French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwich
French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwich is perfect for dinner, parties or game nights! Serve with the dipping sauce on the side for the ultimate, amazing flavor!
Nothing is more comforting than a hot, melty sandwich to enjoy for lunch or dinner. You can pair it with Fried Brussels Sprouts, Green Beans with Bacon, and Lemon Garlic Scallops.
The Best Grill Cheese Recipe
French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwich makes quiet an often appear in our house. The dish is a favorite of my husband and even kiddo! What’s not to love about it? Buttered white bread secures a hefty amount of deli roast beef, brown sugar caramelized onions, and cheese.
As long as you’ve got bread and a generous amount of cheese, you’ve got the basis for the best grilled cheese sandwich. To make it even better, the sandwich is served with a sticky delicious onion dip on the side and french fried onions. It is crunchy, cheesy and filling, this ultimate grilled cheese sandwich is a must-try!
You should also try one of my most popular recipe: Cheesy Taco Sloppy Joes! Perfect for game night!
Best Bread for Grilled Cheese:
This is such an easy and budget-friendly dish, that I pretty much use whatever bread I have available. However, for best results, you should look for sturdy enough bread to hold the cheese in.
White bread and sourdough are pretty popular to make this recipe. Also, if you like darker bread, then go with dark rye. It is widely available, and it has a nice and distinctive aroma that perfectly complements the cheese.
What is the Best Cheese for Grilled Cheese?
Like in the case with bread, you can pretty much use any type you have on hand, or love best. For a classic grilled cheese, go with American.
For a more distinctive and rich flavor, I recommend using sharp cheddar, or provolone cheese. Also, Colby, Monterey Jack, Gouda, and Blue cheese are perfectly fine here. So, go with what you like the most.
How to Make French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwich?
For exact directions and ingredient measures, please see the recipe card below. But the general steps are as follows:
- Prepare the sauce: This French onion dipping sauce is unbelievably delicious, and it is what makes this sandwich stand apart. In an iron cast skillet, prepare the sauce. Once done, set it aside.
- Toast the bread: I recommend roasting the bread over low heat. This way, the bread will get a nice golden brown color and become super crunchy.
- Add the cheese and roast beef: Once the bread is nicely toasted, add the cheese, meat, and caramelized onion. Then, top it with the remaining slices of bread. It really doesn’t matter what cheese you use as long as its one you love and don’t skimp on it!
More Cheesy Recipes:
- One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
- Taco Dip
- Taco Tortilla Roll Ups
- Tuscan Chicken Pasta
- Chicken Ranch Pasta with Bacon
Tips and Tricks to make the perfect French Dip Grilled Sandwich:
- I like to use deli roast beef as its quick and easy. You can also use any leftover shredded beef, like from cooking a beef chuck roast.
- Also, feel free to use a mixture of various cheeses as well. It works perfectly fine, and it gives the sandwich an even better flavor.
- If the pan is too hot, the cheese won’t melt before the outside is cooked. In addition, if you see that the cheese is not melting for a while, then cover it with a lid. The steam will help melt the cheese so it cooks evenly!
- Don’t skip the caramelized onions, they make a huge difference in this sandwich!!
- Most groceries stored carry Au Jus Mix, just look in the seasoning aisle.
- I used store-bought french fried onions, you can make yours if you want.
- The french fried onions are optional, you can serve them on the side or add some to your sandwich for a nice crunch.
- Butter the bread and cook the sandwiches in a cast iron or on the griddle.
- Serve the sandwiches immediately.
Tools/Ingredients I use to make this recipe:
- Cast Iron Skillet – get one and you will use it forever. I like that it heats evenly and consistently and that it comes pre-seasoned for the first use.
- Tongs – I like the locking functionality on these, they are the best on the market.
French Dip Grilled Cheese Sandwich is perfect for dinner, parties or game nights! Serve with the dipping sauce on the side for the ultimate, amazing flavor!
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 medium sweet onions sliced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3/4 cup beef broth
- 1 packet Au Jus seasoning mix seasoning
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 8 sliced of white sandwich bread
- 16 slices provolone cheese
- 16 slices deli roast beef
- caramelized onions - leftover from the Sauce
- Optional:
- French fried onions
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Place a cast iron skillet over high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add 2 tablespoons of butter.
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Once the butter has melted add sliced onions and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and brown sugar, stir and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
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Remove half of the onions to a plate and set aside. You will use them when assembling the sandwich.
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Reduce heat to medium, and add Worcestershire sauce and beef broth to the remaining onions in the skillet. Stir and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
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Add the Au Jus mix and cook for 3-4 or until the sauce has thickened.
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Transfer sauce to a bowl and set aside. Wipe the skillet clean.
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Place skillet over medium heat, add some melted butter to the skillet.
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Smoother the bread with butter on one side only.
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Place bread butter side down on a cutting board.
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Add 2 slices of cheese, 4 slices of deli roast beef, caramelized onions and some french fried onions (optional), 2 more slices of cheese. Top with another bread slice, butter side up. Cook in the skillet, slightly pressing on the sandwich. Or cook on the griddle. Flip on the other side after 2-3 minutes of cooking, press slightly and continue cooking until golden brown, about 2 more minutes.
