Crockpot French onion beef tips combines tender chunks of beef with onions, savory seasoning mixes, rich French onion soup, melted butter, and gooey mozzarella cheese for the ultimate comfort food.

From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito

This recipe has layers of flavor that all build perfectly onto each other. The slow cooked onions bring sweetness, the beef becomes rich and buttery, and the French onion gravy soaks into every bite. The seasoning packets take all the guesswork out and give you that deep, savory taste without needing a ton of ingredients. And once that mozzarella melts over the top, it turns into the kind of cozy, comforting meal the whole family is going to love.

This is one of those set it and forget it dinners that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen, but the crockpot does all the work for you. The beef gets unbelievably tender, the onions melt right into the gravy, and the cheese on top makes it extra delicious. It’s simple, hearty, and honestly just one of those meals everyone ends up going back for seconds of.

Ingredients

Here is everything that you’ll need to make this delicious French onion, beef dip recipe. You can find the full ingredients list along with measurements and instructions in the recipe card below.

Chuck Roast- gives you that rich, beefy flavor and becomes incredibly tender and juicy as it slow-cooks.
Sliced Yellow or White Onions- they melt down and add sweetness, depth, and that classic French onion flavor to the gravy.
Au Jus Packet- Boosts savory flavor and helps create a rich, beefy sauce without much effort. Low sodium is preferred.
Beefy Onion Soup Mix- Adds concentrated onion flavor, extra seasoning, and helps deepen the overall savory taste of the gravy. Use a low sodium packet when available.
French Onion Soup- Adds a flavorful liquid base that blends the beef and onions together into a rich, savory gravy.
Unsalted Butter- Enriches the sauce and adds a silky, buttery finish without adding extra salt.
Mozzarella Cheese- Melts into a gooey, creamy topping that makes the dish extra cozy and delicious.
Black Pepper- Seasons the beef and cuts the richness of the dish.
Vegetable Oil- Great choice for searing meat.
Parsley- An optional garnish that brings just a pop o

How To Make It

Here’s the step-by-step on how to make this delicious crockpot meal. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions in the recipe card below.

First, cut the chuck roast into one to 2 inch pieces and season them with pepper. In a large skillet, add a little vegetable oil and brown the chuck roast pieces for one to two minutes on each side. Then, spray the inside of the crockpot with cooking spray, and place the thinly sliced onions down. Add the cooked chuck roast pieces on top and sprinkle them with the au jus and beefy onion recipe mix packet.

NOTE: This isn’t meant to cook the chuck roast pieces completely. It is just meant to brown the pieces and add lots of flavor to the dish. This step can be omitted, but I highly recommend it.

NOTE: If you are sensitive to salt, please use low sodium versions of these packets if available.

chuck roast on top of onions in the crockpot with seasoning packets

Now, pour over the can of French onion soup and top with unsalted butter. Cover the crockpot and set it for low 6-8 hours.

PRO TIP: If your schedule demands it, you can use the High setting for 4-5 hours. For the best texture and flavor, Low is preferred, but High works in a pinch.

Once the time is up, cover the beef with shredded mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with parsley (optional). Place the lid back on and let the cheese melt for about 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, serve warm and enjoy!

NOTE: I prefer mozzarella for this, but you can use provolone, Swiss Gouda, or any other cheese that you would like. Just be sure to shred the cheese yourself and avoid the pre-shredded stuff that comes in a bag because it will melt much better that way.

What Should I Serve This With?

This meal is truly comfort food heaven. You can serve it over white rice, egg noodles, Sour Creamy Mashed Potatoes. For veggies, simple Frozen Roasted Green Beans, Honey Roasted Carrots or a crisp side salad will balance the richness nicely.

What Other Cuts Of Meat Can I Use?

This dish cooks low and slow, so you can use other cuts that become tender with time. Like cubed stew meat, round steak, flat iron steak, etc. Just make sure they’re cut into bite sized chunks so they absorb the sauce and become melt in your mouth good.

Can I Make This Less Salty?

This recipe can definitely be on the salty side, especially because it uses canned soups and seasoning packets. If you’re salt sensitive or watching your sodium intake, I suggest using low or no sodium versions where available and also unsalted butter. You can always add salt later if you’d like.

Can This Be Made In The Oven?

Yes, it absolutely can be! Just place the beef in an oven safe baking dish, combine the soup and seasoning packets, pour it over the meat and cover tightly. Bake at 400 degrees for about 1 hour.

Can I Prep This The Night Before?

Absolutely! You can layer the ingredients in your crockpot insert the night before, cover it, and refrigerate. In the morning, pop the insert into the crockpot, turn it on, and dinner will be ready when you walk in the door.

Pro Tip: If you refrigerate overnight, let the insert sit at room temp for a few minutes before starting to cook.

Storage

Let the beef tips cool, completely and place them in an airtight container. They will last in the fridge for up to three days. This freeze as well too. Place the beef tips in a freezer safe air tight contianer and it will last for up to three months. Just let it thaw in the fridge the night before you want to reheat it.