The Ultimate Homemade French Dip Sandwich: An Irresistible Beef Dip Recipe
There’s truly nothing quite as comforting and satisfying as a classic French Dip sandwich, especially when served with a steaming, rich cup of au jus. The magic lies in its simplicity: tender, savory beef, perfectly melted cheese, and toasted bread slathered with fragrant garlic butter. It’s a timeless combination that evokes warmth and pure deliciousness with every single bite.
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About This French Dip Sandwich
The French Dip sandwich is the epitome of comfort food. It’s a dish that consistently makes our “must-order” list whenever we dine out. This unwavering love for the classic has driven us to perfect an at-home version that rivals any restaurant. After extensive testing and savoring, we’ve developed what we believe is the best possible homemade French Dip sandwich recipe.
Our recipe is a tribute to the true classic, built on a foundation of incredibly tender, slow-cooked beef, a luscious layer of melty cheese, and accompanied by a rich, savory au jus for that essential dipping experience. Whether you’re navigating a busy weeknight or seeking a relaxed, indulgent meal for the weekend, this sandwich seamlessly fits into any occasion. It’s surprisingly easy to prepare, especially if you have leftover braised meat on hand. Think pot roast, shredded chuck roast, or even thinly sliced prime rib – these are the secrets to deeply flavorful sandwiches.
While the traditional French Dip often features deli-style roast beef, we wholeheartedly believe that once you experience the hearty, deep flavor of a French Dip made with tender, slow-cooked beef, you’ll never look back. This isn’t just a meal; it’s an experience. So, why hold back? Life’s too short not to regularly indulge in such wonderfully satisfying comfort food.
What is a French Dip?
A French Dip sandwich, often simply called a beef dip, is a beloved hot sandwich renowned for its savory simplicity. At its core, it features thinly sliced (or, in our preferred version, shredded and tender) roast beef piled high on a long, crusty roll – typically a hoagie, French roll, or baguette. The defining characteristic, however, is the accompanying bowl of hot “au jus” (meaning “with juice” in French), which is the savory drippings from the roast beef, thinned and seasoned, designed for dipping the sandwich.
While historically served plain, modern popular variations often include a slice of melted cheese, like provolone or Swiss, and sometimes caramelized onions. These additions enhance the flavor and texture, creating a truly irresistible meal. The act of dipping the warm, beef-filled sandwich into the rich au jus is what truly sets this dish apart and makes it an iconic American comfort food.
Essential Ingredients
Crafting the perfect French Dip sandwich starts with selecting quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to bring this delightful dish to life:
- Butter: Whether you prefer unsalted or salted, ensure your butter is at room temperature. This is crucial for achieving a smooth, evenly spreadable garlic butter that will infuse your bread with rich flavor.
- Garlic Powder: While fresh minced garlic is often a go-to, garlic powder truly shines here. Its fine texture allows it to blend seamlessly into the softened butter, ensuring every inch of your bread gets that irresistible garlic kick without any chunky bits.
- Bread: Hoagie rolls are our top recommendation for their ideal shape and soft-yet-sturdy texture. They’re perfect for holding all the delicious fillings and standing up to a good dip in the au jus. French baguettes, sliced into sandwich-sized portions, also make an excellent choice, offering a delightfully crusty exterior.
- Beef: For the ultimate French Dip, we champion shredded, tender roast beef or pot roast. This could be leftover Instant Pot pot roast, slow-braised chuck roast, or any succulent, slow-cooked beef you have. While thinly sliced prime rib is luxurious, and deli-style roast beef works in a pinch, the depth of flavor from slow-cooked, shredded beef is unparalleled.
- Cheese: Provolone cheese is the classic choice for a reason. Its mild, slightly tangy flavor complements the beef beautifully, and its exceptional melting properties create a gooey, comforting layer that ties the whole sandwich together.
- Au Jus: The heart and soul of the French Dip! We highly recommend making your own homemade au jus. It offers a depth of flavor that store-bought packets or beef broth simply cannot match.
- Optional Extras: This is where you can personalize your sandwich!
- Hot Pickled Peppers or Jalapeños: A fantastic addition for those who love a little kick, adding a vibrant tang and spice.
- Caramelized Onions: Sweet, tender, and deeply savory, caramelized onions bring a wonderful complexity.
- Homemade Giardiniera: A pickled vegetable relish, like this giardiniera, offers a zesty, crunchy contrast.
- Fresh Parsley: A sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley adds a touch of color and a fresh herbaceous note.
Recipe Equipment You Will Need
You don’t need a professional kitchen to make these incredible sandwiches. A few basic items are all that’s required:
- A small bowl (from a set of mixing bowls) and a spoon for mixing the garlic butter.
