Learn how to make the best homemade Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich recipe!
This classic American Prime Rib Dip is one of our family’s favourite sandwich recipes.
This quick & easy Prime Rib stuffed sandwich is ready to serve in just minutes when using leftover roast beef sitting in your fridge.
You’ll love feasting on our flavourful Prime Rib French Dip recipe featuring hoagie bread rolls, thinly sliced roast beef, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, horseradish cream and beef jus gravy.
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What Is A French Dip Sandwich?
A French Dip Sandwich, also known as a beef dip, is a hot sandwich consisting of thinly sliced roast beef on a French roll or baguette.
It is usually served plain but a variation is to top with Swiss cheese, onions, and a dipping container of beef broth produced from the cooking process. Beef stock, a light beef gravy, or beef consommé is sometimes substituted.
The sandwich is an American invention, with the name seeming to refer to the style of bread, rather than any French origin. Although the sandwich is most commonly served with a cup of beef jus or broth on the side of the plate, into which the sandwich is dipped as it is eaten, this is not how the sandwich was served when it was invented.
Two restaurants in Los Angeles have claimed to be the birthplace of the French dip sandwich: Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet and Philippe the Original.
Philippe’s website describes the dish as a “specialty of the house”, and the words “Home of the Original French Dip Sandwich” are present in the restaurant’s logo. At Phillippe’s, the roll is dipped in the hot beef juices before the sandwich is assembled, and is served wet, while at Cole’s it is served with a side of beef juices. The sandwich can also be requested double dipped, where both halves of the sandwich are dipped before serving, at either establishment. Both restaurants feature their own brand of spicy mustard that is traditionally used by patrons to complement the sandwich.
The controversy over who originated the sandwich remains unresolved.
The story of the sandwiches invention by Philippe’s has several variants: some sources say that it was first created by a cook or a server who, while preparing a sandwich for a police officer or fireman, accidentally dropped it into a pan of meat drippings. The patron liked it, and the dish surged in popularity shortly after its invention. Other accounts say that a customer who didn’t want some meat drippings to go to waste requested his sandwich be dipped in them. Still others say that a chef dipped a sandwich into a pan of meat drippings after a customer complained that the bread was stale.
Cole’s account states that the sandwich was invented by a sympathetic chef, Jack Garlinghouse, for a customer who was complaining of sore gums. Some accounts tell Philippe’s version of events, but assign the location to Cole’s.
Best Beef Cut for French Dip Sandwich
The classic French Dip sandwich is traditionally filled with sliced roast beef.
OurPrime Rib French Dip recipe features high quality sliced beef taken from a slowly roasted prime rib cut.
Prime rib is a beef cut from the export rib, so describes where on the animal the meat is butchered.
When cooked in an oven, prime beef transforms into roast beef. It is a tender, special cut of meat, which explains why it is expensive.
Roast beef can be prepared using different types of beef cuts depending on your budget: brisket, chuck, bottom round, ribeye etc…
Our homemadePrime Rib Dip recipe features one of the highest quality cuts of beef, making this sandwich a perfect dish to serve at a special celebration like a birthday party or Father’s Day.
Travel to America by Eating A Prime Rib Dip at Home
I love traveling to America!
As a professional food and travel journalist I’ve had the opportunity to eat my way through award winning restaurants and historic markets across the US.
I’ve forked my way through memorable meals in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and District of Columbia.
What I love most about traveling throughout America is the opportunity to sample unique dishes in each region and city. The Soul Food dishes in New Orleans and Savannah are unique to what you might find on restaurant menus in Portland, Chicago, Denver, Honolulu or Detroit.
Looking to embark on a Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich pilgrimage? You’ll likely want to road trip to Los Angeles to enjoy original recipes byCole’s Pacific Electric Buffet and Philippe the Original.
Thankfully the Prime Rib Dip is such a popular recipe now you can likely order it at delis, casual family restaurants and sandwich shops in every state.
Once back home from an American road trip you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the iconic roast beef sandwich and can impress friends and family by making our easy Prime Rib Dip recipe.
Where To Eat APrime Rib French Dip
If you live in a large city in Canada or America you’ll likely have access to a local restaurant that serves mouth-watering Prime Rib French Dip.
Prime Rib Dip Sandwiches are typically served at diners, pubs, steakhouses and casual family restaurants.
In Toronto you may find these fancy roast beef sandwiches at restaurants like Hot Dip Toronto, The Keg Steakhouse, Joey, The Lakeview, Frans, Brock Sandwich, and Le Gourmand.
My Family LovesPrime Rib French Dip
When I visit my family in Oakville and Muskoka we tend to prepare a roast beef for a celebration at least once a year.
I developed this recipe after I discovered my mother had purchased a massive Prime Rib, which I spotting taking up half of the fridge.
My mother was intending on making a classic Prime Rib Roast served with Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and steamed green beans. I coaxed her into the idea of switching things up and using the high quality meat to make a finger-licking-good Prime Rib French Dip recipe.