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Serve with the dipping sauce and french fried onions.
37 Comments
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Amanda
Wow, now THAT’S a grilled cheese!!
Katerina @ diethood .com
mmmm…this looks SO delicious!! My family would LOVE it!!
carrie @ frugal foodie mama
This has been be one of the most amazing grilled cheeses ever! 🙂 Looks delicious.
Linda Dietz
This looks like a great recipe, but with such good ingredients, why in the world would you use regular old white bread??? There are tons of other great options with more character and more nutrition ! Does not compute in my “world of cooking.”
Catalina Castravet
Linda, darling, thank you so much for checking the recipe 🙂 I LOVE good, old white bread as it does not compete with the flavors 🙂 BUT you can use ANY bread that you love 🙂 to make the sandwich even better 🙂
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
Awesome grilled cheese recipe!!
Megan @ Megunprocesed
Wowza!! Looks so hearty!
Jessica | Novice Chef
Always love a different version of grilled cheese! This looks amazing!
monika
Why do you keep calling everything “french” in this recipe?
THere is nothing inherently french about it…
SO confused!
(Is it because the sauce its reminiscent of “french” onion soup?)
Catalina Castravet
I am probably more confused than you, I don’t think I am calling everything “french” except the dip. hm.
GrammaSue
Monika, why must people be so “literal” in their reviews. “French” Dip anything is a colloquialism. Since she created the recipe, she can call it what she wants. Why not just say if you like it or not instead of being so persnickie…
Catalina Castravet
Thank you very much 🙂 sometimes I don’t get why people feel the need to criticize something that doesn’t need to be criticized.
Karl @ Healthy Kreation
Love this grilled cheese sandwich recipe. The french dip is a nice touch that makes it truly unique. Thanks for sharing this.
Rosein
I’m a little confused as well. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with french dip sandwiches? This recipe is a variation of a french dip sandwich, hence the name. And, no, it’s not really french, any more than french fries are. However, it is the name of the sandwich, so it makes sense to use it. I only see the word “french” in the recipe in regards to the dip, so your claim of”why do you keep calling everything ‘french’ in this recipe” is a bit strange.
Catalina Castravet
I think you answered your own questions when you said: “This recipe is a variation of a french dip sandwich, hence the name.” hm….
GrammaSue
This sounds like a great combination. As far as the THE WHITE BREAD goes, when its all combined, who can tell the difference with so many flavors going on. If you just want to not feel guilty, then by all means, use a healthier choice. If you don’t care and want to save money, use the white bread…. all tastes the same in this incident. Great recipe idea and thank you!
Catalina Castravet
Exactly! Amen!
Jeanne
I’ve been making a variation of this for a while now. One of my favorites when I don’t want to put a lot of thought or time, but still want a great meal. Great to see other people like French Dips this way. My only change up is that I use the instructions from the Mousetrap (http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/mousetrap-2010682) to cook the sandwich. Easy and you can cook more than one at time. And sourdough bread. 😉
Cheryl
Ah! You also said French fried onions too. Maybe you could you French bread! Oui oui
Sarah
I am making this tonight. I cannot wait to try it. It will be delicious I’m sure!
Catalina Castravet
Let me know how you like it 🙂
Ellie
I want to try it with sourdough bread.. I like the texture of the bread. I can’t wait to try it.
Kimberly
Can you reheat the sauce and onions to make it for a second night?
Catalina Castravet
yes! totally!
Merie Surkan
Made it…Big hit here. I used shaved leftover roast beef from Sunday dinner of which I had saved the roasting juices. I just thickened some juice a little with a tsp of cornstarch instead of buying the package mix. We used sharp cheddar and gouda and homemade whole wheat bread. What a filling sandwich! I think 1/2 sandwich would have been enough for me. Definitely a keeper recipe!
Angie
Making tonite 😋 I can’t wait..I made roast yesterday and saved the broth. I am gonna use leftovers, make the sauce with the leftover broth..i bet it will be a ton of flavors…thank you for the recipe now roast beef leftovers won’t go to waste
Catalina Castravet
Hi Angie, thanks for stopping by! Sounds great, let me know how it turned out!
Lisa Starbuck
This is a family favorite! So damn good!!
Amanda
This is seriously making my mouth water it looks so good!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This French Dip Grilled Cheese looks incredibly delicious!
Toni
This is so good!! Everyone at my house loved it!
Sara Welch
This is everything a gourmet sandwich should be, and then some! Looking forward to enjoying this for lunch today; looks too good to pass up!
Kerri
Ooh. This really sounds like it would hit the spot!
Jessica
I cannot wait to try this!
Suzy
My family is going to go crazy for these! So easy to make and so tasty!
gregory D mcpherson jr
you have to love the internet lol! I have a food truck and catering business and the critique I always get is not about the way it tastes but because it’s not how they do things or how they had it in the past. When you’re the chef then you get to try variations that you want to present. This recipe is fantastic! Thank you for sharing!
Ro
I just finished eating this delicious sandwich. I didn’t have the au Jus seasoning so I just thickened the broth mixture. I’ll definitely make this again. I hesitated if the Fried onions would make much of a difference inside the sandwich but I used them and am so glad I did. They lost their crunch but their flavor added a great onion note.