Easy French Dip Sliders — (Hawaiian Rolls, Caramelized Onions)

Name: French Dip Sliders
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 3 Tablespoons Butter; 1 medium Onion (thinly sliced); 1/2 teaspoon Salt; 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper; 12 Hawaiian Rolls; 14 oz thin sliced Deli Roast Beef; 8 oz Slices Provolone Cheese; 1/2 cup Melted Butter; 2 Tablespoons Dried Onion Soup Mix; 1 package au jus gravy mix; 3 cups Water; Chopped Fresh Parsley (optional)

These French Dip Sliders are layered with thinly sliced roast beef, melted provolone, and caramelized onions on Hawaiian rolls. They are brushed with a buttery onion sauce, baked until golden, and served with rich au jus for just $5.32 per serving.

French Dip Sliders stacked on a white plate.

These are the sliders my family requests for every game day and party. Sweet Hawaiian rolls, savory roast beef, melted provolone, caramelized onions, and rich au jus make them hard to resist. With 8 kids, finding an appetizer everyone loves is not always easy, but these French Dip Sliders never disappoint.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe!

Carrie, the owner, with long dark hair, wearing earrings and a burgundy top, smiles at the camera in front of a textured, beige background.

Budget Friendly — $21.27 total for a pan of 12 sliders that feeds a crowd
The caramelized onions are what make these taste like a real French dip sandwich instead of just a basic roast beef slider
The au jus dipping sauce turns every bite into a complete restaurant-quality experience
Hawaiian rolls add a subtle sweetness that pairs beautifully with the savory roast beef and provolone
Make ahead friendly

After 14 years of developing recipes I know that the party appetizers worth making every time are always the ones that look impressive and taste incredible without requiring hours of effort — and these French dip sliders deliver every single time.

If you love easy slider recipes like this one you will also love our Ham and Cheese Sliders, Crack Chicken Sliders, and Smash Burger Sliders. They are all budget-friendly, made with simple ingredients, and the kind of crowd-pleasing appetizers your family will request at every gathering all year long.

Ingredients

Butter — for caramelizing the onions. Adds richness and helps the onions develop that golden color and sweet savory flavor
Medium onion, thinly sliced — the most important ingredient in this recipe after the roast beef. Slice as thin as possible so the onions cook down completely into silky golden strands during the caramelizing step
Salt and black pepper — essential seasoning for the onions. Season right after adding to the pan so they release their moisture faster
Hawaiian rolls — the sweet soft base that gives these sliders their signature sweet and savory flavor combination. Keep them connected as a sheet and slice through the entire batch at once with a serrated knife. Any slider rolls work as a substitute
Thin sliced deli roast beef — the star protein. Buy the thinnest slices available at the deli counter for the most tender bite. Leftover shredded roast beef also works beautifully
Provolone cheese slices — melts beautifully and has a mild buttery flavor that pairs perfectly with the roast beef. Layer on both the bottom and top of the roast beef for melted cheese in every single bite. Swiss cheese or American cheese work as substitutes

For the Topping:

Melted butter — brushed generously over the tops of the rolls before baking for a golden glossy finish
Dried onion soup mix — stirred into the melted butter for a bold savory onion flavor that soaks into the rolls as they bake. This is the topping that makes these taste so incredibly good

For Serving:

Au jus gravy mix — prepared according to package directions for dipping. The warm rich dipping sauce is what makes these French dip sliders rather than just regular roast beef sliders. Do not skip it
Water — for preparing the au jus according to package directions
Fresh parsley, chopped — optional garnish that adds color and a fresh herby brightness right before serving

Carrie’s Tip: Do not rush the caramelized onions — cook them low and slow for the full 10–15 minutes until they are soft golden and slightly sweet. Properly caramelized onions have a deep savory sweetness that raw or lightly cooked onions simply cannot replicate and they are what make these taste like a real restaurant French dip rather than just a basic roast beef slider.

How to Make French Dip Sliders

Step 1 – Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add in the sliced onions and sauté for 10-15 minutes until the onions are soft and slightly browned. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.

Topping the buns with sliced provolone cheese.

Step 2 – Slice the buns in half lengthwise with a serrated knife to make sandwiches. Remove top and set aside. Place the bottom half of the rolls into the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the sliced cheese.