- A half sheet pan for toasting the rolls and baking the sandwiches.
- Aluminum foil for wrapping the sandwiches to bake.
- A saucepan for preparing or reheating your au jus.
How to Make the Best French Dip Sandwich
Follow these simple steps to create a French Dip sandwich that will have everyone asking for more:
Prepare the Garlic Butter
In a small bowl, combine your softened butter with garlic powder. Stir them together thoroughly until you have a smooth, aromatic garlic butter mixture. This simple step adds a foundational layer of flavor to your sandwich, making all the difference.
Carefully spread this delectable garlic butter onto the cut sides of your hoagie rolls. Arrange the buttered rolls, cut-side up, on a baking sheet. This ensures they toast evenly and absorb all that wonderful garlic goodness.
Toast the Rolls to Perfection
Place the baking sheet with your buttered rolls under the broiler. Keep a very close eye on them, as they will toast quickly – typically within 1 to 2 minutes – until they turn a beautiful golden brown. This crucial step prevents the bread from becoming soggy later and adds a delightful textural contrast.
Once perfectly toasted, remove the rolls from the oven and set them aside. While they cool slightly, preheat your oven to 400˚F (200˚C) for the final baking stage.
Assemble Your Sandwiches
Generously pile the tender, shredded beef onto one side of each toasted roll, ensuring the meat is evenly distributed among all four sandwiches. Next, top the beef with slices of provolone cheese. We recommend one slice per sandwich, often cut in half to cover the meat perfectly. Feel free to add an extra slice or two if you’re a true cheese lover!
Bake for Melty Goodness
Gently fold the top half of each roll over the beef and cheese. Individually wrap each assembled sandwich tightly in aluminum foil. This helps to steam the sandwich, melting the cheese beautifully and heating the beef through without drying out the bread.
Place the wrapped sandwiches directly on the oven rack and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is gloriously melted and the beef is piping hot.
While your sandwiches are baking, prepare or reheat your au jus. Pour the au jus into a saucepan and warm it on the stovetop over medium heat until it’s steamy and ready for dipping.
Serve the warm, cheesy French Dip sandwiches immediately, each with its own cup of hot au jus for that quintessential dipping experience. Enjoy!
Expert Tips and Tricks for the Perfect French Dip
Achieving French Dip perfection is easier with a few insider secrets:
- Soften the Butter: This might seem minor, but it’s crucial! If your butter isn’t at room temperature, it will be nearly impossible to properly incorporate the garlic powder and spread it smoothly onto those delicate hoagie rolls. For a quick soften, you can microwave it for a few seconds (watch closely!) or simply cut it into small pieces and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Use the Best Meat: The quality of your beef truly elevates this sandwich. While deli roast beef is acceptable for convenience, the deep, rich flavor of slow-cooked, shredded beef is unmatched. Prioritize leftover pot roast, braised chuck roast, or even thinly sliced prime rib for a truly gourmet experience. These meats are naturally more tender and flavorful, soaking up the au jus beautifully.
- Make Your Own Au Jus: This is a non-negotiable for an authentic and delicious French Dip. Avoid instant packets, soup mixes, or plain beef broth. Homemade au jus, even without fresh beef drippings, is surprisingly easy to prepare and yields a vastly superior flavor that is the hallmark of a great French Dip. Look for recipes that guide you on making it from beef stock and aromatics.
- Toast the Bread First: Do not skip this step! Toasting the hoagie rolls under the broiler before adding the meat and cheese is vital. It creates a barrier, preventing the bread from becoming soggy once baked and, more importantly, when dunked into the hot au jus. A well-toasted roll provides structural integrity and a pleasing crunch.
- Keep the Au Jus Hot: There’s nothing worse than cold au jus. Always ensure your au jus is piping hot when serving. You can keep it simmering gently on the stovetop or even in a small slow cooker on a warm setting if serving a crowd.
- Don’t Overstuff: While it’s tempting to load up your sandwich, overstuffing can make it difficult to eat and prone to falling apart, especially when dipped. Aim for a generous but manageable portion of beef and cheese.
Craving more delicious sandwich recipes? Try these: Spicy BBQ Pulled Chicken Burger | Salsa Jalapeño Crunch Burger | Instant Pot Philly Cheesesteaks | Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches
What is the Best Meat for a French Dip?
In my opinion, the absolute best meat for a French Dip sandwich is unequivocally tender, slow-cooked shredded beef. While thinly sliced prime rib certainly has its luxurious appeal, nothing quite compares to the profound depth of flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture that comes from meat that has been slowly roasted or braised to perfection. This slow-cooking process allows the beef to break down beautifully, becoming incredibly juicy and absorbing all the wonderful savory notes of its cooking liquid, which then contributes to a richer au jus.
