A delicious French dip sandwich made with a toasty baguette, flavorful roast beef, and melted Swiss cheese. So easy to make and done in 10 minutes!

French dip sandwich on a plate with au jus and fries.

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Easy French Dip Recipe for Busy Nights

Whenever I make homemade French bread, we always make French dip sandwiches. It’s so easy and is perfect for busy weeknights. I love to double the French bread recipe so that we can also make French bread pizza and Philly cheesesteaks. Yum!

Have you ever had a French dip sandwich? You know, those sandwiches filled with tons of flavorful roast beef slices and a yummy little bowl of broth on the side to dip it in?? Yum!

I love to visit my favorite local diner for a tuna melt or one of these amazing French dip sandwiches. It’s so good , I die every time I eat one. There’s something so comforting about a roast beef sandwich on crusty bread that you dip in warm au jus.

Toasting them in the oven for just a few minutes takes them over the top and makes the cheese nice and melted. They taste perfect served with my easy homemade french fries.

Ingredients for a Homemade French Dip Sandwiches

This recipe only requires a handful of ingredients and takes about 10 minutes from start to finish! You can’t beat that. The au jus is so flavorful and is the best part of the meal!

Roast beef in a frying pan.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • French baguette: A hard crusty bread holds all the toppings in the middle. The hard bread will soften with the liquid au jus sauce.
  • Olive oil: This helps the shallots crisp and become tender as it is cooking.
  • Shallot: Chop the shallots into small slices.
  • All-purpose flour: Make a roux and thicken the liquid for the broth that the roast beef will cook in.
  • Beef consomme: This is a brown beef broth that is found in a can. Simply pour the broth into the pan to help tenderize the beef as it cooks.
  • Steak seasoning: Add for extra flavor!
  • Roast beef: Slices of roast beef need to be separated and cooked in the au jus mixture. It is a tender dark meat that is made into a warm sandwich. You can use a chuck roast too.
  • Swiss cheese: Melt the Swiss cheese or provolone cheese overtop the cooked beef. This will give it an extra cheesy taste!

Assembling the Sandwich

Get ready to “WOW” your family with this amazingly delicious French dip sandwich! Getting ready to assemble the beef dip sandwiches is a simple task. The melty cheese adds the perfect touch over top the roast beef. It is the perfect combination!

French dip sandwiches on a baking sheet.
  1. Cut bread. Slice the baguette into 4 pieces. Then cut each piece in half horizontally.
  2. Cook. Separate the roast beef pieces and place in the au jus sauce until warm.
  3. Assemble. Then place an equal portion of beef on each baguette slice. Top with a slice of Swiss cheese.
  4. Bake. Bake at 400°F for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
  5. Serve. Serve with a small bowl of the extra au jus for dipping.

Make the Au Jus

The au jus sauce is a savory soup broth that has a beef flavor. It is filled with delicious flavors and has the French dip sandwich dipped into it once assembled. The combination is simple to make with all the flavors!

  1. Heat. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet.
  2. Saute. Add in the shallots and saute for 2 minutes. Then add flour and cook for 1 more minute.
  3. Whisk. Slowly whisk in the beef consommé and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer.
  4. Combine. Add the steak seasoning and mix until combined.
French dip sandwich dipped in au jus sauce.

Recipe FAQs

What does a French dip sandwich consist of?

French dip sandwiches consist of sliced roast beef, French bread, with a thin slice of cheese. Although sometimes we add caramelized onion for a French onion soup inspired twist!

What is the best cut of meat for French dip sandwiches?

I like to use roast beef that’s cut from my local deli. You can also use pre-packaged roast beef lunch meat. This helps to save time and makes this recipe super easy. If you prefer to cook your own roast beef, you absolutely can…it will just take longer to prepare.

What are French dip sandwiches dipped in?

French dip sandwiches are dipped in broth or au jus dipping. Before each bite, dip the warm sandwich in the au jus and enjoy a softer bite.

What is the difference between French dip and Philly cheesesteak?

A French dip is thinly sliced roast beef served on a baguette bread whereas Philly cheesesteak is made with thinly sliced steak, cut-up bell peppers, and onion, all served on a hoagie roll.

What is the best bread?

I’ve used all sorts of rolls and loaves of bread and have found that I love a good French baguette warmed and cut into fourths. You can find them in your local bakery at most grocery stores or can make your own recipe if preferred. I love to make homemade bread when I have time because it really takes this French dip sandwich recipe over the top! The flavorful roast beef and melted cheese sandwiched between fresh, homemade bread is absolute heaven.

French dip sandwiches on a white plate next to au jus.
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Easy and delicious! I used left over eye round roast cut very thin and put it on crusty Italian bread. This recipe is a keeper!”

Karen

Storing Easy French Dips

Place the leftover French dip sandwiches in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for three to four days long. When ready to reheat place the sandwich in the oven to heat up. It is best to separate the meat from the bread if possible.

Looking for more easy sandwich recipes? This Caesar chicken wrap and cheeseburger sliders recipe are two other favorites!

More 10-Minute Meals

French Dip Sandwich

5 from 52 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
A delicious french dip sandwich made with a toasty baguette, flavorful roast beef and melted Swiss cheese. So easy to make and done in 10 minutes!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 baguette (or your favorite rolls)
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 shallot (chopped)
  • 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 10 ounces beef consommé (use 2 cans if you like a lot of dipping sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon steak seasoning (I prefer McCormick Montreal)
  • ¾ pound lean roast beef (thinly sliced)
  • 4 slices Swiss cheese (thinly sliced)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice the baguette into 4. Then cut horizontally to make the sandwiches. 
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and heat for 1 minute. Add shallots and sauté for 2 minutes. Add flour and sauté 1 more minute.
  • Slowly whisk in beef consommé. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer. Add steak seasoning and mix until combined.
  • Separate roast beef and place in the au jus sauce until warm. Using tongs, place an equal portion of beef on each section of baguette or rolls. Top with a slice of cheese. Bake for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted.
  • Serve with a small bowl of the extra au jus for dipping. 

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Nutrition

Calories: 426kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Sodium: 1981mg, Potassium: 387mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 245IU, Vitamin C: 38.8mg, Calcium: 518mg, Iron: 4.1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.