Beef Roast French Dip Sandwiches are made with a thinly sliced beef roast that is slowly roasted in the oven. Thin sliced onions with a brown gravy and au jus gravy mix give the roast beef and onions the best flavor for the perfect French Dip Sandwiches.
The Meat for Beef Roast French Dip Sandwiches
Like I mentioned before, my Slow Cooker French Dip recipe uses deli meat. The recipe is great for busy nights when a fast and easy dinner is needed, but it doesn’t come close to the flavor in this recipe using a beef roast.
I use a top round roast for these French Dip Sandwiches. It is a cheaper cut of meat that if slowly roasted, will cook up super tender with great flavor. This type of roast is what is typically sliced for roast beef, making it perfect for French Dip Sandwiches.
The key to making the most tender French Dip is letting the meat cook low and slow all day in a tightly covered roasting pan. DO NOT CHECK ON IT!
I have the Butcher Man slice my roast very thin. This is a personal preference and not absolutely necessary to making a yummy Beef Roast Sandwich. I think the thin slices soak up the flavor of the au jus and brown gravy that the meat roasts in. (I have no proof it does this, it just makes sense that it would!) I also love how the thin sliced meat cooks tenderly and then shreds and falls apart even more to put on a toasted hoagie bun to make a tasty sandwich.
The Beef Roast in this picture is 3 lbs. of thin sliced top round. This recipe works with a roast up to 5 lbs. If you have bigger roast than 5 lbs. you will need to adjust the recipe. See the notes in the recipe below.
Your local butcher or meat counter will slice your roast if you want it like mine. You do not have to get your beef roast sliced thin for this recipe. You can simply cook the whole beef roast, not sliced, and you will still end up with flavorful, tender meat. You can see below how thinly mine is sliced.
Gravy/Sauce for the French Dip
This French Dip is so simple! You will need 2 (1 oz. each) packets of au jus gravy mix and 2 packets (1 oz. each) of brown gravy mix. Then some sliced onions and your beef roast! The amount of gravy/sauce this makes will work great for up to 5 lbs of meat. If you have more than 5 pounds of meat I would make more gravy/sauce.
Mix up the gravy and au jus. Ignore the instructions on the packet of how much water to add and follow recipe below.
Onions for the Roast French Dip
I love onions on my French Dip. I use yellow onions. You can use any kind of onions, or don’t include onions if you don’t like them. Slice them up. (See photo below to see how I slice my onions ).
Cooking the Roast Beef Sandwiches
Cooking these Beef Roast Sandwiches coudn’t be easier!
You will need a roasting pan. A 9×13 baking dish will work also! Grease the pan. You can see my pan below. This is my old pan, I have new one now that is better (you can see my new one below)!
Pour half of the gravy/sauce in the bottom of your greased pan. Place the beef roast in the pan.
Next, place your sliced onions on top of the beef roast and add the rest of the onions to the pan.
Pour the other half of the gravy/sauce on top of the roast.
Finally, cover your pan tightly with aluminum foil. I double cover my roasting pan so it is covered nice and tight.
Place the pan of meat in your oven at 250 degrees. Let it cook for 6 hours for up to 5 lbs or meat. If your roast is larger let it cook for 8 hours. Do not check on the meat. It will be done in 6 hours for a smaller roast, and 8 hours for a larger roast.
It will be juicy, tender and full of flavor!
Serving Up Beef Roast Sandwiches
Once the meat is done you are ready to make the best Beef Roast sandwiches!
I love chewier hoagie buns. I get mine in the bakery at my local grocery store. Any kind will work. Use what you like!
I like to slice a smaller top half in the top of my hoagie bun. Then I press down the center of the bun on the bottom half. (See photo below). This makes the perfect little ”bowl” for my cheese and meat.
I can’t have French Dip without cheese. I prefer Provolone cheese but Swiss or pepper jack cheese are yummy too! I add a few slices to my bun and then pop it in my oven on broil to melt the cheese. You can melt the cheese or not. It is up to you. You can toast the bun and melt the cheese to your liking.
Then the yummy roasted meat and onions is placed on the bun making the perfect Beef Roast French Dip Sandwich! The meat is juicy and tender and the onions are full of flavor from the sauce/gravy.
I have to have a side of au jus for dipping!
These French Dip sandwiches made in the oven are easy, full of juicy tender meat with amazing flavor and perfect for dinner!
If you liked this recipe please take the time to leave a comment and a star rating below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!
Also try my fast and easy Slow Cooker French Dip using deli meat. Also try my Best Pot Roast in the Oven!
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Beef Roast French Dip Sandwiches
Equipment
- 1 Roasting pan or 9×13 pan
- aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 3 to 5 lb. Beef Roast, sliced thin *sliced thin – optional – see notes below
- 2 medium yellow onions, sliced *or your favorite type of onions
- 2 (1 oz. Each) Au Jus packet *ignore the instructions on the packet
- 2 (1 oz, Each) Brown Gravy packet *ignore the instructions on the packet
- 4 cups cold water
- Hoagie Buns for serving
- Sliced Cheese for serving *provolone, pepper jack or Swiss are tasty
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 250°F. Grease your roasting pan or 9×13 pan.
- In a bowl or glass measuring cup mix all of the packets of au jus and brown gravy with the cold water. Whisk/mix it well.
- Pour half of the sauce/gravy in to the bottom of your greased pan.
- Place the roast in the center of the pan and place your onions on top of the roast and in the pan.
- Pour the rest of the sauce/gravy over the roast and onions.
- Cover your pan tightly with aluminum foil. I like to use Heavy Duty foil that is thicker and doesn’t tear as easy. I also double foil it to make sure it is sealed tight!
- Cook the beef roast for 6 hours. DO NOT CHECK ON IT.*If you have more than 4 pounds of meat you will need to cook the meat for 8 hours (or more). I would estimate about an hour to an hour and a half for each extra pound of meat.
- After the meat has cooked for 6 hours, take it out of the oven.
- Slice open a hoagie bun and add some cheese to it. Place the bun in your oven on broil to toast the bun and melt the cheese to your liking. (This is optional, you do not have to toast the bun and melt the cheese).
- Add the French Dip meat and onions to your bun and enjoy! I love to have a side of au jus to dip my sandwich in!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Some more yummy photos of the BEST Beef Roast French Dip Sandwiches!
Making today for the 1st time.
Hi Denise!!! I am so excited for you try them! Let me know what you think!!❤️☺️
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