Whether you’re preparing for game day, a brunch party, or just an easy weeknight dinner for the whole family, these oven baked French dip sliders are sure to be a hit.
The sweetness of the rolls combined with the savory goodness of French dip roast beef and the tang of onions and cheese is a real party pleaser. We also love this Roast Beef Crostini and simple charcuterie board for easy appetizers.
These oven baked French dip sliders are bursting with umami flavor and is a combination that is familiar and comforting.
Even better, you don’t have to spend your day making the perfect beef roast for this. Believe it or not, it uses deli roast beef, already cooked and sliced and ready to go! It's an easy recipe for a delicious French dip sandwich.
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🖤 Why We Love this Recipe
When you have a hungry group to feed, the last thing you want is complicated recipes with long prep time. This recipe is ideal for when you are in a hurry. Just toss it together, throw it in the oven, and in 20 minutes it is ready to serve.
The real secret to this recipe is the amazing sauce that goes with it. The sauce really pushes it over the edge with all the flavors of the classic French dip sandwich with warm au jus.
What You Need to Make It
Key Ingredients
- Roast Beef. For the sliders, you’ll want to use thin-sliced deli meat roast beef. Make sure to look for some that is on the pink side, since you are going to be cooking it in the oven.
- Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. Who doesn’t love these amazing rolls? You can use a crusty roll, hoagie rolls, or a French roll, but the sweetness of these rolls gives the sandwich a little something extra.
- Provolone cheese slices. You can use any sort of melty cheese, like Swiss cheese or even American, but provolone doesn’t overpower the flavors and adds a creamy texture that is perfect for these oven baked French dip sliders.
See recipe card for quantities and full directions.
How to Make Oven Baked French Dip Sliders
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Grease an 8 x 11 or 9 x 13 baking dish on the sides and bottom of the pan with butter.
Cut each of the rolls in half to separate the tops and bottoms. Layer the bottom half of the rolls into the baking dish.
Next, layer six slices of provolone cheese on the rolls. It will overlap.
Add all of the roast beef on top of the cheese. Spread it out all over the buns just as we've done below.
Add a layer of French fried onions.
Then top with the remaining six slices of cheese.
Add Hawaiian roll bun tops.
In a microwave-safe small bowl, mix together butter, 1 TB of the au jus seasoning mix, Worcestershire sauce, the onion powder, and half of the sesame seeds.
Microwave until the butter melts and then whisk until blended.
Brush the melted butter mixture on the top of the rolls with a pastry brush until well coated.
Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds on the rolls.
Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and rolls are golden brown on top.
While the sliders are in the oven, it is time to make the dipping sauce.
In a small saucepan, mix the remaining au jus seasoning with 1 ½ to 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
Once the sliders are out of the oven, cut into individual sandwiches and serve with a cup of dipping sauce.
📖 Variations
There’s a variety of variations that you can make with simple ingredients.
French Chicken Melt. Substitute sliced chicken luncheon meat for the beef and use French onion soup mix instead of the au jus seasoning.
Ham and Swiss Melt. You can substitute sliced ham for the beef and Swiss cheese for the provolone. For a sweet twist, add pineapple slices between the ham and the cheese. It makes a sweet and savory hot sandwich with gooey melted cheese.
Oven Reuben. Instead of the roast beef, use sliced corned beef. Substitute sliced onions or caramelized onions for the French fried onions, and add a small scoop of sauerkraut. Brush with plain butter and dust with onion powder before baking. Serve with Thousand Island dressing to dip the sandwiches in.
Looking to make this dish a bit healthier? You can use olive oil with a little seasoning instead of the melted butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to one legend, restaurateur Phillippe Mathieu, who is credited with inventing this sandwich in 1918, had accidentally dropped a French roll in a roasting pan filled with beef juice. The customer who had ordered the sandwich said that he wanted to eat this French roll “dipped” sandwich.
Vegetables that have a lot of crunch go well with a French dip, to provide a good contrast in textures. Crunchy vegetable slaw works well, for instance. Naturally, French fries also go well with this sandwich.
Absolutely! Worcestershire sauce contains vinegar, which helps to break down the fibers of the meat. The result is much more tender meat as well as a great way to make more flavorful beef.
💭 Top Tips
- Look for a London Broil sliced beef at your local deli. It is great because it is just a bit pink and then can cook to medium well. Make sure to ask for it to be sliced thin.
- While you’re at the deli, you can get sliced cheese, but pre-packaged cheese works equally well, since the flavors come from the seasoning and jus.
- In a pinch, you can use pot roast cooked in a crock pot or instant pot. Just make sure to drain the meat before putting on the sandwiches so the bottom of the sandwiches don’t get soggy.
More Delicious Appetizer Recipes
Recipe
Oven Baked French Dip Sliders
Ingredients
For the Sliders
- 1 pound deli roast beef thin sliced
- 12 slices provolone cheese
- 1 package Hawaiian sweet rolls 12 count
- 1 c french fried onions
- 1 tablespoon butter softened to grease the baking dish
For the Seasoning Sauce
- 1 packet Au Jus Seasoning mix separated
- 8 tablespoon butter for melting
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds separated
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- Grease an 8 x 11 or 9 x 13 baking dish on the sides and bottom of the pan with butter.
- Cut each of the rolls in half to separate the tops and bottoms. Layer the bottom half of the rolls into the baking dish.
- Next, layer six slices of provolone cheese on the rolls. Add all of the roast beef on top of the cheese. Add a layer of French fried onions. Then top with the remaining six slices of cheese and the top of the Hawaiian rolls.
- In a microwave-safe small bowl, mix together butter, 1 TB of the au jus seasoning mix, Worcestershire sauce, the onion powder, and half of the sesame seeds.
- Microwave until the butter melts and then whisk until blended.
- Brush the melted butter mixture on the top of the rolls with a pastry brush until well coated. Sprinkle the remaining sesame seeds on the rolls.
- Bake in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and rolls are golden brown on top.
- While the sliders are in the oven, it is time to make the dipping sauce.
- In a small saucepan, mix the remaining au jus seasoning with 1 ½ to 2 cups of water. Bring it to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for approximately 5 minutes or until sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sliders are out of the oven, cut into individual sandwiches and serve with a cup of dipping sauce.
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