These easy French dip sandwiches are warm, cheesy, and ready in about 15 minutes. Made with deli roast beef, melty cheese, soft Kaiser rolls, and a simple au jus for dipping, they’re perfect for the nights when you need to get dinner on the table without making the process complicated.

Some nights, making dinner feels harder than it should. You need something filling enough to feed your family, but you don’t necessarily have the time or energy to make everything from scratch.

That is exactly when easy meals like these French dip sandwiches come in handy.

If you have rolls, sliced roast beef, cheese, and an au jus packet, you can throw this dinner together incredibly quickly. Add a salad or steamed vegetable on the side, and you have a complete family dinner without spending the evening in the kitchen.

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Disclosures

Parts of this post were drafted with the help of AI, then reviewed, updated, and edited by me to reflect my personal experience and voice. I always aim to share real-life content that’s helpful, honest, and rooted in my day-to-day life.

This post contains affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you choose to purchase through my links. I only share products I use and love in my own home.

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Why You’ll Love These Easy French Dip Sandwiches

There is so much to love about this quick dinner:

• Ready in approximately 15 minutes
• Made with just four main ingredients
• Easy to adjust for your family’s preferences
• Makes about 10 sandwiches
• Uses convenient deli roast beef
• Simple enough for a busy weeknight
• Delicious with or without the au jus

This recipe is also wonderfully versatile. You can change the meat, use the cheese you already have, or leave off the au jus and serve them as simple warm roast beef sandwiches.

It doesn’t have to be complicated to be a good family dinner.

What Is a French Dip Sandwich?

A classic French dip recipe usually consists of thinly sliced roast beef served on a roll with a flavorful beef broth, or au jus, on the side for dipping.

Despite its name, the French dip sandwich is generally believed to have originated in Los Angeles rather than France. The “French” part of the name likely refers to the type of bread originally used.

This easy version gives you all the satisfying flavors of a French dip sandwich with au jus, but it uses deli roast beef and a packaged au jus mix to make dinner especially quick.

Adding cheese may not be part of every traditional French dip sandwich, but it makes these sandwiches wonderfully warm, gooey, and family-friendly.

French Dip Sandwich Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients to make this dinner:

• Kaiser rolls: I use the Kaiser rolls from Sam’s Club. You can substitute hoagie rolls, French rolls, or another sturdy sandwich roll.
• Deli roast beef: Plan on approximately 3–4 slices for each sandwich.
• Sliced cheese: Provolone, Swiss, and mozzarella are all delicious choices.
• Au jus mix: I use a packet from the grocery store and prepare it according to the directions on the package.

You can also add sautéed onions if your family enjoys them. I didn’t use them when I originally made these sandwiches, but they would be a delicious addition that I plan to try next time.

How to Make Easy French Dip Sandwiches

1. Prepare the au jus

Prepare the au jus mix according to the instructions on the back of the packet. Keep it warm while you assemble and broil the sandwiches.

2. Assemble the sandwiches

Slice the Kaiser rolls in half and arrange them open-faced on a large baking sheet.

Place 3–4 slices of deli roast beef on the bottom half of each roll. Add a slice of provolone, Swiss, or mozzarella cheese on top of the roast beef.

You can place the top halves of the rolls cut-side up on the same baking sheet so they warm and toast slightly under the broiler.

3. Broil the sandwiches

Place the baking sheet under the broiler and watch it carefully. Broil until the cheese is melted and the rolls are lightly toasted.

This should only take a few minutes. Broilers can work quickly, so don’t walk away while the sandwiches are heating.

4. Serve with au jus

Place the top half of each roll onto the warm roast beef and cheese. Pour the prepared au jus into small bowls or ramekins and serve it alongside the sandwiches for dipping.

Should I Warm the Roast Beef in the Au Jus?

Some French dip recipes warm the roast beef directly in the au jus before assembling the sandwiches. That is certainly an option, but it isn’t necessary for this easy recipe.

I place the deli roast beef directly on the rolls and warm it under the broiler while the cheese melts. The au jus is simply served on the side.

Keeping the two separate also helps prevent the bread from becoming soggy before everyone is ready to eat.

What Cheese Is Best for French Dip Sandwiches?

Provolone, Swiss, and mozzarella all work well on these sandwiches.

• Provolone is mild, creamy, and melts beautifully.
• Swiss adds a little more flavor and pairs especially well with roast beef.
• Mozzarella is a great mild option for children or anyone who prefers a simple, melty cheese.

You don’t have to use the same cheese on every sandwich. This is an easy meal to customize as you assemble it, especially if different family members have different preferences.

Optional Sautéed Onions

Sautéed onions would add wonderful flavor to these easy French dip sandwiches.

To make them, thinly slice an onion and cook it in a little butter or olive oil over medium heat until it is soft and golden. Add the onions to the sandwiches before placing the cheese on top.

