These drippy, cheesy roast beef sliders with caramelized onions are the perfect appetizer for entertaining on game day, the holidays, or as an easy weeknight dinner! Made with layers of roast beef, a creamy garlic aioli spread, then brushed with a savory butter sauce that will blow your guests mind.
Love game day food as much as we do? Try my Atlanta style lemon pepper wet wings, amazing TikTok viral grinder sandwiches, or easy leftover brisket tacos with avocado crema!
Roast Beef and Cheese Has Never Looked So Good
Meet my French Dip Sandwiches in slider form!
I think everything is better in a mini version, but I may be biased since I'm 4'11.
These french dip sliders are one of my favorite recipes any time I'm heading to/hosting a party. They're packed full of flavor, between the hawaiian sweet rolls, the melty cheese and caramelized onions, and a mind blowing au jus sauce that you may just drink out the bowl.
I'm just saying...this recipe is that good.
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Jump to:
- Roast Beef and Cheese Has Never Looked So Good
- Why We Love This Roast Beef Sliders Recipe:
- Origins of Sliders
- What is au jus sauce?
- Everything You’ll Need to Make These Sliders
- Ingredients in Easy Roast Beef Sliders
- How to Make Roast Beef Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
- Variations
- Pro Tips
- Serve with
- Make-Ahead, Storage and Reheating
- FAQs
- More Tasty Sandwich Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
Why We Love This Roast Beef Sliders Recipe:
- Quick and Easy - this recipe comes together in just 35 minutes, with most of the time involving the baking of the french dip sliders.
- Kid Favorite - Kid sized and kid loved! If you have a gaggle of kids headed into your home, this will satisfy their after-school hunger.
- Perfect for Entertaining - game day, holidays, or hosting game night? A batch or two of roast beef sliders to go with your mugs of beer or cups of coquito!
- Full of Flavor - between the poppyseed-garlic-butter sauce, the au jus, and the caramelized onions over the roast beef, these sliders are a whole party in your mouth.
Origins of Sliders
The history of sliders as a food isn't as murky as many other foods' origins!
Everyone knows the U.S. is the capital nation of 'fast, greasy food', and the term 'sliders' actually comes from White Castle, the oldest fast food chain in the United States since 1921. They sold cheap burgers...and as their popularity grew the size of the burgers got smaller.
Eventually, in the 1940's, the sailors of the U.S. Navy would nickname these tiny, cheap burgers sliders because they were small and extremely greasy, so they'd slide right on down into your stomach.
The name has stuck, and it now refers to basically any tiny sandwich (usually a served in a multitude) and became really popular in the 2000's.
What is au jus sauce?
"Au jus" is a French term that translates to "with juice" or "with its own juice." In culinary terms, it refers to a flavorful sauce made from the natural juices of cooked meat, typically beef.
Because we aren't making our own roast beef in this recipe the au jus sauce is made with beef base, which is a deeply concentrated beef broth paste made with roasted beef and fat.
This base is what we're using to make an au jus dipping sauce full of flavor.
Everything You’ll Need to Make These Sliders
- Casserole dish or a rimmed baking sheet - I personally like the rimmed baking sheet more, since it's easier to slide off and put the beef sliders onto a serving tray but the rim ensures that garlicky butter sauce doesn't make a mess in your oven.
- A basting brush and a small whisk for that garlic butter!
- Aluminum foil - cover the rolls in foil if they get too brown too quickly, so they don't burn while the cheese melts.
- Serrated knife
Ingredients in Easy Roast Beef Sliders
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Roast Beef Slider Ingredients
- Mayo or Aioli - I really love the tang and creaminess of a homemade aioli on my sandwiches.
- Thinly sliced roast beef - You can use deli roast beef slices or make tender roast beef perfect for sandwiches right at home. (Or if you have leftover roast beef ...definitely use it!)
- Slider buns - use what you like! I am quite partial to sweet hawaiian rolls for most sliders. I've found that dinner rolls work perfectly here, too. You will be using the entire package of rolls per batch!
- Slices of melty cheese - Use a creamy, melty cheese like provolone, muenster, or havarti, then top with shredded mozzarella for a seriously melty cheese pull!
- Caramelized onions - optional...but why would you want to skimp out on flavor, honey?? If you're making these beef sliders ahead of time, I insist you make them! Get the instructions on how to make easy caramelized onions here.
