French Dip Sliders with Crispy Onions {Make Ahead}
French dip sliders are an easy party sandwich made with thinly sliced roast beef, gooey provolone cheese, crispy onions, and buttery Hawaiian rolls baked to golden perfection. These budget-friendly baked roast beef sliders come together with minimal prep and are served with a savory au jus for dipping, making them a delicious choice for busy weeknights or a fun family dinner, too.
French dip sandwiches have always been my go-to sandwich order when we dine out. I love that savory roast beef with melted cheese and crispy bread dunked in au jus dipping sauce.
These bite-sized party sandwiches are such a fun way to make French dips quickly on a busy weeknight.
I tested out these French dip sliders on my family for a lazy weekend lunch and they were a huge hit. They’re now a staple of any football party menu I plan but they’ll come in really handy with this upcoming holiday season.
Why This is the Best Recipe
- Big Flavor, Easy Ingredients: Just a handful of ingredients make these sliders packed with flavor. Beefy, juicy, and drippy deliciousness.
- Deli Roast Beef: No need to make a roast beef from scratch. Use the quick grocery store shortcut from the deli.
- Bite-sized French Dips: When you don’t want to commit to a whole sandwich, these little appetizer-sized sliders are just the right fix.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These easy sliders come together with simple ingredients you can grab at about any grocery store. Here are a few things you should know before you make your shopping list:
- Hawaiian Dinner Rolls: These slightly sweet, soft rolls are easy to find at the grocery store. I like the way the Hawaiian flavor pairs with the savory roast beef. If you can’t find them, you can substitute any small slider bun or make my homemade potato buns in a bread machine.
- Deli Roast Beef: This is my favorite store-bought shortcut. I don’t mind making a roast beef from scratch for my French dip sandwiches, but for these easy party sliders, the deli is the way to go. Of course, if you have leftover roast beef, that works great.
- Provolone Cheese: I love the way the provolone melts over the beef. If you don’t have it on hand, you could substitute an American cheese, gruyere, or Swiss.
- French Fried Onions: Yes, the same kind you use in green bean casserole. Save the leftovers for your Thanksgiving side dishes!
- Au Jus Seasoning Packet: You’ll find this by the gravy packets at the grocery store.
- Seasonings: Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, garlic salt, onion powder.
Assemble the Sliders
Open up the Hawaiian Rolls and use a serrated knife to cut them horizontally from end to end. Carefully lift the top half off and set it aside.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the bottom half of the slider buns down, and then top them with an even layer of provolone cheese.
Arrange the roast beef in an even layer across the cheese.
Top with a sprinkle of the crispy fried onions, and then layer the second half of the cheese over the top.
Place the top half of the buns over the sliders.
In a small mixing bowl, melt the butter and add just one tablespoon of the au jus powder.
Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, dried thyme, garlic salt, and onion powder. Then brush the mixture evenly over the top of the rolls, making sure to spread the seasonings evenly over each bun.
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Baking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Loosely cover the sliders with aluminum foil and bake them for 6 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 8 minutes or so until they are golden brown on top, the cheese is melted, and they’re warmed all the way through.
Make the Au Jus
While the sliders are baking, prepare the au jus dipping sauce.
Add the remaining seasoning powder to a small saucepan with 2 cups of cold water.
Whisk until combined and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer until thickened.
Make Ahead Tips
One of the best things about party sliders is how easy they are to prep ahead.
Assemble Ahead: Slice the buns and fill with the roast beef, cheese, and onions up to 24 hours ahead of time. Cover tightly so the buns don’t dry out in the fridge. Wait to brush on the butter topping until just before baking.
Store Leftovers: While I think these are the best enjoyed the day you baked them, leftovers actually keep quite well in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Store the au jus separately so the bread stays fresh.
Reheating Tips: For the best results, place your leftover sliders in a baking dish, cover loosely with foil, and warm in a 325°F oven until just heated through.
Variations
These roast beef sliders are delicious just as they are, but they’re also easy to customize depending on what your family loves or what you have in the fridge:
- Caramelized Onions: if you’ve made a batch of my easy caramelized onions, you could use these in place of the crispy fried onions for a softer, sweeter flavor.
- Horseradish Sauce: you could spread a thin layer of creamy horseradish sauce onto the rolls before adding the beef if you like a little extra kick in your slider.
Serving Suggestions
Serve the warm French dip sliders with a cup of the au jus dipping sauce on the side.
I made these for a simple afternoon lunch, just for fun for my family. We enjoyed them with some chips and dip for an easy snack.
If you wanted to turn them into a full-fledged family dinner, you could plan to serve them with my crispy ranch roasted potatoes or even a chilled dill potato salad.
To add some veggies to the plate, I recommend making my easy vinegar slaw, which complements the rich and savory slider really well. For the kids, a platter of fresh veggies and dill dip is always a hit.
For football parties or potlucks, you can arrange the sliders on a large platter with small bowls of the warm au jus. They’re easy for everyone to grab, dip, and enjoy.
More Slider Recipes
If your family loves sliders, there are plenty of other easy recipes to add to your dinner rotation. Here are a few of my favorites:
French Dip Sliders
Ingredients
- 1 (12-count) package of Hawaiian dinner rolls
- 1 pound deli roast beef sliced thin
- 12 slices provolone cheese
- 1 cup French fried onions
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 (1 oz) packet of au jus mix divided
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions Start Cooking
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Carefully place the entire package of Hawaiian rolls on a cutting board and use a serrated bread knife to slice the entire set in half, keeping the individual rolls connected on both the top and bottom. Set the bottom half in the baking pan.1 (12-count) package of Hawaiian dinner rolls
- Spread half of the provolone cheese evenly over the rolls. Then layer on the roast beef. Sprinkle the fried onions in an even layer. Finish the second half of cheese and then carefully place the top half of the buns on top.1 pound deli roast beef, 12 slices provolone cheese, 1 cup French fried onions
- Melt the butter in the microwave. Add just 1 tablespoon of the au jus powder. Then add the Worcestershire sauce, thyme, garlic salt, and onion powder. Stir it together.6 tablespoons butter, 1 (1 oz) packet of au jus mix, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Brush the butter mixture over the tops of the rolls with a pastry brush. Cover the top loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake the sliders covered in foil for the first 6 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 8 – 12 minutes or until they are golden brown with melty cheese and warmed through.
- For the au jus dipping sauce, add the remaining powder to a small saucepan and whisk in 2 cups of cold water. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer until it thickens.
- To serve the french dip sliders, cut the sandwiches along the lines of the dinner rolls. Serve them on a platter with a cup of the au jus for dunking.
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About Tiffany
Tiffany is a home-cooking enthusiast, three-time cookbook author, and creator of the sites Peanut Blossom, Peanut Blossom Book Club, and Don’t Just Fly. She believes that family dinner can be manageable, fun, and — most importantly — tasty. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and two daughters and can often be found baking a loaf of bread with her beloved bread machine, reading a good book, or planning her family’s next adventure.