Here’s an easy French Dip Sandwich on the pellet grill recipe! The eye of the round roast is smoked over pecan wood pellets next to a beef broth and onions until it’s ready to melt in your mouth. The meat is served on a roll and dipped in the au jus to make a great sandwich!
What’s the Difference Between French Dip and Beef Dip?
A French Dip is made with thinly sliced beef or roasted prime rib braised with an au jus for dipping. Italian Beef Dip Sandwich is made with roast beef braised with Italian seasonings and giardiniera (a combination of pickled peppers, onions, and cauliflower). This gives the Italian Beef Dip a distinct tang that the French Dip doesn’t have.
What is the Best Meat for French Dip Sandwiches?
Any tender beef will work. You can use a slow-cooked roast beef, prime rib, or any other beef that you can thinly slice and serve in a roll to dip in au jus.
What is a French Dip Sandwich Made of?
Beef. The classic French Dip Sandwich is served hot with many tender, thin slices of beef layered on a long French roll. The French Dip usually includes melted cheese, which is then dipped in a flavorful sauce made from the pan juices called “au jus,” which is French for “with juice” or “with broth.”
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What is Au Jus Made of?
Au jus, French, meaning “with juice,” is made from the juices from your meat during cooking. This au jus is different than beef broth since the beef broth is made from simmering beef shanks in water and with added herbs and seasonings to create a flavorful liquid.
Why Is It Called a French Dip Sandwich?
The origin can be possibly traced back to 1918 to the founder of the former restaurant, Philippe Mathieu. It’s believed that he accidentally dropped the French roll into a juice-filled pan, and the customer wanted to eat the “dipped” sandwich anyway.
Is Italian beef and French Dip the same?
Both are very similar sandwiches. The French Dip is served with jus, while the Italian Beef comes with gravy. Both refer to basically the same thing; a sandwich dipped in liquid.
Can I Use Beef Broth Instead of Au Jus?
Since au jus means “with juices,” it can mean dipping your sandwich into any liquid. Beef broth is a liquid that has had beef and additional seasonings simmered in it to be used as a sandwich dip. However, there are various au jus recipes to try, and I find the best will utilize juices from the meat you cooked.
Are Au Jus and Brown Gravy the Same?
Is brown gravy similar to au jus? Au jus and brown gravy are alike but not quite identical. Both may use pan drippings from the roast, but au jus is a light, thinner sauce, while the gravy is thickened using a roux.
Are French Dips French?
Even though the French Dip sandwich is not French, the inventor, Philippe Mathieu, was. As the store goes, over a hundred years ago, in 1918, Philippe owned a sandwich shop called Philippe the Original in Los Angeles. It is considered one of Los Angeles’ oldest restaurants still in business today.
What Goes Good with French Dips?
There’s an endless array of options to serve with your French Dip Sandwich. Here are some of the most popular:
Sweet Potato Fries.
Seasoned French Fries.
Caramelized Onions.
Potato Chips.
Onion Rings.
Coleslaw.
Soup.
Roasted Veggies.
Salad.
What is the Difference Between Beef Bouillon and Au Jus?
The difference between what you think of as an au jus and beef broth is that the au jus is made from the drippings of the meat being cooked. Beef broth is sometimes added to the au jus.
What is Au Jus Used For?
Au jus is essentially a thin gravy, so you can use it in the same ways you’d use other gravies. It works well serving with a rib roast, roasted chicken, over beef and noodles, or as a dip for beef sandwiches.
Can I Thicken Au Jus to Make Gravy?
Even though au jus isn’t intended to be a gravy, you can thicken the sauce. Try this by melting 1 tablespoon of butter, adding 1 tablespoon of flour and whisking together. Then, add about 2 tablespoons of the prepared au jus sauce to the butter-flour mixture. This mixture can be added to your au jus to thicken to your desired consistency.
Will Cornstarch Thicken Au Jus?
Yes, cornstarch will thicken au jus. To do this, combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 to 4 tablespoons of cold water. Mix or shake until smooth and then stir into the simmering liquid until sauce simmers, thickens, clears, and reaches a full boil.
How to Make a French Dip Sandwich on the Pellet Grill
Step One – Roast Prep / Preheat Smoker
Preheat your smoker to 275⁰F. Use pecan wood or your preferred blend. Rub olive oil all over the roast to coat it. Then sprinkle a generous amount of your preferred beef seasoning and rub it all around the meat . Allow the roast to sit out on the counter for about 30 minutes while the smoker comes up to temperature.