Suped-Up Butter Sauce
This garlic butter sauce is basically identical to the one I made for my hot ham and cheese sliders. Full of flavor, easy to make, and adds some texture with the poppy and sesame seeds and minced onion!
- Poppy seeds and sesame seeds - these provide a little earthy, nutty flavor and crunch on our sliders. And the little crackle of poppy seeds? Talking texture, honey!
- Melted Butter.
- Garlic powder and dried, minced onion or onion powder - these aromatics are important! Must haves for this sauce.
All you need to do is melt the butter down with all the ingredients in a small bowl to really infuse the butter mixture with all that flavor and whisk to mix it together.
Beefy Homemade Au Jus
- Better than Bouillon Beef Base - I really like the hearty beefy flavor that this has over any other store-bought beef stock or broth. And you can really concentrate it as much as you want by adding more of it.
- Beef fat or butter - Au jus classically uses beef drippings (the fat or tallow) so it's a perfect use here if you have any.
- Worcestershire sauce - this gives our au jus dipping sauce some oomph, some extra deep umami flavor.
How to Make Roast Beef Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Step 1 | Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the hawaiian rolls in half lengthwise and place the bottom buns on your baking sheet and in the oven with a thin layer of butter, then spread that tasty aioli over the bottom buns once they're toasted.
Step 2 | Layer the roast beef slices onto the bottom half of your buns. I put about 2-3 layers so there's plenty of meat on each slider.
Step 3 | Place the slices of cheese on top of the roast beef and generously sprinkle on some shredded mozzarella.
Step 4 | Cover the cheese with a nice thin layer of caramelized onions.
Step 5 | Place the top of the rolls onto the sliders and then generously brush the buttery sauce onto the top of the sliders.
Step 6 | Bake the sliders in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the tops of the buns are golden brown. Separate the sliders and serve them hot!
How to Make the Au Jus Sauce for Roast Beef Sliders
Step 1 | melt the butter down in a medium saucepan.
Step 2 | add in all of the other jus ingredients and reduce by half, about 15-20 minutes. The jus will become a darker brown and will thicken slightly as it cools.
Variations
- For those who enjoy a bit of heat and a whole lot of flavor, slather on some creamy horseradish sauce. This spicy condiment pairs wonderfully with roast beef, cutting through the richness and adding a delightful tang.
- Give them an umami boost by sautéing some button mushrooms until golden brown and aromatic. Pile those earthy morsels atop your roast beef and let the flavors meld together in all its deliciousness.
- Give your sliders a Mediterranean twist by spreading some tzatziki sauce on the buns. Top your roast beef with crumbled feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, and a sprinkle of fresh dill. This refreshing combination will transport your taste buds straight to the sunny shores of Greece.
- If you're a heat seeker, drizzle on some fiery sriracha sauce. The combination of roast beef and the fiery kick of sriracha will give your sliders even more flavor!
- Condiments - the best condiments are ones that bring another level of flavor. Swap out our garlic aioli with a spicy horseradish mayo or bright and earthy dijon mustard.
- This recipe works with all types of rolls! Those tasty Hawaiian rolls, salty pretzel buns, or even go gluten-free if you need it.
Pro Tips
- Make the caramelized onions up to two days ahead of time for fast and easy preparation.
- Toast the insides of your bread after you slice them in half. It makes the buns much more sturdy so they don't end up all soggy.
- If you notice the buns getting too brown too quickly, cover the sliders with aluminum foil and bake until the cheese is melted.
- Double up this recipe if you're serving a large crowd! It is a super popular appetizer that will be gone with a quickness!
- After roasting your beef to perfection, let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring each bite is moist and flavorful. Slice the beef thinly against the grain for tender and easy-to-eat sliders.
- Grab some disposable cups to pour the au jus into for your party if it's not just a fun family appetizer. Everyone gets their own little dipping container!
Serve with
These sliders aren't just game day food. I consider them a go-to any time you are entertaining: so a cookout/barbeque, a holiday party, or when you've got some hungry neighborhood kids running around!
- Make these sliders with crispy french fries! This is especially good for the littles, who doesn't love fries? They don't have to be homemade, but I do have a fantastic french fries recipe!
- Serve with some classic cookout dishes like baked beans, potato salad, creamy mac and cheese, grilled corn, and with a simple summery caprese salad.
