What To Serve With French Dip Sandwiches

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Crunchy bread, mouthwateringly tender roast, melted swiss cheese. It doesn’t get better than a savory French dip sandwich with au jus sauce. But what to serve on the side?

A French dip sandwich may seem like a whole meal unto itself, but adding a side dish will round out the meal nicely, and balance out the flavors.

You can pair French dip sandwich with a number of side dishes. Greens, soup, and potatoes are some classic favorites, but you can spice it up a little too!

Contents

17 Side Dishes to Serve with French Dip Sandwiches

French dip sandwiches have a rich and full flavor, along with a soft and tender texture. To balance it out, it’s best to pair with sweet, sour, or spicy flavors and crisp, crunchy textures.

1. Dill Pickle

The ultimate partner to a sandwich. Dill pickles add a sour flavor to the meal, offsetting the rich and full flavor of the French dip sandwich.

The best dill pickles to use are whole dill pickles sliced into quarters. You can use dill chips, but they don’t have quite the same crunch.

2. Wedge Salad

If you’ve never heard of a wedge salad, don’t worry. It’s not the most common salad, but it pairs great with a French dip sandwich.

Use a quarter of iceberg lettuce and fill it with the dressing and toppings of your choice. Try blue cheese with bacon crumbles and diced tomatoes!

3. Caramelized Onions and Bell Peppers

Not necessarily aside, but more of an addition to your French dip sandwich meal. You can add these right to the top of your sandwich.

The caramelized onions add a nice sweet flavor, while the bell peppers give your sandwich a crunch. Pair them together or have them on the side.

4. Coleslaw

Coleslaw is made from cabbage so you know it’s going to have a crunch. If you have the right equipment, it doesn’t take long to make.

With just a few simple ingredients, you can easily add this savory side dish to your meal. It can also be made with broccoli stalks.

5. Brussels Sprouts

If you’re feeling a bit guilty at having a heavier, meatier meal, try adding a vegetable as your side dish. Brussels sprouts are a great choice.

You can cut them in half and toss them in garlic and salt and bake them. This gives them a crunchy outside and flavorful inside.

6. Soup

Usually, French dip sandwiches are served with Au Jus sauce. However, if you’re not a fan, or if you want to try something new, consider soup.

A creamy tomato soup will pair well. Bean soup is a flavorful choice. Or you can pair it with whatever soup you have in your cabinet.

7. Au Jus Sauce

Au Jus is usually a given with French dip sandwiches. It is a French term meaning “with juice.” This is the standard side of a French dip sandwich.

Au Jus is made from the juice secreted by the meat as it is cooked. Flour and broth are added, as well as salt and pepper for taste.

8. Potato Salad

Made from potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and mayonnaise, potato salad is an excellent side dish choice. It’s packed with flavorful taste, and everyone has their secret recipe.

Potato salad contrasts well with the toasted bread of the French dip sandwich. Although it’s not crunchy, potato salad has enough of a distinct flavor to pair well.

9. Chips

French dip sandwiches have a very full and meaty flavor. Salty and crunchy chips are the perfect side. You can use store-bought or make your own.

If you’re looking for a sweeter tasting option, try making homemade sweet potato chips. If you like a more traditional style, use russet potatoes and add salt to taste.

10. Fruit Salad

The heavy and full flavor of a French dip sandwich pairs well with lighter side dishes. Fruit salad is the perfect sweet-flavored side and can be made in several different ways.

Add your favorite fruits to a fruit salad and make it your own design! Fruit adds sweetness to the meal and satisfies the sweet tooth.

11. Onion Rings

Similar to chips, onion rings add a crunchy and salty taste to your French dip sandwich meal. Onion rings are made with yellow, sweet, or white onions.

For French dip sandwiches, try using sweet onions. The longer they cook, the sweeter they get, and the flavor will contrast well with your sandwich.

12. Green Pepper Tomato Salad

Green pepper and tomato salad are made with a cider vinegar dressing. This sour-flavored dressing goes great with French dip sandwiches and the vegetables are a lighter choice.

Although the name suggests green peppers and tomatoes only, you can also add celery and onions to really give this salad a variety of flavors.

13. Fries

Fries are made from russet potatoes but can also be made from sweet potatoes. You can dip your fries in the au jus sauce or try a sweet dip.

If you decide to make them from regular russet potatoes, consider using a sweeter dipping sauce. If you make sweet potatoes, you won’t need as sweet of a dipping sauce.

14. Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad is similar in texture to potato salad. It is made with elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar. It pairs well with sandwiches.

Since French dip sandwiches are heartier and meat-flavored, macaroni salad will contrast with its sweet/sour flavor. Just like potato salad, everyone has their favorite recipe.

15. Veggies with Dip

Vegetables are a lighter choice for a side dish and go great with French dip sandwiches. The vegetables you use are completely up to you.

Try using a dip that goes opposite to the au jus sauce such as mustard or ranch. Carrots and broccoli are just two of the possible choices.

16. Mac & Cheese

Mac and cheese is a classic side dish for many meals such as fried fish and burgers. But what about French dip sandwiches? Of course!

There’s already swiss or provolone cheese on French dip sandwiches, so switching it up with a nice sharp cheddar will be your best bet for mac and cheese.

17. Cucumber avocado salad

Looking for a healthier side to pair with your French dip sandwich? This cucumber and avocado salad is the perfect choice for a lighter side.

There are only a few ingredients, so this side is quick and easy in addition to being delicious. All you need is avocado, cucumbers, onion, lemon juice, and dill.

Wrap Up

Whether you’re looking for a lighter side such as a salad, or a more classic side dish such as fries or onion rings, we have plenty of ideas here.

Try one of your favorites, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try something new with your French dip sandwich. It never hurts to mix and match until you find the right fit.

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