For this particular recipe, I often use leftover Instant Pot pot roast, which is incredibly convenient and flavorful. However, you could also achieve fantastic results with slow cooker pot roast, slow-braised beef chuck roast, or really any tender, succulent beef you happen to have on hand. The key is that the beef should be able to shred easily, creating those wonderful strands that nestle perfectly into the roll.
If slow-cooked beef isn’t an option, high-quality, thinly sliced roast beef from the deli or even leftover prime rib can still make for a delicious sandwich, but the slow-cooked method truly takes it to the next level of comfort and flavor.
Does a French Dip Always Have Cheese?
Interestingly, traditionally, French Dip sandwiches were often served plain, without cheese. The focus was purely on the savory beef and the rich au jus. However, over time, adding cheese became a highly popular and beloved variation. In our recipe, the creamy provolone cheese slices add an extra dimension of flavor and a wonderfully gooey texture that complements the beef and toasted bread perfectly.
So, while it’s not strictly “traditional” to include cheese, it’s a widely accepted and often preferred addition today. If you have dietary restrictions or simply prefer your French Dip without dairy, you can absolutely skip the cheese without compromising the essence of the sandwich. It will still be incredibly flavorful and satisfying!
Are Onions Traditional in a French Dip?
When it comes to onions in a French Dip, the answer is a bit of a culinary coin toss – some versions include them, and some don’t! In my personal experience, having enjoyed many French Dips over the years, it’s about a 50/50 split. For the sake of simplicity and speed in this recipe, I’ve chosen to omit them, favoring the bright, spicy kick of pickled hot peppers instead.
However, if you’re a fan of the sweet and savory notes that onions bring, adding caramelized onions is a fantastic option! They cook down to a jammy, flavorful consistency that perfectly complements the beef and cheese. If you choose to add them, simply layer the caramelized onions onto your sandwiches before wrapping them in foil and baking them as instructed in the recipe card below. They’ll warm through beautifully alongside the beef and cheese.
Can You Use an Air Fryer for French Dip Sandwiches?
Absolutely! The air fryer is a fantastic tool for making French Dip sandwiches, especially if you’re making just one or two, or reheating leftovers. It helps achieve that perfect toasted exterior and melty interior with impressive speed.
Here’s how to do it: First, lightly spray your air fryer basket with non-stick cooking oil. Instead of wrapping the sandwich in foil, prepare it open-faced in the air fryer. I recommend spreading the beef evenly over both halves of the roll, then topping one side with the provolone cheese. Cook at 350˚F (175˚C) for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted and the beef is thoroughly heated through. The bread will also get wonderfully crispy.
Once cooked, carefully remove the sandwich, add some pickled peppers or other desired toppings, and enjoy your perfectly crispy and hot air-fried French Dip!
French Dip vs. Italian Beef: What’s the Difference?
While both the French Dip and Italian Beef are iconic beef sandwiches served with a flavorful broth for dipping, they each boast distinct characteristics that set them apart.
- French Dip: Traditionally features thinly sliced roast beef that has been braised or cooked in a simple, savory broth or au jus. The flavor profile is generally focused on the natural taste of the beef and a subtle seasoning, often garlic. It’s served with its natural beef drippings (au jus) for dipping, and sometimes with cheese or onions.
- Italian Beef: Hails from Chicago and is characterized by thinly sliced beef that has been slow-cooked and braised in a highly seasoned broth infused with Italian herbs and spices like oregano, basil, and garlic. Crucially, Italian beef sandwiches are almost always served with “giardiniera,” a spicy pickled vegetable relish, or sweet peppers, which give it a much bolder, spicier, and more complex flavor profile than a French Dip. The dipping liquid for Italian Beef, often called “gravy,” is typically richer and more spiced than au jus.
My version of the French Dip, which emphasizes slow-cooked pot roast for extra flavor, is perhaps a subtle nod to the heartiness found in Italian beef, even though it retains the core characteristics of a French Dip. However, as mentioned earlier, using classic sliced roast beef is also a perfectly valid approach for this recipe.
It’s fascinating how many of us have become more familiar with the Italian Beef sandwich thanks to shows like ‘The Bear,’ isn’t it? Or maybe that’s just me!
Need more dinner inspiration for tonight? Check out my dinner recipes page for a wealth of ideas!
What to Serve with a French Dip Sandwich
The star of the show is undoubtedly the French Dip sandwich itself, but choosing the right accompaniments can elevate your meal even further:
- Au Jus: This is non-negotiable! A warm, savory cup of homemade au jus is essential for dipping. Our recipe allows you to make it with or without beef drippings, ensuring you can whip it up any night.