Topping the bottom buns with roast beef.

Step 3 – Layer the roast beef on top of the cheese.

Topping the roast beef with the cooked onions.

Step 4 – Then layer the caramelized onions on top.

Step 5 – Top with the remaining cheese slices.

Pouring the butter mixture over the top of the sliders on the baking sheet.

Step 6 – Place the tops of the rolls onto the sandwiches. Stir together the melted butter and dried onion soup mix. Brush this butter mixture on top of the rolls. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and cook for 5 more minutes to brown the top of the rolls slightly.

Dipping the sliders in the au jus sauce.

Tips for Success

Caramelize the onions properly. Low and slow is the only way to get true caramelized onions — 10 to 15 minutes over medium heat with occasional stirring. Rushing this step on high heat gives you cooked onions not caramelized ones
Slice the rolls as a connected sheet. Keep the rolls attached and slice through the entire batch at once with a serrated knife — this gives you uniform sliders and keeps everything together during baking
Layer cheese on both sides. Placing cheese on both the bottom layer and the top layer means melted cheese throughout every single bite — not just in the middle
Brush the butter generously. Do not be shy with the onion butter topping — a generous coating soaks into the rolls and gives you that incredible golden flavor in every bite
Cover then uncover. Tent the foil so it doesn’t touch the tops of the rolls — this lets the cheese melt without burning while preventing the rolls from sticking to the foil. Uncovering for the last 5 minutes gives you that lightly crispy golden finish.
Serve immediately. These sliders are at their absolute best straight from the oven while the cheese is melted and the rolls are still warm and slightly crispy

Make Ahead Instructions

These sliders are perfect for making ahead — here is how:

Night before — assemble the sliders completely through the layering step (before adding the butter topping). Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. When ready to bake, brush with the onion butter topping and bake as directed, adding 5-10 extra minutes since they will be cold from the refrigerator.

Same day — assemble up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerate. Brush with the butter topping right before baking.

Au jus — prepare the au jus up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate. Reheat in a small saucepan over medium-low heat before serving.

Variations and Substitutions

Swap provolone for Swiss cheese for a more classic French dip flavor or American cheese for an extra melty result
Use leftover shredded pot roast instead of deli roast beef for an even richer more flavorful filling
Add horseradish sauce to the bottom rolls before layering the beef for a bold spicy kick
Add thinly sliced mushrooms to the caramelized onion step for a mushroom and Swiss inspired variation
Season the butter topping with garlic powder onion powder or everything bagel seasoning instead of the soup mix
Use brioche rolls or dinner rolls instead of Hawaiian rolls for a less sweet more savory result

What to Serve with Sliders

We love to serve the rolls topped with fresh parsley and the au jus sauce for dipping. We normally serve these melty provolone sliders as an appetizer, but you can easily make as a weeknight meal.

Add one of these side dishes to complete your meal.

Storage and Freezer Instructions

Refrigerator

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Store the au jus separately in a sealed container and reheat on the stovetop before serving

Freezer

Freeze assembled unbaked sliders tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and foil for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed adding 10 extra minutes

Reheating

Reheat in a 350°F oven covered with foil for 10–12 minutes until warmed through — air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes also gives excellent results with a slightly crispy top. Avoid the microwave as it makes the rolls soft and soggy

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make French dip sliders ahead of time?

Yes — assemble completely the night before, cover and refrigerate, then brush with the butter topping right before baking and add 5–10 extra minutes to the bake time.

What cheese works best for French dip sliders?

Provolone is our top choice for its mild buttery flavor and beautiful melt — Swiss cheese gives a more classic French dip flavor and American cheese gives the meltiest result.

Can I use leftover roast beef instead of deli meat?

Yes — leftover shredded pot roast or sliced roast beef works beautifully and gives an even richer more flavorful filling than deli meat.

How do I keep the sliders from getting soggy?

Serve immediately after baking — the butter topping soaks into the rolls as they sit so sliders left out for too long will soften. If making ahead wait to brush the butter topping until right before baking.

Do I have to use Hawaiian rolls?

No — any slider rolls or dinner rolls work well. Hawaiian rolls give a distinctive sweet and savory flavor combination but brioche rolls or plain dinner rolls give a more traditional savory result.