Description
This Ground Beef French Dip Sandwich recipe features tender, savory shredded beef simmered in a flavorful homemade au jus, served on toasted crusty rolls with melted provolone cheese. A comforting and easy-to-make sandwich perfect for lunch or dinner, offering a delightful combination of rich beef flavors and melty cheese with a side of savory dipping jus.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend recommended for flavor)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 crusty rolls (French rolls, hoagie rolls, or similar)
- 6 slices provolone cheese (or Swiss, if preferred)
Optional
- Butter, for toasting rolls
Instructions
- Cook Onions and Garlic: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add thinly sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly caramelized, about 8-10 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Increase heat to medium-high. Add ground beef to the pot, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned all over. Drain any excess grease from the pot.
- Add Herbs and Seasoning: Stir in dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Cook for another minute to allow the herbs to release their flavor.
- Add Beef Broth and Worcestershire: Pour in beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot with a spoon to loosen browned bits. Add Worcestershire sauce and bay leaf. Bring to a simmer.
- Simmer the Beef Mixture: Reduce heat to low, cover, and let the mixture simmer for at least 1 hour, up to 2 hours, to develop rich flavors.
- Strain the Au Jus: Remove bay leaf. Strain the liquid (au jus) through a fine-mesh sieve into a separate bowl, discarding the solids (onions, garlic, beef solids).
- Adjust Seasonings: Taste the au jus and add salt and pepper as needed to enhance the flavor.
- Shred the Cooked Beef: Return the cooked ground beef to the pot and shred it using two forks into smaller pieces.
- Add Au Jus to Beef: Pour about 1 cup of the strained au jus back into the shredded beef, adding more to your desired juiciness level.
- Simmer Shredded Beef: Simmer the beef in the au jus for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld flavors.
- Prepare Rolls: If desired, lightly butter the inside of each crusty roll.
- Toast Rolls: Toast the rolls under a broiler or in a toaster oven until lightly golden brown.
- Assemble Sandwiches: Divide the shredded beef evenly among the toasted rolls.
- Add Cheese: Top each sandwich with a slice of provolone or Swiss cheese.
- Melt Cheese: Place sandwiches under the broiler or in the toaster oven until the cheese melts and becomes bubbly.
- Serve: Serve the sandwiches immediately with the remaining au jus on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Use an 80/20 ground beef blend for best flavor and juiciness.
- Simmering the beef mixture for up to 2 hours enhances depth of flavor.
- Straining the au jus creates a smooth, flavorful dipping sauce.
- Butter the rolls before toasting for extra richness and crispness.
- Swiss cheese is a great alternative to provolone for a different flavor profile.
- Leftover au jus can be refrigerated and used within 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
