French Dip Sliders with Smoked Au Jus

These French Dip Sliders with smoked au jus using Tri Tip are my new favorite sandwich to make on the pellet grill!

frech dip slider made with smoked Tri Tip, provolone and cilantro on a slider roll

I love a good French dip sandwich but once you dunk the sandwich in the beef au jus they get soggy really fast.

Making French dip sliders is great because you can eat them quickly. 4-5 bites and they're gone.

I added cilantro to mine even though its not traditional at all but I wanted to add color and the earthy flavor of cilantro actually worked great.

smoked Tri Tip sliders served fresh dip style

What is a French Dip Sandwich?

French dip was created in California in the 1950s, the sandwich is also known as a beef dip because the entire sandwich was dunked in au jus.

Traditionally the sandwich was served with Swiss cheese sautéed onions and horseradish sauce.

Today you will find many variations of the sandwich including its close cousin of Chicago the "Italian Beef"

dipping French dip sliders in smoked au jus

How to make Smoked Au Jus

To give this classic French dip sandwich a smoky twist I decided to heat the au jus up in the smoker in a foil pan. This gave the beef a slightly smoky flavor that made this smoked au jus unique.

Here is what you'll need to make the smoked Au Jus

Carrots
Onions
Celery
Beef Broth
Italian Seasoning
Worcestershire Sauce

Add all ingredients to the pan and smoked the au jus alongside the Tri Tip.

Once the Tri Tip develops a crust I placed the Tri Tip on top of the veggies in the pan so the meat wouldn't be completely submerged

After the Tri Tip was cooked I strained the au jus through a strainer and set it aside while I sliced the beef.

two fresh dip sliders on a dark wood cutting board

Full Ingredient List

Smoked Tri Tip (cooked) See recipe link above to prepare beef
Texas Dry Rub
Provolone Cheese
Slider Rolls

Smoked Au Jus

Beef Broth
Worcestershire sauce
Carrots
Celery
Onions Quartered
Fresh Rosemary
Fresh Thyme

For exact amounts see the printable recipe card below

French Dip Slider Cooking Instructions

Place the carrots, onions, celery and herbs in a foil pan then pour over beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Smoked for 90 minutes alongside the beef.
Strain au jus through a fine mesh strainer and set aside while you slice the beef.
Assemble the sliders by cutting the rolls in half and topping with sliced tri tip, provolone and fresh cilantro (optional)
Serve with a side of Smoked Au Jus and dig in.

smoked Tri Tip sliders with cilantro and provolone

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the French dip sauce called?

The sauce served with French dip is called Au Jus which translates to mean with broth. Au Jus is made with beef stock, herbs, and vegetables cooked over a long period of time to concentrate the flavors.

What type of bread is fresh dip served with?

Traditionally french dip is served with a long crusty baguette. I used smaller yeast rolls to make this French dip slider version.

What type of cheese goes on a french dip?

The first French dip sandwiches were made with Swiss but provolone, mozzarella or any white melty cheese can be substituted.

What Temperature Should You Serve The Tri Tip?

For this recipe, I think that medium to medium rare the internal temp is 135-140 degrees f. However, this is obviously personal preference so feel free to serve the beef however you like.

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