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This French dip sandwich with au jus is incredibly easy to make. With two layers of gooey melted cheese, flavorful Italian roast beef, a toasted bun, and savory au jus for dipping, you will recreate this French dip sandwich recipe again and again.
Featured with this recipe
- Homemade French Dip Sandwich Ingredients
- How to Make an Easy French Dip Sandwich
- The Best Beef to Use in French Dip Sandwiches
- Tips for the Best French Dip Sandwich
- Methods to Cook the Meat for French Dip Sandwiches
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storing Leftover French Dip Sandwiches
- More Sandwich Recipes to Try
- How to Make French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus
- French Dip Sandwiches Recipe
Homemade French dip sandwiches are an impressive dinner with how quick, easy, yet incredibly yummy these sandwiches are! I’ve made this French Dip sandwich throughout the years and it is the perfect meal to make when you want something different from your normal cold-cut sandwich.
What sets the French dip sandwich apart is the au jus. Au jus is a French term for “in juice”. For the sake of this recipe, the beef is cooked in a “juice” made with onion soup and beef broth. The beef-flavored juice is then set aside and used to dip the sandwich into. These are fantastic roast beef sandwiches!
Homemade French Dip Sandwich Ingredients
A French dip, or beef dip, is sliced roast beef on a French roll, or baguette. The beef on the sandwich can be from a leftover roast or deli-sliced roast beef. Both are delicious. The sandwich is served with a side of rich beef broth, or au jus for dipping. Before each bite, the sandwich is dipped in au jus just enough to cover a small section. The bread and meat absorb the au jus making every bite juicy and flavorful.
- Roast beef – Tender, juicy, roast beef is perfect for this recipe. Use either deli meat, chuck roast, or prime rib for the best type of beef sandwich.
- Condensed beef consomme – Warm this up on the stovetop for a gravy-like dip.
- Lipton onion soup mix – Use the package mixes to give the oniony flavor to the au jus sauce.
- French rolls – Bake your rolls ahead of time for that crispy outer layer and soft crunchy taste. Once dipped in the au jus the bread soaks in all the flavors. Hoagie buns work too!
- Provolone cheese – Give this sandwich that melty cheese taste and appearance. It is the best blend with warm beef.
- Cream cheese – This is an added spread over the French dip sandwich. It melts in the oven and gives an extra boost of creaminess to the sandwich.
How to Make an Easy French Dip Sandwich
A traditional French dip doesn’t necessarily have to have cheese, but melted Provolone or Swiss cheese on the sandwich adds great flavor. Sauteéd onions and peppers can also be added to the sandwich. If you haven’t had one before, you are in for a real treat!
- Boil – In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the beef consomme’ and onion soup mix to a boil.
- Simmer – Add the sliced roast beef to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Prepare rolls – While beef is simmering in the sauce prepare French rolls by spreading 1 tablespoon of cream cheese on the bottom bun of each roll. Place 2 slices of cheese on each top bun.
- Broil – Place rolls (tops and bottoms) face-up on a baking sheet. Broil on high for about two minutes or until the Provolone cheese has melted. Remove from broiler.
- Layer – Using tongs, pull the sliced roast beef from the au jus and place it on the bottom buns with cream cheese. Top with the top buns.
- Serve – Use a ladle to scoop the au jus evenly into four dipping cups or small bowls. Serve the sandwiches with a side of au jus.
The Best Beef to Use in French Dip Sandwiches
The key to this fabulous sandwich is good beef. This can be a bit challenging to find sometimes, but it’s oh-so-worth-it! You have several options for a good beef filling to choose from.
- Deli meat – Try the deli within the grocery store to see if the butcher can thinly slice the roast beef. While there is sometimes pre-packaged roast beef available to purchase, the deli counter will have a cut that is far better tasting.
- Leftovers – You can use leftovers to make this meal. Cook a beef roast for a meal during the week like this easy roast beef recipe. Then slice or shred the leftovers into thin pieces and use them for this French Dip dinner for two or three nights later.
- Steak – If you have steak for dinner, grill an extra piece or two and set it aside. The next day, use a thin knife and slice it as thinly as possible.
Tips for the Best French Dip Sandwich
These are all great tips and suggestions when making french dip sandwiches with au jus! It is an easy recipe that can be even better with the right ingredients added to it. Follow these tips for the best french dip sandwich recipe yet!
- Quality ingredients – Make sure that your meat is top-notch and a good quality cut is best. This will ensure your sandwich is delicious and tastes the best!
- Onions and mushrooms – Saute onions and mushrooms to add to the middle of the sandwich. The caramelized onions and sliced mushrooms combined give a sweet and savory flavoring.
- Cheese options – Not all french dip sandwiches have cheese. If you are looking for a good cheese, try adding slices of provolone or Swiss. Those are always two classic and flavorful cheeses that melt the best.
- Toast bread – Take your french dip sandwich to the next level when toasting your bread in an oven or toaster. It gives the outside a nice crisp texture that holds the au jus and meat all together. Hoagie rolls or french rolls taste the best!
- Dipping technique – Use a small bowl to let the au jus sit in. The bowl will be able to allow the french dip sandwich to dip for a nice rich flavoring.
- Serving – Every sandwich has its staple that pairs best with it! A french dip sandwich pairs well with a pickle and a bag of chips.