- Fries: You can’t go wrong with classic crispy french fries. Whether you prefer thick-cut or shoestring, they’re a perfect match. Try these Spicy Garlic Cilantro Fries with Curry Ketchup for a unique twist.
- Pickles: Crunchy, tangy pickles provide a wonderful contrast to the rich beef. Consider some crispy Oven-Fried Pickles or a simple bowl of dill pickle spears.
- Chips: For effortless sides, a bag of your favorite potato chips (kettle-cooked, salt & vinegar, or classic plain) always hits the spot.
- Coleslaw: A fresh, crisp coleslaw can add a cool, creamy element that balances the richness of the sandwich.
- Green Salad: A simple side salad with a light vinaigrette dressing offers a refreshing, healthy counterpoint.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted asparagus or green beans can add a touch of elegance and nutrition to your comfort meal.
Remember, the goal is to complement, not overpower, the incredible flavor of the French Dip. Keep it simple and let the sandwich shine!
How to Store and Freeze French Dip Sandwiches
Proper storage ensures you can enjoy your French Dip sandwiches later, even if you can’t freeze them fully assembled:
- Storage: If you find yourself with leftover sandwiches or even half a sandwich, it’s best to wrap them individually in aluminum foil. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, for the best quality, we highly recommend storing the individual components separately. Keep the beef, cheese (if not already melted), and bread in airtight containers in the fridge. Assemble and heat only when you’re ready to eat, as this prevents the bread from getting soggy.
- Reheating: To reheat leftovers, you have a couple of excellent options. The oven method mirrors the initial baking process: wrap the sandwich in foil and bake at 400˚F (200˚C) for 10 minutes until hot. My personal favorite method for a leftover sandwich is the air fryer. Cook at 350˚F (175˚C) for 3 to 5 minutes. This not only reheats the sandwich perfectly but also helps to crisp up the bread again, making it taste freshly made!
- Freezing: Unfortunately, we do not recommend freezing fully assembled French Dip sandwiches. The texture of the bread and the melted cheese can suffer significantly upon thawing and reheating, often becoming mushy or unappetizing. However, you can freeze leftover cooked beef and au jus separately in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat and assemble fresh sandwiches when ready.
More Delicious Beef Recipes to Explore
If you loved this French Dip sandwich, you’ll definitely want to check out these other mouth-watering beef recipes:
- For an elegant yet approachable meal, try this savory BBQ Beef Tenderloin. Roasted to perfection in the oven, it makes a stunning centerpiece for any dinner party.
- When you’re craving a hearty and cozy stew, this Instant Pot Irish Beef Stew is an ideal recipe. It’s incredibly easy to make and pairs wonderfully with creamy mashed potatoes.
- Looking for another quick beef meal? These Greek Beef Pitas are ready in just 25 minutes, making them perfect for a fast and flavorful weeknight dinner.
Finally, if you make this French Dip sandwich recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a rating and/or leave a comment! I absolutely love hearing about your culinary creations, and I make sure to respond to every single comment. Your feedback truly means the world to me!
Feel free to drop any questions you have in the comments section below, too – I’m always happy to help!
Oh, and be sure to tag me on Instagram if you make the recipe! Seeing these delicious dishes come to life in your homes is my favorite part of sharing recipes. Thank you for being a part of this community!
French Dip Sandwich
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
4 sandwiches
Equipment
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Small Glass Bowls
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Non-Stick Aluminum Foil
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Half Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 4 hoagie buns cut in half horizontally
- 2 1/2 lbs cooked shredded roasted beef (I use this Instant Pot Roast Beef)
- 4 slices provolone cheese
- 2 cups au jus
- Optional: pickled hot peppers or jalapenos
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine softened butter and garlic powder until well-incorporated. Spread this garlic butter onto the cut sides of the hoagie buns. Place the buns cut-side up on a baking sheet and toast them under the broiler set to High for about 1 to 2 minutes. Watch them closely to prevent burning, removing once golden brown. Set aside.
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Preheat your oven to 400˚F (200˚C).
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Divide the shredded beef evenly among the hoagie buns, piling it onto one side of each roll. Top the beef with a slice of provolone cheese per sandwich. Close the buns, then individually wrap each sandwich tightly in a layer of aluminum foil. Place the wrapped sandwiches directly on the oven rack to warm through for 10 minutes.
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While the sandwiches are heating in the oven, warm the au jus. Pour the au jus into a saucepan and heat it over medium heat on the stovetop until it is piping hot.
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Serve the hot, delicious French Dip sandwiches immediately with the steaming au jus for dipping. Add optional pickled hot peppers or jalapeños if desired.
Video
Nutrition
773kcal
Tailgating
Sandwiches