French Dip Sliders have savory beef and melted cheese in every bite. Topped with caramelized onions and baked between buttery buns. Ideal for game days, casual dinners, or any occasion.
Roast Beef Sliders
Our baked French Dip Sliders recipe is the ideal appetizer, mini meal, or snacking sandwich, made by stuffing roast beef, onions, and cheese between the top and bottom layers of soft buttered buns.
We love serving sliders, like our Big Mac Sliders and our Philly Cheesesteak Sliders for tailgating.
What makes these French dip roast beef sliders so easy is that they’re prepared with a simple shortcut: I skip making individual portions and instead layer the meat and onion mixture top of the entire bottom bun, cover it with cheese, place the other half of the bread on top, and bake it as a single sandwich.
Why We Love French Dip Slider Recipes
- Quick and easy to make.
- Uses a handful of simple ingredients.
- Flavored just like a full-sized French dip sandwich but baked into bite-sized sliders.
- Delicious dipping sauce takes these sliders over the top!
- Fun way to feed a crowd for a tailgate, game day, or potluck.
- Perfect small size for serving as a party appetizer, snack, family friendly meal, or as a hand-held partner for soup or salad.
French Dip Sliders Ingredients
- Slider buns: I love using Martin’s Potato Rolls for this easy slider sandwiches because they’re already sliced in half. However, sweet Hawaiian rolls, savory Hawaiian rolls, fresh baked slider-sized brioche buns, other small dinner rolls, or homemade slider buns will also work.
- Unsalted butter
- Yellow onion
- Fresh thyme leaves
- Garlic
- Granulated sugar
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Roast beef
- Swiss cheese
- French onion soup: I used a can of Campbell’s brand but feel free to use your favorite.
- Water
- Packet of Au Jus mix
Substitutions and Additions
- Choose Your Cheese: You can substitute the Swiss cheese with a milder baby Swiss, not-smoked provolone cheese, gruyere cheese, or even a Havarti cheese. All these options complement the roast beef and are great melting cheeses. You can even use a combination of these options.
- Forgo The Fresh Thyme: If you cannot find fresh thyme leaves, you can substitute dried thyme. You will want to reduce the amount used to 2 teaspoons (divided 1½ teaspoons in the onions and ½ teaspoon in the melted butter topping). Dried herbs add more flavor than fresh herbs, thus the need for a reduced amount of the dried version.
How to Make French Dip Sliders
- Prepare The Pan: Place the bottom half of your slider buns in a single layer in the pan. (Image 1)
- Caramelize The Onions: Sautee the onions, thyme leaves, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper in melted butter. Cook until the onions have turned a golden brown and reduced by almost half.
Pro Tip: If your onions are browning too fast before softening, you can turn the heat down to medium to allow the onions to caramelize evenly. - Make The Meat Mixture: Add the strips of roast beef to the onions and toss to distribute and break up any large chunks of meat. Remove from the heat.
- Assemble: Top the bottom layer of slider buns with a layer of the roast beef and onion mixture and cover with sliced Swiss cheese. Top the cheese layer with the tops of the slider buns. (Image 2 and 3)
- Make The Butter Mixture: Microwave the butter for 30-40 seconds. Stir in the thyme leaves, garlic, and salt. Brush the tops of the slider buns with the melted butter mixture. (Image 4)
- Bake: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes or until the tops of the buns are golden, and the cheese is melted.
- Serve: Serve warm with a side of the au jus dipping sauce. Enjoy!
How to Make French Dip Sauce
- Simmer The Sauce: In the same skillet used to caramelize the onions, combine the French onion soup, water, and packet of au jus mix. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10-12 minutes.
- Serve: Remove from the heat and pour it into a serving bowl(s).
Tips For Making The Best French Dip Sliders
- I like to have my deli counter person slice the cheese thin to ensure I have enough to cover the entire surface of the sliders. If needed, add any extra cheese slices as a second layer.
- If you do not have a small zester for the grated garlic, you can very finely mince the garlic instead. I don’t like the texture of the larger minced garlic in the butter topping for the buns, so I grate all my garlic for ease of use in the recipe.
- Before placing them into the oven, you can pre-cut the individual servings of the French dip sliders using a serrated knife. This is not necessary but helps for easy serving when the sliders are still hot.
How to Store French Dip Sliders
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To Freeze: I do not suggest freezing these French dip sliders.