- Have them as a part of your game day snacks! Make a platter with some garlic parm wings, chunky guacamole, and some salty soft pretzel bites with creamy cheese dip and you have a seriously amazing platter on your hands!
Make-Ahead, Storage and Reheating
Make Ahead: Build the sliders up to two days ahead of time on a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish without the caramelized onions or garlic butter. Before serving, make the garlic butter and top the sliders with the onions and bake as directed.
Storing: Keep your leftover French Dip sliders in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions: Reheat the leftovers in the oven at 375ºF for about 10 minutes so they don't get soggy!
FAQs
These sliders are freezer friendly! Make a batch or two without the garlic butter and freeze on a baking tray before putting into a freezer-safe bag and keeping in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Thaw in the fridge, slather in garlic butter sauce, and pop into the oven at 325ºF for about 20-25 minutes or until the sliders are completely heated, the cheese is melted, and the tops are golden brown.
Toast the buns before piling on the meat and cheese. It'll create a sturdier structure for the toppings!
I used angus roast beef from my store's deli. If your local grocery store has a deli, get your roast beef thinly sliced from there
Any cheese that is really melty and isn't too sharp. Provolone, mozzarella, muenster, havarti, and mild cheddar all work in a roast beef slider.
Build the sliders up to two days ahead of time on a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish without the caramelized onions or garlic butter. Before serving, make the garlic butter and top the sliders with the onions and bake as directed.
More Tasty Sandwich Recipes
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📖 Recipe
Roast Beef Sliders
These drippy, cheesy roast beef sliders are the perfect appetizer for entertaining! Made with layers of roast beef, a creamy garlic aioli spread, then brushed with a flavor-packed butter sauce and baked to golden brown perfection. All served with a rich au jus that will blow your guests mind.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup homemade garlic aioli or mayonnaise
- 2 cups caramelized onions, optional
Garlic Butter Sauce
- 6 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon dried minced onion
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Roast Beef Sliders
- 12 slider buns, sliced in half
- ½ pound deli roast beef, thinly sliced
- 12 slices cheese, like Provolone, Swiss, Muenster, etc.
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Au Jus Sauce
- ½ cup (8 tbsp) butter
- 1 tablespoon Better than Bouillon Beef Base
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ºF (180ºC or Gas 5).
Make the Garlic Butter Sauce
- Whisk together the butter, worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, white sesame seeds, garlic powder, minced onion, and salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Set aside for later.
Make the Sliders
- Place the bottom halves of the slider buns onto your baking dish or rimmed baking sheet. Toast the buns for 2-3 minutes in the preheated oven and remove.
- Spread the aioli or mayonnaise over the bottom halves of the buns, then layer with the roast beef, slices of cheese, shredded mozzarella, and caramelized onions, if using.
- Top with the top halves of the slider buns, then use a pastry brush or silicone brush to slather the melted garlic butter sauce on top of the buns. Don't be stingy!
- Put the roast beef sliders into the preheated oven and bake for up to 15 minutes, until the tops are golden brown and the cheese is nice and melty.
- Cut between each slider with a serving spatula and serve with the rich, beefy au jus.
Make the Beef Au Jus
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Whisk in the beef broth, beef base, and worcestershire sauce until well combined.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for about 15-20 minutes until the au jus reduces by half.
- Pour into a heat-safe bowl for dipping.
Notes
Get the recipe for caramelized onions here!
Get the recipe for the garlic aioli here
Make Ahead: Build the sliders up to two days ahead of time on a rimmed baking sheet or baking dish without the caramelized onions or garlic butter.
Before serving, make the garlic butter and top the sliders with the onions and bake as directed.
Storing: Keep your leftover French Dip sliders in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions: Reheat the leftovers in the oven at 375ºF for about 10 minutes so they don't get soggy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 419Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 1031mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 19g
All nutrition facts are estimations. Please see a physician for any health-related inquiries.
Eden Westbrook is the recipe developer, writer, and photographer behind Sweet Tea and Thyme. A classically trained chef, Eden has inspired home cooks into the kitchen with cultural comfort foods, easy family-friendly eats and sweets, and glorious spreads for date night and entertaining since 2015.
Sam says
I don't see where the measurements for the homemade garlic aloi is in your recipe? Is it somewhere else ?
Hi Sam!
I've added a link to the notes section for the aioli recipe. It's really simple but I didn't want to make this recipe too long for an optional topping. Hope you enjoy this recipe! xo, Eden.