My Best French Dip Sandwich Recipe
My French dip sandwich recipe is the best! Yeah, it’s a bold claim. But I am so passionate about this toasty, melty, beefy sandwich. I always order it in diners if it’s on the menu, and so when I went to make my own version, I was seriously determined to create the BEST homemade French dip recipe.
My mom made French Dip growing up with Johnny's seasoning and deli roast beef. It was pretty good! But when I set out to make my PERFECT French dip recipe, I knew it had to be classic, and next-level. My French dip is loaded with steak, dripping with au jus, and oozing with gorgeous melty Swiss cheese. Serve with a simple salad on the side, and you’ve got a dreamy dinner.
What Is a French Dip?
Beyond the obvious (it’s a really delicious steak sandwich) the French dip sandwich has an interesting and disputed origin. French dip sandwiches are not French at all! They were created in Los Angeles sometime in the early 20th century. Other than that though, the origin is hotly contested! Who knew a sandwich could stir up such intense debate, but two L.A. restaurants (Phillipe’s and Cole’s) each claim to be the original home of the French dip. If you want to read up on it, Thrillist has an intense dive into the origin story.
The Best Cut of Beef to Use for French Dip Sandwiches
People use all sorts of different cuts for making French dips. Phillipe’s restaurant (one of the two originators of the sandwich) uses beef top round roast. Some recipes just call for “roast beef’. As for me, I am a big fan of steak, so my French dip recipe uses steak! Either skirt steak or flank steak.
- Skirt steak: Cut from the diaphragm muscles of a cow, skirt steak is lean (but not as lean as flank steak) and inclined to be a tiny bit tough. But it has an intensely beefy flavor that I really love.
- Flank steak: Cut from the abdominal area of a cow, flank steak is a lean, mean, flavor machine. I like it better than skirt steak, but honestly either cut of beef works beautifully in this French dip recipe!
- In a pinch: This is realllllly cheating but sometimes you’ve got a craving and you’re short on time! Use super thinly sliced deli roast beef, and skip the searing step. Now you know all my secrets!
What Is French Dip Sauce Made Of?
The classic meaty “jus” that comes alongside a French dip for dipping is the sandwiches’ most defining characteristic. Plus, it’s just FUN to dip your sandwich. But what is homemade au jus sauce made from? Au jus sauce is beef broth seasoned with:
- Thyme
- Sherry (You could swap in dry white wine, dry vermouth, even chicken stock or red wine vinegar.)
- A splash of Worcestershire sauce
- A few pantry seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder and salt
How to Make French Dip Sandwiches
My recipe makes FOUR French dip sandwiches! Sandwiches for the whole family; yay! They’re super simple, too.
- Grill (or sear) the steak to a perfect medium rare.
- Slice the steak against the grain, as thin as possible. This makes every bite tender!
- Make the au jus sauce! Simmer the broth and seasonings.
- Butter the bread generously. Seriously, don't be shy! The garlic butter is what makes the bread so irresistible.
- Dip the steak pieces in the au just before laying them in the prepped bread.
- Top the steak with cheese!
- Broil until melty.
- Serve with a side of that delicious beefy jus.
Add Ins + Swaps
- Gruyère cheese is my all time favorite! But it can be pricey. You can use regular Swiss cheese, provolone, havarti or even mozzarella in its place.
- For the bread, I’ve used baguette, ciabatta rolls, or sliced sourdough with a lot of success.
- If you want to jazz it up, add some homemade caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, a slather of horseradish cream or even pickled peppers.
More Toasty, Melty Sandwich Recipes To Try
Tools You’ll Need
When I Dip You Dip We Dip
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