- To Reheat: You can reheat individual sliders in the toaster oven or microwave for 30 seconds or until warmed.
What To Serve With French Dip Sliders
These sliders pair perfectly on a party table with many of my other delicious dips, sliders, and appetizers. For the ultimate spread, serve these easy French Dip Sandwiches beside my Crack Chicken Sliders, Buffalo Chicken Sliders and White Castle Sliders.
If you prepare these sliders for dinner, I like to serve them with something simple. My KFC Coleslaw or Broccoli Slaw goes great with these mini sandwiches.
But if you’re serving these as part of a game-day feast, my Chip Dip, Million Dollar Dip, or Pull-Apart Pigs In A Blanket are perfect. Or check out my website for my other fun appetizer recipes.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
More Tailgating Recipes
French Dip Sliders
Serves — 12
French Dip Sliders feature tender meat, caramelized onions, and melted cheese, baked in buttered buns until golden.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Ingredients
Sliders
- 15 ounces (12-count) package of slider buns (Martin’s brand Potato Rolls)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided into 4 tablespoons and 2 tablespoons
- 3 cups thinly sliced yellow onion from 1 large onion
- 3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves divided into 2 teaspoons and 1 teaspoon
- 2 teaspoons grated garlic from 2 cloves, divided in half
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¾ teaspoon salt divided into ½ teaspoon and ¼ teaspoon
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ pounds thinly sliced deli roast beef cut into 1-inch wide strips
- ½ pound Swiss cheese thinly sliced
Au Jus dipping sauce
- 10.5 ounces can French onion soup Campbell’s brand
- 1½ cups water
- 1 ounce packet of Au Jus mix
Instructions
Sliders
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the bottom half of your slider buns in a single layer into a 9×13 glass baking dish. Reserve the tops on a separate plate.15 ounces (12-count) package of slider buns
- In a large skillet on medium-high heat, add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Once the butter has melted, add the thinly sliced yellow onions, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon grated garlic, granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper.6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 cups thinly sliced yellow onion, 3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons grated garlic, ½ teaspoon granulated sugar, ¾ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Allow the onions to cook and caramelize for 10-15 minutes or until the onions have turned a golden brown and reduced by almost half. If your onions are browning too fast before softening, then you can turn the heat down to medium to allow the onions to caramelize evenly.
- Once the onions are done, add the strips of thinly sliced roast beef and gently toss the sliced roast beef with the caramelized onions until evenly distributed. Be sure to break up any large chunks of the roast beef. Remove from the heat.1½ pounds thinly sliced deli roast beef
- Top the bottom layer of slider buns with an even layer of the roast beef and onion mixture. Tongs work great for this step.
- Layer the sliced Swiss cheese over the entire surface of the roast beef.½ pound Swiss cheese
- Top the Swiss cheese layer with the tops of the slider buns.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl for 30-40 seconds. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon of grated garlic, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine.6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, 2 teaspoons grated garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt
- Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the slider buns with the melted butter mixture.
- Bake these French dip sliders for 15-20 minutes or until the tops of the buns are golden, and the cheese is melted. While your sliders are baking, you can make your au jus dipping sauce.
Au Jus dipping sauce
- In the skillet used to caramelize the onions on medium heat, add the French onion soup, water, and packet of au jus mix.10.5 ounces can French onion soup, 1½ cups water, 1 ounce packet of Au Jus mix
- Whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer while the French dip sliders are baking. This should take 10-12 minutes.
- Remove the sauce from the heat and pour it into a serving bowl or small individual serving bowls.
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- To Freeze: I do not suggest freezing these French dip sliders.
- To Reheat: You can reheat individual sliders in the toaster oven or microwave for 30 seconds or just until warmed through.
- I like to have my deli counter person slice the cheese thin to ensure I have enough to cover the entire surface of the sliders. If needed, add any extra cheese slices as a second layer.
- If you do not have a small zester for the grated garlic, you can very finely mince the garlic instead. I just don’t like the texture of the larger minced garlic in the butter topping for the buns, so I just grate all my garlic for ease of use in the recipe.
- You can pre-cut the individual servings of the French dip sliders using a serrated knife before placing them into the oven. This is not necessary but helps for easy serving when the sliders are still hot.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 1175mg | Potassium: 348mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 357IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 371mg | Iron: 2mg
