The Ultimate Guide to Making the Best French Dip Sandwiches

Backed up by tender, seasoned roast beef slathered in melted cheese and boasting a luscious au jus perfect for dunking your sandwich. If you are trying to throw a weeknight dinner party or longing for a cozy warm, French dip sandwich this guide will lead the reader through some of how to make the best French dip sandwiches at home.

Read on for good advice: it covers the right cut of beef, how to make au jus at home, and guarantees you a delicious sandwich every time. And extra reheating and storage tips will show you just how to enjoy this flavor-packed sandwich also even on those hectic days.

Why are French Dip Sandwiches so GOOD?

Rich and savory French dip sandwiches are a beloved American classic: juicy roast beef, melted cheese, warm buttery toasted rolls dipped them in au jus. But what really makes them one of a kind is how simple and flavorful each ingredient is. The history of the French dip sandwich is somewhat disputed, but most agree that it was first served in Los Angeles during the early 20th century. Alt: French Onion Beef Sliders — OKD Dr. Poon recipes It has no French roots despite the name, however dipping the sandwich in au jus before you put it into your mouth is an essential part and the reason it’s called a DIP!

A French dip sandwich is such a simple concept: roast beef on a hoagie with cheese (usually provolone or Swiss) and au jus sauce. The seasoning and slow meal preparation means that you never have to worry about dry, tough roast beef – every bite is tender. So the tie that binds all its ingredients together is a good gray au jus sauce, which — is made from beef drippings or broth (better yet: consommé) derived by careful and conservative means exercised with care for the rich savor of toasted bovine flesh.

The real star, however, is the au jus sauce that takes this sandwich from basic to delicious. Dipping by hand adds another dimension of flavor and crunch to every bite. It tastes good enough by itself, but with the au jus, it all comes together and is irresistible.

So what to look for in the best beef for your French Dip?

In many ways, the beef used in your French dip sandwiches is key to making sure that you get a balance of texture and flavor. Ground chuck, eye round roast as well sometimes deli roast beef are cut up as the most common cuts used. They both have some benefits depending on how much time you have and what flavor profile you want.

One popular choice is the chuck roast, which has a high marbling content (lots of intramuscular fat that melts away during cooking and keeps the meat moist). Great meat for slow cooking — in a slow cooker or over low heat in the oven, as its length allows connective tissue to break down and become soft-textured.

Eye round roast is much leaner than chuck, however, if you cook it the right way it can still be an excellent option. Typically, it is slow-roasted and then sliced super thin which makes a beautiful sandwich meat. Since it is not fatty, the au just compliments the beef well by adding most of what would be lacking with a leaner cut in both moisture and flavor.

Leftovers are key, but in a pinch — or if you weren’t making pastrami in the first place, which is fair phew (it’s a whole zoo with the curing and then smoking!) — just make sure to use good deli roast beef. Look for a thinly sliced, well-marbled high-quality deli roast beef. True, it cannot compete with the flavors of a home-roasted boeuf anyway but makes some great sandwiches and an interesting sign.

How To Make And Remake The Perfect Au Jus Base For Your French Dips

Au Jus the Best Part of a French Dip Sandwich. That’s what makes the sandwich so flavorful, and dipping it in adds to that. Au jus, as you will soon learn below is incredibly simple to make yet requires a few key ingredients and the most valuable ingredient of all time: patience.

If using beef drippings from the roast, those ingredients are used to make a yummy au jus. Beef broth or beef consommé if you do not have drippings If you cook the meat & have drippings, great; or use some beef broth. place it in a saucepan along with Worcestershire Sauce sliced onions garlic Simmer until simmering, uncovered. This allows the flavors to combine with each other It is necessary to simmer the juices because this will help to create a rich flavor which au jus has very unique.

A richer flavor is attained by using a homemade beef broth or stock, but if short on time you can use store-bought in its place. So of course, the secret is in simmering a seasoned broth—that Worcestershire adds depth, and onions and garlic bring out those savory notes. As for a little something extra, feel free to toss in the splash of red wine or dabbing of soy sauce.

How to Make the Best Au Jus Dipping Sauce It should be salty but not cloying, steamy yet still sugary from those onions, and with that meat juice mingling in without any single element taking over. It will be thin, but thick enough to hold onto the sandwich

The Best French Dip Sandwich Recipe

The bread and cheese you use for your French dip sandwich are almost as critical as the beef (or other meat) and au jus. You will need a good hoagie roll or crusty bread — something sturdy enough for repeated dips without falling apart. Italian bread or hoagie rolls are a good bet since they’re fluffy in the middle and crusty on the outside — ideal for holding all your fillings.

