Sometimes the Instant Pot is the solution you need for faster meal prep! Instant Pot French Dip Sliders are a simplified version of traditional French dip sandwiches with the same flavor and juices for dipping. Add a toasty roll and melted cheese to enjoy one of our family favorites!

Instant Pot French Dip Sliders served next to sauce

What is a French dip?

French dip (also called beef dip) is a sandwich that includes slices of roast beef on French bread or a hoagie roll. The sandwich includes a rich layer of melted cheese – often provolone, mozzarella, or Swiss. Sliders are a miniature version of the French bread sandwich since they use mini buns or rolls.

Some recipes include a spicy or coarse ground mustard for extra flavor. And, of course, you can’t have a French dip sandwich without the dipping sauce on the side – au jus! Au jus is a French term meaning “with juice” and it is traditionally made with the drippings from the meat combined with other broth stock ingredients.

Some recipes also include the additional step of drizzling the juices over the meat and sandwich bread before serving.

Why Choose Instant Pot French Dip

While I could sing the praises of the slow cooker all day long, sometimes you need to make something in a little less time! Since the rump roast in French dip sliders requires low and slow braising, you need several hours of oven or slow cooking to tenderize it fully. Here’s where the Instant Pot comes in handy.

Try the Instant Pot when:

You don’t have flexible time to wait on the slow cooker or check the oven.
Your slow cooker or oven is occupied cooking other dishes such as a side or dessert.
You want to ensure perfectly tender fall-apart meat for slicing and shredding.
You need a fantastic lunch or dinner prepared in under an hour – start to finish!

You will love how the Instant Pot easily makes the best French dip sandwiches!

Ingredients Needed

It’s hard to believe the flavor that results from just a few ingredients in this recipe.

Beef – Rump roast is used for roast beef and works well for slicing and loosely shredding. Because the rump roast is lean and very muscular, it needs to be cooked slowly (or at a high pressure in this case) to fully tenderize. As an alternative, you could also use a chuck roast (shoulder roast).
Seasoning – Keep it simple with 1 tablespoon of Homemade Garlic and Herb Seasoning or Easy Homemade Italian Dressing Mix.
Beef broth – Beef broth adds to the roast’s natural juices and creates the essential au jus. I like to use beef bone broth for added nutrition and flavor.
Bread or rolls – To serve sliders, choose mini hoagie rolls. Any type of bun you prefer will work, but slider buns are fun to use and easy for kiddos, too. Use gluten-free rolls if you like!
Optional: Cheese is optional but it makes a super tasty sandwich! Use provolone or Swiss cheese slices for topping the meat.

Roast, 1 lb on bone broth, carton, and small dish with herb seasoning

How To Make Instant Pot French Dip Sliders

Add the seasoning to the roast, and place it in the Instant Pot with the broth.

rump roast cooking inside of instant pot with seasoning on top

Seal the Instant Pot and set it on high pressure for 40 minutes.
Allow at least 15 minutes of natural pressure release.
Manually release any remaining pressure and open the Instant Pot.

rump roast cooking in instant pot in broth with seasoning on top

Remove the beef, let it rest for a few moments, and slice or shred.
Serve the beef on rolls with desired cheese and condiments, and strain the pan juices into a bowl for dipping.

What To Serve With French Dip Sliders

Serve Instant Pot French Dip Sliders assembled traditionally or how you prefer! Mini hoagie rolls hold up their shape well with the hearty slices of meat, but a sturdy brioche roll or French baguette can work too. If you like, toast the buns for a few minutes before assembling the sandwich.

Melted provolone or Swiss cheese is the best addition to French dip sandwiches. Also, add extra condiments to the hoagie rolls such as spicy mustard, mayo, or garlic aioli. French fries, potato chips, or tater tots make the perfect pub-style meal!

Any of your favorite sandwich sides will pair with French dip sliders! Include a bit of something fresh like Cucumber Tomato Salad with Mozzarella or a classic potato salad.

And, most importantly, don’t forget to serve plenty of au jus for dipping!

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover meat in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the meat with some of the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.

When defrosting the meat, be sure to save the liquid to serve on the side for dipping. Once defrosted, reheat in the microwave. Warm up leftover buns or rolls in a toaster oven or on the stove with a little butter!

To prep French dip roast as a freezer meal, add the beef and seasonings to a gallon-size freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw before cooking. When ready to add to the Instant Pot, add the beef broth and follow the directions as written.