Easy French Dip Sandwich Ideas!
I’m not going to lie, French Dip Sandwiches can be pretty pricey to buy at restaurants, but we can also make them at home for pretty cheap!
Let’s go over all the different options that can help us make the Ultimate French Dip Sandwich at home and within a low grocery budget.
What is a French Dip Sandwich?
At it’s very basic form, a French Dip is really just roast beef and cheese that is served on bread. The kicker is that it is served with “au jus” on the side.
When eating the sandwich you dip it in to the “au jus” before eating it!
What Kind of Roast Beef for a French Dip?
The easiest options for a French Dip are to use deli sliced Roast Beef or even Thinly Sliced Pastrami.
If you want to cook your own beef, you can use cuts like a Rump Roast, Chuck Roast, or a London Broil.
These can be cooked in a slow cooker, baked in the oven, or grilled. Typically they are cooked more rare so this leaves the color pretty pink and with lots of juice for dipping!
If you don’t cook the beef yourself, you will need to find an Au Jus option!
Au Jus Options for French Dip
Most of these options are pantry staples in my house, so I am more likely to use an Au Jus mix, a brown gravy mix, beef broth, or make my own broth with beef boullion and hot water.
You can also use jarred brown gravy and thin it out a little with water or broth. Another great option is a Beef Consommé or Golden Mushroom soup!
What Cheese for a French Dip?
I am a huge fan of melty cheeses for my French Dip Sandwiches! I love to use cheeses like Swiss, Provolone, Gouda, or Muenster.
If you want to add a little heat you can also use some spicy Pepper Jack Cheese as well.
Typically, we top the bread with cheese then melt it. Then top it with our Roast Beef! If you top the beef itself with cheese, you might find yourself with a mess once you start dipping your French Dip.
What Bread for a French Dip?
Really any bread will work with a French Dip as long as it is thick enough to soak up some “au jus”. We don’t want to use a thin bread for this sandwich! Unfortunately, that means tortillas, pitas, and naan bread are not great choices, unless you don’t mind a little mess!
My favorite breads are going to Hoagies, French Bread, or Slider Buns for mini sandwiches. You can also easy use hot dog buns, hamburger buns, and even thick sliced bread like sourdough too.
Can we add-on items to a French Dip?
Absolutely! There are no rules in this kitchen and hopefully none in yours either! The most common add on is sauteed onions, mushrooms, or bell pepper strips.
Some fun other options include slathering your bread with mayo or horseradish. For a nice crunch, add in some French fried onions too!
What can we serve with a French Dip?
French Dip sandwiches are a great lunch or dinner, but it needs a side kick to make it more complete! So let’s add on some super crunchy onion rings, some seasoned fries, or potato chips.
Don’t forget to add a little tang with a pickle spear too. If you want to try something a little different, consider pairing your French Dip with sweet potato fries or even mashed potatoes. (It is great to have another option to eat up all that “au jus” right?)
Soup Options for a French Dip
Now maybe you are not a fan of “au jus” and would prefer to pair your French Dip with a soup instead. Some of my favorite options would include a Beef & Veggies Soup, Beef & Barley Soup, or the classic French Onion Soup.
Some less traditional options would be Beef Ramen, Minestrone Soup, or a nice hearty tomato soup!
French Dip Your Way!
I have very few food rules in my house, and they tend to not apply to food flavor combos. I think any choices you make will turn out tasty if you already like those flavors.
They can’t even decide the exact origins of a French Dip sandwich, so don’t feel bad about putting your own twist or spin on the sandwich.
Use up some leftovers, grab a few items on sale, and just have fun in your kitchen. If you don’t want to call it a French Dip, you can just say it is “French Style”!