Lightly toasting the hoagie rolls would optimize their texture before you proceed with your sandwich. This not only gives it some nice texture but also helps to keep the bread from getting overly soggy when dipped into the au jus. Try spreading a little butter or garlic butter onto the rolls before toasting, for added flavour.

Provolone or Swiss are favored cheeses for French dip sandwiches. Provolone has a mild creaminess to it and melts wonderfully while Swiss offers that slight nuttiness. You can also put the 2 slices of provolone or Swiss cheese on the bread and then add your roast beef for best results You want the beef to be hot because that heat will start melting the cheese.

Once you have made your sandwich, all that remains is to place the now-completed sandwiches in an airtight container in the fridge for several minutes until firm throughout. This is not necessary but we recommend it if you want the best taste. When you are prepared to devour it, cook the sandwich in a huge skillet over medium warmth or prepare until liquefied cheddar and fresh bread.

What to make in the slow cooker Vs skillet

There are many ways to make French dip sandwiches, but the two most common methods include either a slow cooker or a skillet. Both of them have their unique benefits and the selection usually relies upon your personal timetable so pick out as a result.

This is a perfect solution for those who are into set-it-and-forget sort of things since you use a slow cooker in this recipe. Add your beef roast to the slow cooker along with some beef broth, onions, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce then cook on low for a few hours. This has a long slow cooking time which basically nearly melts the beef and adds in all those broth & seasoning spices too. Especially for those busy weekdays, when all you want to do is come back home and eat…

However, the use of a skillet is faster and more controllable in terms of time. In a large skillet, sear the roast beef in some oil over medium heat to generate a good color. Follow by pouring your beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and chopped onion into the skillet over medium heat until you cook it how well-done/well-cooked is up to you. This method is if you want a faster meal with some texture because of the searing and the added taste of the beef from being caramelized.

French dip sandwiches are a bit challenging to reheat, as you want the taste and texture without drying out your beef. The best way to reheat is the wrap your sandwiches with foil and bake them in a preheated 350ºF until warmed through.

It keeps the bread warm and at a slight crust while keeping the cheese melted and holding all that juicy beef in.

A Weeknight Dinner of French Dip Sandwiches

When you need a quick weeknight dinner, French dip sandwiches are an excellent choice because it is easy to make but so delicious for your meal. In order to assemble this pretty quickly you will need to prepare some things ahead of setting everything up.

So if using deli roast beef – this takes zero time. You quickly heat the beef in a skillet with some compulsory beer broth and Worcestershire sauce, and toast your hoagie rolls till they crisp slightly after which assemble these babies. The whole thing involves no more than 15 minutes in the kitchen and is perfect for a busy evening.

If you like to cook your own beef, make a whole roast on the weekend–slice it thinly and have enough in individual bags for however many days of sandwiches you need. Pop the sliced roast beef into an air-tight container in the fridge until you’re ready to make sandwiches, warm it up with a little au-jus, and assemble as normal. This way, you can get those homemade French dip sandwiches with hardly any work during the week!

French dip sandwiches work really well for serving companies, say with crispy homemade french fries or a simple salad and maybe even just soup. These sides go nicely with the strong flavors of the sandwich but are not too overpowering.

The Secrets to Greatest French Dip Sandwiches

Thinly Sliced Roast Beef: Getting your roast beef sliced nice and thin will be beneficial in having the right feel for these sandwiches. Then grab a sharp knife or meat slicer and get those slices nice & thin.

French dip sandwich being dipped in Au Jus: If you are wondering what makes a French dip sandwich so special, this is the answer The next step to making your own at home. Don’t skip this step! Dip your sandwich in the hot au jus before each and every bite, that is the true experience here.

Tips for the Perfect Melt-In-Your-Mouth Sandwiches: For a tasty melty flavor, layer 2 slices of provolone or Swiss over your sandwich before adding the hot beef. The heat from the beef will aid in melting your cheese perfectly, creating an excellent bite.

For crunch: Lightly toast your hoagie rolls or bread before building the sandwich. This gets everything a nice crunch going and prevents the bread from getting completely soggy as you dip into your au jus.

Key Takeaways

• Beef Selection: Choose between chuck roast, eye round roast, or deli roast beef for your French dip sandwiches.
• Au Jus Sauce: Make a flavorful au jus with beef drippings, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, onions, and garlic.
• Bread and Cheese: Use a sturdy hoagie roll or crusty bread, and opt for provolone or Swiss cheese for the perfect melt.
• Cooking Methods: Choose between slow cooker or skillet methods depending on your schedule and desired texture.
• Weeknight Dinner: Prepare components ahead of time for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Tips: Slice beef thinly, always dip your sandwich in the au jus, and toast your bread for added crunch.

This guide has equipped you with everything you need to make the best French dip sandwiches, whether you’re hosting a dinner or simply treating yourself to a delicious meal. Enjoy every bite!