Step Two – Prepare the Au Jus
Begin by thinly slicing an onion and then adding it into a half-size aluminum pan. Toss the onion with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set the pan aside until you’re ready to smoke the roast. In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, mix 8 oz. Johnny’s French Dip Au Jus with 2 cups of water. Set this mixture aside until it’s needed in a future step.
Step Three – Begin Smoking
Place the roast and the pan with the sliced onions directly onto the rack. Close the lid and wait 20 minutes.
Step Four – Add Sauce Mixture / Flip the Roast
After 20 minutes of smoking, open the lid and pour the Johnny’s French Dip and water mixture into the pan with the onions. Give them a stir to ensure they aren’t clumped together. Place a lid oover pan or cover it with tin foil. Flip the Eye of Round roast and insert a probe thermometer into the center of the thickest part. If you have the ability to set an alarm, set it for 130⁰F. This should get the meat to medium-rare. If you prefer the beef to be more cooked, use the following chart for guidance. It should take about 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes after flipping the meat to reach your desired doneness.
Step Five – Remove Roast
Once the roast reaches your desired temperature, remove it from the pellet grill or smoker and place it on a cutting board or plate. Loosely cover with foil. Let the meat rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Keep the pan with the onions and liquid in the smoker until you are ready to use it.
Step Six – Carve Meat
Remove the pan from the smoker, take off the lid, and set aside on your counter. Slice the roast across the grain in slices that are as thin as possible. Place the sliced meat into the pan of hot liquid.
Step Seven – Build Sandwich
Place as much or as little of the meat from the hot Jus onto a French roll along with sliced provolone cheese and some of the onions from the pan. Using a toasted bun is preferred. You can also drizzle some Horseradish Sauce onto the meat. Pour some Au Jus Into a small bowl or ramekin for dipping.
French Dip Sandwich
Equipment
- Pellet grill or smoker
- Probe thermometer
- Aluminum pan
Ingredients
Meat
- 4 lb. Eye of the Round choice grade
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp beef rub
Wood
- pecan wood pellets
Au Jus
- 8 oz Johnny’s French Dip Au Jus
- 2 cups water
- 1 Vidalia sweet onion sliced
- 2 tsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Sandwich
- 8 French rolls
- 16 slices provolone cheese
Instructions
Part 1 – Roast Prep / Preheat Smoker
- Coat the roast with a little olive oil and season with a good amount of beef rub.
- Allow the roast to sit out on the counter for about 30 minutes while the smoker comes up to temperature.
- Preheat your smoker to 275⁰F. Use pecan wood or your preferred blend.
Part 2 – Prep Au Jus
- Thinly slice the onion before adding them into a half-size aluminum pan. Toss the onion with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside until ready to smoke the roast.
- In a bowl or large measuring cup, mix 8 oz. Johnny’s French Dip Au Jus with 2 cups of water. Set aside until needed.
Part 3 – Begin Smoking
- Place the roast and the pan directly onto the rack.
Part 4 – Add Sauce Mixture / Flip the Roast
- After 20 minutes of smoking, pour the Johnny’s French Dip and water mixture into the pan with the onions. Place a lid on the pan or cover with tin foil.
- Flip the Eye of Round roast and insert a probe thermometer into the center. Set the alarm for 130⁰F which should get it to medium-rare. It should take about 1 hour 15 minutes after flipping the meat to reach your desired doneness.
Part 5 – Remove Roast
- Once the roast reaches the desired temperature remove it from the smoker and loosely cover with foil.
- Let the meat rest for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
- Keep the pan with the onions and liquid in the smoker until ready to use it.
Part 6 – Carve Meat
- Remove the pan from the smoker and set aside on your counter.
- Slice the roast across the grain as thin as possible.
- Place the sliced meat into the pan of liquid.
Part 7 – Build Sandwich
- Place as much or as little meat from the hot Jus onto a French roll along with sliced provolone cheese and some of the onions from the Au Jus. You can also drizzle some Horseradish Sauce onto the meat.
- Pour some Au Jus Into a small bowl or ramekin for dipping.
Nutrition
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your favorite Smoking Food Board!!
If you’re looking for more delicious recipes, check out our 9 Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipes or learn How to Smoke Tri Tip in a Pellet Grill.
Major credit goes to How To BBQ Right for this easy to follow recipe. I adapted it for the pellet grill but the recipe is his! Watch the full video below.