Methods to Cook the Meat for French Dip Sandwiches
Cooking your meat the day of or ahead of time is always best to mend the flavors together! Either a slow cooker or an instant pot are always great choices. Try using these small appliances to help the process move along smoother and sometimes quicker!
- Slow cooker – Place the au jus over top of the meat in the slow cooker. Slow cooker french dip sandwiches are a low and slow process that is rich in flavor.
- Instant pot – Cook your meat in the instant pot. Instant pot french dip sandwiches are a quicker way to cook your meat and still are tender and juicy.
- Stove top – Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat to cook your meat.
- Leftovers – This is usually the best and most flavorful type of meat. It already comes from a favorite dinner with all the flavor and pot roast is a classic meal.
“One of my mom’s favorite sandwiches so I wanted to make her it again. Turned out really good and pretty easy so make too!”
-Eden
Frequently Asked Questions
Au jus is the sauce that pairs with french dip sandwiches. As for a french dip, the au jus is just that. It is what the delicious french dip sandwich is dipped in.
Au jus is a light liquid sauce that comes from the meat drippings from the beef. You can add flavor to it with thyme, oregano, or parsley for the beef dip sandwiches.
Yes and no! Beef broth is a flavored liquid that has beef flavoring within it whereas au jus is the sauce from the drippings the meat is being cooked in.
Everyone loves to enjoy french fries or chips with a french dip sandwich. You can also have pickles, fruit, or a salad on the side too!
It is best to toast the bread ahead of time. This will help make sure that it is not as soggy and falling apart.
Storing Leftover French Dip Sandwiches
Sandwiches can be hard to leave together and stored in the refrigerator altogether. Sometimes it is best to separate all the ingredients and then assemble them each time they are ready to be enjoyed. Either way, french dip sandwiches with au jus are a simple and delicious meal to always have!
- Separating – Take each ingredient and place them individually in storage containers that are airtight or a ziplock bag. When ready to enjoy, assemble the sandwiches and reheat.
- Sandwich – Wrap tightly each sandwich individually in cling wrap then aluminum foil. Place the covered sandwich in the fridge for two to three days.
- Reheating – Place the assembled sandwiches in a toaster oven or the microwave. Heat until they are warmed through. If the sandwich needs to be assembled, reheat each ingredient individually then assemble your french dip sandwich with au jus sauce.
More Sandwich Recipes to Try
The sandwich business is real! Everyone needs a sandwich in their life that they love. These are a few of our favorite sandwiches to try!
How to Make French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus
French Dip Sandwiches
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound deli Italian roast beef sliced
- 21 ounces condensed beef consommé or beef broth
- 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix
- 4 french rolls
- 8 slices provolone cheese or Swiss cheese
- 4 Tablespoons cream cheese
Instructions
- In a saucepan over medium heat, bring the beef consomme' and onion soup mix to a boil.
- Add the sliced roast beef to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
- While beef is simmering in the sauce prepare French rolls by spreading 1 tablespoon of cream cheese on the bottom bun of each roll. Place 2 slices of cheese on each top bun.
- Place rolls (tops and bottoms) face-up on a baking sheet. Broil on high for about two minutes or until the Provolone cheese has melted. Remove from broiler.
- Using tongs, pull the sliced roast beef from the au jus and place it on the bottom buns with cream cheese. Top with the top buns.
- Use a ladle to scoop the au jus evenly into four dipping cups or small bowls. Serve the sandwiches with the side of au jus.
My wife and I loved bed this. Extremely easy, I actually put the beef in the sauce as it simmered for a while. Delicious!! Thanks
So glad you two liked this! Thanks for the comment!
So easy and so delicious
Amazing!! So easy to make, a great quick dinner for those nights you don’t feel like cooking!
Super easy and absolutely delicious!!
I’m confused by the recipe. Do we dilute the condensed beef broth per the instructions on the can (equal parts condensed soup and water), or do we simmer the condensed soup right out of the can?
You simmer the soup right out of the can. Do not add water.
Soooo delicious! Definitely one of my favorite lunches to make!
One of my mom’s favorite sandwiches so I wanted to make her it again. Turned out really good and pretty easy so make too!
My husband’s favorite! Thank you for this amazing recipe, it’s so good!
I was wondering if anyone has put the meat in the crockpot still frozen? I forgot to thaw mine yesterday.
You can put it in frozen but you need to give it more time to cook.
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My husband is making this for my mother's day dinner. Yummy! I love your blog, I, too, have used it as my weekly meal planning site. Thank you for making my life a little easier (and dinners so much more delicious). 🙂
It freezes great! Just put it in a freezer ziploc bag and squeeze all the air out of it.
How we do you think this would freeze?
I love this blog! I just found it and half my weekly menu is from it!
Your site is SO AWESOME! I stumbled on it via another blog and I feel like I’ve found a gold mine. Coming up with new meal ideas is a HUGE challenge for me, and you make meals that look delicious AND use ingredients I recognize. I am telling all my friends. THANK YOU for rescuing me from another month of boring meals!!! 🙂
Thanks so much! You are too kind. 🙂
I make Italian beef like this. Instead of using onion soup mix, I used Good Seasons Italian dressing mix. I also add some pepperoncini. How many depends on how spicy you like it. Sometimes, I just add some of the juice to the meat as it’s cooking and serve the pepperoncini on the side. I’ve also sauteed peppers and onions to be served with the sandwich. However it’s done, it’s good!
Those sandwiches look SO good. I will have to try them!