Foil Pack French Dip Sandwiches

Why You’ll Love These

Simple:  The fact you only need five ingredients to make this French dip sandwich recipe probably already tells you how easy it is. This recipe is straightforward to prepare, even if you haven’t made this particular type of sandwich before.
Tasty: The combination of roast beef and provolone cheese is a classic one and the au jus or onion soup mix makes the perfect dipping sauce for these campfire sandwiches!
Camp-tastic: Camping doesn’t mean you’re limited to trail mix and canned food. These French dip sandwiches are perfect for cooking outdoors. Just make sure you have everything you need for a campfire and plenty of good quality aluminum foil.

Foil Pack French Dip Sandwiches Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

Hoagie rolls: Also known as hero rolls, hoagies are the perfect type of bun to hold your roast beef and provolone cheese, but you can use something similar instead if you prefer.
Butter: Melted butter is brushed on to the sandwiches for flavor. You can use salted or unsalted, or a butter alternative, or even swap it for an olive muffaletta spread!
Onion soup mix: To make the dip. Sub au jus if you prefer or any other dry mix.
Provolone cheese: Swiss cheese or Gruyere would also work.
Roast beef: Using readymade roast beef is easier than trying to cook steaks over a campfire and then using those in the sandwiches!

How to Make French Dip Sandwiches

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card

Prepare the hoagies:  Cut them in half lengthwise, then mix the butter and soup mix and brush it over the cut sides.
Fill the sandwiches: Put cheese and roast beef inside each hoagie roll.
Wrap the sandwiches: Wrap each one tightly in aluminum foil.
Cook them: Cook until the cheese is melted and make the au jus while the sandwiches are cooking, then serve hot!

Substitutions and Variations

Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free buns instead of traditional hoagie rolls and make sure you’re using a gluten-free soup mix or au jus mix.
Vary the meat: You can use cooked flank, skirt or reverse-seared strip steak, or even corned beef – whatever you prefer in chopped Italian sandwiches would work in this recipe too!
Change up the cheese: Provolone, Swiss and Gruyere are the classic choices for a French dip sandwich but you can use any sliced cheese you want, perhaps your Italian stromboli go-to cheese.
Spice it up: Crushed red pepper in the butter mixture would add a little heat, or you might prefer to add some hot sauce to the au jus sauce.
Make it kid-friendly: Swap the provolone cheese for Colby Jack or similar.

Serving Suggestions

Appetizers:  Homemade cornbread would be tasty here, perhaps along with bean soup which you can make ahead and warm up on the campfire.
Side dishes:  Smoked asparagus pairs beautifully with French dip sandwiches. Fresh vegetables are also good, a Tomato salad or coleslaw.
Dessert: Campfire banana boats would be delicious for dessert or you might prefer campfire apple crisp.

How to Store French Dip Sandwiches

Store:  The sandwiches are best enjoyed fresh off the campfire but you can always wrap leftovers and enjoy them the following day.
Freeze:  This isn’t a recipe for freezing.
Reheat:  Leftovers can be reheated over tomorrow’s campfire or, if at home, in the microwave!

Top Tips

Add some extras: You might like to add some sauteed onions or mushrooms to the beef and cheese filling for a deluxe touch.
Make the butter mixture ahead: If you’re camping you’ll want to simplify everything, so prepare the butter mixture ahead and keep it in a small container, then you can butter the sandwiches and perhaps save some for a future meal too.
Use heavy duty aluminum foil: If you use cheap tin foil and it tears, your French dip sandwich making efforts will end in disaster, so stick with the good stuff! Instead, use heavy duty aluminum foil (my fave here) that will safely enclose all your ingredients and make this recipe a success.