The cheese will melt over the onions and help hold everything together.

If your children don’t like onions, you can add them to only a few of the sandwiches.

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What to Serve With French Dip Sandwiches

When deciding what to serve with French dip sandwiches, you don’t need to make several complicated sides. I usually serve ours with a salad or steamed vegetables.

Other easy French dip sandwich sides include:

• A simple green salad
• Steamed broccoli
• Green beans
• Roasted vegetables
• Baby carrots and ranch
• Fresh fruit
• Potato wedges
• French fries
• Sweet potato fries
• Potato chips
• Coleslaw
• A cup of soup

On an especially busy night, a bagged salad, frozen steamed vegetables, or fresh fruit is more than enough to complete the meal.

Easy Variations

One reason I love this recipe is how flexible it is. You can work with the ingredients you already have rather than making a special trip to the store.

Change the meat

Although roast beef gives you the flavor of a traditional French dip, you can use another sliced meat to make an easy warm sandwich. Try sliced turkey, ham, leftover pot roast, or shredded beef.

Change the cheese

Use provolone, Swiss, mozzarella, cheddar, or whatever cheese your family enjoys.

Leave off the au jus

The au jus makes these feel like classic French dip sandwiches, but you can skip it if you don’t have a packet available. The sandwiches are still delicious served warm from the oven.

Use different rolls

Kaiser rolls hold up well when dipped, but hoagie rolls, French rolls, sub rolls, or sturdy hamburger buns can also work.

Add a condiment

Serve horseradish sauce, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, or garlic butter on the side for anyone who wants an extra layer of flavor.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover French Dip Sandwiches

Wrap leftover sandwiches individually in foil and store them in the refrigerator.

To reheat them, place the foil-wrapped sandwiches in a 400°F oven for approximately 10–15 minutes, or until the meat is warm and the cheese is melted again.

Reheating the sandwiches in the oven helps the rolls maintain a much better texture than reheating them in the microwave.

Store leftover au jus separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.

Tips for the Best French Dip Sandwiches

• Use sturdy rolls that can hold up when dipped into the au jus.
• Watch the sandwiches carefully under the broiler because the rolls can toast very quickly.
• Use the cheese your family already enjoys.
• Serve the au jus on the side to keep the bread from becoming soggy.
• Assemble only the number of sandwiches you expect to eat if you want to keep the remaining ingredients fresh for another meal.
• Add sautéed onions to the adult sandwiches while leaving the children’s sandwiches plain, if needed.

A Simple Dinner for Busy Nights

You don’t need an elaborate recipe to serve your family a warm and satisfying dinner.

These easy French dip sandwiches come together in approximately 15 minutes, use ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, and can be changed to fit your family’s preferences. Serve them with a simple salad, steamed vegetables, or whatever you already have in the refrigerator.

Dinner doesn’t have to be perfect or completely homemade to count. Sometimes putting together a warm sandwich and sitting down with your family is exactly what a busy day needs.

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Make Dinner Feel Easier This Week

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Small steps really do make a difference.

Easy French Dip Sandwiches Recipe

These easy French dip sandwiches combine deli roast beef, melted cheese, Kaiser rolls, and a simple au jus for a warm family dinner that is ready in about 15 minutes.

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 sandwiches
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

• 10 Kaiser rolls
• 30–40 slices deli roast beef, approximately 3–4 slices per sandwich
• 10 slices provolone, Swiss, or mozzarella cheese
• 1 packet au jus mix
• Water or additional ingredients called for on the au jus package
• Sautéed onions, optional

Instructions

1. Prepare the au jus according to the instructions on the package. Keep it warm until serving.
2. Preheat the oven broiler and position an oven rack where the sandwiches can toast without sitting too close to the heating element.
3. Slice the Kaiser rolls in half and arrange them open-faced on a large baking sheet.
4. Place 3–4 slices of deli roast beef on the bottom half of each roll.
5. Top each portion of roast beef with one slice of provolone, Swiss, or mozzarella cheese. Add sautéed onions before the cheese, if desired.
6. Place the baking sheet under the broiler.
7. Broil for a few minutes, watching carefully, until the cheese is melted and the rolls are lightly toasted.
8. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the tops on the sandwiches.
9. Divide the warm au jus between small bowls and serve it on the side for dipping.

Notes

• Broilers vary considerably. Watch the sandwiches closely so the rolls do not burn.
• You can substitute another sturdy sandwich roll for the Kaiser rolls.
• If you don’t want to prepare au jus, serve these as simple warm roast beef and cheese sandwiches.
• Store leftover sandwiches wrapped in foil in the refrigerator.
• Reheat foil-wrapped sandwiches at 400°F for 10–15 minutes or until warmed through.