We roasted the Prime Rib in the oven during the afternoon until medium rare and tented it with tin foil until at room temperature. As the dinner hour was approaching I thinly sliced the beef and, toasted the hoagie bread rolls and prepared a sandwich assembly station.
While this recipe strays from the traditional and original Prime Rib French Dip developed in LA, it’s over the top fixings make it a real crowd pleaser.
We toast the buns topped with slices of Swiss cheese so the fromage melts all over the bun. We then schmere this side of the bread roll with homemade horseradish cream and sweet caramelized onions.
The sandwich is stuffed with plenty of succulent prime rib beef before being smushed together into a sandwich and served alongside jus or beef gravy for dipping.
While we prepared roast beef specifically for these sandwiches, this recipe is perfect for those who have leftover Prime Rib sitting in the fridge after a holiday feast like Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Prime Rib Dip Sandwich Health Benefits
Our homemade Prime Rib Dip recipe is packed full of wholesome ingredients!
Onions are a humble vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Regular consumption of onions can help boost digestive health and reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
Beef is a great source of protein and minerals like iron as well as an excellent source of the amino acid L-carnitine. Beef also features antioxidant glutathione known for its anti-aging benefits.
Consuming dairy products (such as milk and cheese) provides health benefits — especially improved bone health. Dairy foods provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body. These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.
A rich source of phytochemicals and vitamin C, lemons help boost your immune system and neutralize free radicals that cause disease and skin aging. Lemons also protect against heart disease and help improve blood flow to the brain.
Whole wheat flour is rich in vitamins B-1, B-3, and B-5, along with riboflavin and folate. It also has more iron, calcium, protein, and other nutrients than white flour.
Cooking Tips
This yummy Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich is quick and easy to make at home. We’ve included a few tips for first time sandwich makers!
- We prepared this sandwich by roasting prime rib in the oven. If you’re looking to make a quick and easy Prime Rib Dip feel free to purchase cooked Prime Rib from your local butcher or grocery store.
- This recipe is our favourite way to use up leftover Prime Rib from a special holiday feast. If you roast beef for Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas plan to prepare these yum sandwiches the next day for lunch or dinner.
- We’ve used a crunchy and soft hoagie bread roll for this recipe but you could also use a baguette.
- We always have homemade caramelized onions in the fridge but you could purchase a jar from your local gourmet supermarket.
- We’ve used Heluva Good Dip to moisten the bread and add a creamy flavour but you can substitue it for sour cream or leave it out entirely.
- If you’re roasting your own beef use the leftover juices to prepare a jus or beef gravy. You can also purchase these at your grocery store or butcher.
What To Serve with Prime Rib Dip
We love serving this homemade Prime Rib French Dip recipe with crunchy pickles and a fresh salad.
Hosting a special celebration, dinner party or potluck for a crowd? Pair this sandwich with some of our favourite side dishes such as Jalapeno Poppers, Mexican Queso, Onion Rings, Nachos and Sweet Potato Fries.
For a healthier dinner option we suggest pairing sandwiches with fresh salads like Egyptian Salad Salata Baladi, Vegetarian Roasted Pumpkin Feta Salad with Beetroot & Pine Nuts, Roasted Beetroot Salad with Grapefruit, Canadian Salad, Garlic Lemon Chickpea Avocado Salad and Cherry Pecan Kale Salad.
After dinner why not dazzle your guests with one of our popular desserts such as Oat Flour Cookies with Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate Lindt Lindor Cookies, Maraschino Cherry Cupcakes Recipe, Cinnamon Babka For Chocolate Lovers, Turmeric Pumpkin Spice Indian Cake, Jordgubbstårta Gluten Free Swedish Strawberry Meringue Cake, Rhubarb Strawberry Dutch Baby German Pancakes, Flaky Swedish Rhubarb Cherry Pie or Creamy Lemon Angel Pie.
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How To Make a Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich
Prime Rib French Dip Sandwich
Equipment
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- Bread Knife
- French knife
- mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
Prime Rib Sandwich
Horseradish Sauce
- 1 tbsp Horseradish
- 1/4 cup Mayo
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
- For the horseradish mayo, combine mayonnaise, horseradish, and lemon juice into a bowl and combine. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a large skillet. Add sliced onions and stir into the butter. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until onions turn golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add honey, Worcestershire sauce and beef stock, stirring for an additional 3 minutes. Keep warm on low heat.
- Reheat au jus or beef gravy over medium heat until warm. Set aside.
- Turn your ovens broiler to high. Slice the rolls open and add the cheese. Place under broiler on middle rack and remove when cheese melts, about 3 minutes.
- On the top side of each bun slather horseradish mayo and add a spoonful of caramelized onions. On the bottom side, spread French Onion Sour Cream Dip. Split 1/4 of thinly sliced beef between the top and bottom of each hoagie bun.
- Press the top and bottom buns of each sandwich together. Serve immediately with warm bowl of au jus or gravy. Serve with dill pickles, potato chips, french fries or tater tots.
Nutrition
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