a hit!๐
Phyllis Dennis
These French dip sandwiches are so amazing! Will definitely be making these!
Laura Ashley
AWESOME!!! I know they'll be a hit with whoever you make them for!
Moira Johnson
My son-in-law made this for Mother's Day dinner yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised, thinking it would be too spicy, but it was the perfect amount of heat. They were juicy, flavorful and good all around.
Laura Ashley
That is WONDERFUL, Moira!! I'm so excited he made it and that it was such a big hit with everyone! Thank you!!
Cheri
Iโm not a French dip person, but my husband loves them. I saw this recipe & thought Iโd try something new. This was amazing!! Even my daughter loved them. I will definitely be making again & again.
Laura Ashley
Well this is just AWESOME! Iโm so excited you made it and that you and the family liked it so much! That is just wonderful! THANK YOU!
Cheri Davis
Laura,
I cannot thank you enough for this recipe. It is amazing & my whole family loves it. My husband says he thinks about it for days afterwards. Thank you for sharing!
Laura Ashley
Well this flat out made my heart so happy to hear! Thank you SO SO much!! I'm so happy you made it and that you and your whole family likes it so much!!
Gabrielle Koehler
Can I cook this roast on high for half the amount of time?
Laura Ashley
Yes, it might be slightly less tender but still super yummy!
Megan
Iโve made many of your recipes and they always end up being favorites in our house! I havenโt made anything of yours that wasnโt amazing. You are the mastermind of easy and incredible recipes! Which, with 4 young children, are my favorite kind lol. Thank you!
Laura Ashley
That makes my heart SO HAPPY to hear! Thank you SO much!! It means a lot to me that you make them and that you and your family like them so much too!
Sally
It had a good flavor and my hubby loved it. But, it was too spicy for me. My mother was in fire! Can you make it without the pepperocini?and if so what would I use instead?
Laura Ashley
It shouldn't be spicy, but you can make sure the variety you use is mild. Banana peppers and pepperoncini peppers are used interchangeably, but sometimes jars that are pepperonicin peppers have added heat. The two peppers have the same scoville heat rating too. Make sure it's a mild one and see if you lean towards the mildness of the banana pepper over the pepperoncini next time ๐
Robin
need oven method for Mississippi French dip sandwich please
Laura Ashley
There's a section on the post where you will find these steps under "MAKING MISSISSIPPI POT ROAST IN THE OVEN." I hope you love it!