Among the many variants of beef-filled sandwiches, French dip is among the most sophisticated, flavorful, and juiciest. It’s also incredibly tender, as the beef is usually slow-cooked or roasted to perfection. The meat, along with the cheese and onions, make this treat very satisfying.
With a sandwich as dense as French dip, you must be careful with your choice of side dishes or salads to avoid getting overwhelmed. Although a classic bowl of au jus or beef broth is enough for some, you can add a dish or two for variety. If you need ideas about what to serve with french dip sandwiches, check out this article!
1. Homemade Mac and Cheese
Although the first side dish on this list may seem too rich and creamy for French dip, you’ll find it perfect in the appropriate portions. Like the roasted beef, the pasta and sauce are tender and melt in your mouth. The flavors are spectacular and contribute to the complexity of your meal. Also, don’t worry – this recipe is tens of times better than boxed mac and cheese.
2. Sweet Potato Fries
French dip is excellent with a side of fries, like any other sandwich. But instead of making the usual potato fries, why don’t you give this sweet potato fries recipe a chance? The exterior is crisp, and the insides are tender, as you would want of any fry, but the flavors are lighter and sweeter. This recipe also bakes them, so they aren’t too oily or messy.
3. Homemade Potato Chips
Besides fries, another classic sandwich side is potato chips. For this recipe, you’ll be sticking to the traditional potato, but instead of grabbing a bag of them at the store, make them at home! The quality is superior and healthier; moreover, you can adjust the flavors to your preferences. Also, you’ll only need three ingredients – potatoes, oil, and salt – to make these perfectly crisp, light, and thin chips.
4. Veggie Tray
French dip can feel quite dense, but you can complement that with a platter of fresh, crisp, and light vegetables. This veggie tray isn’t just healthy; it’s also eye candy, with its different shapes, textures, and colors gracefully arranged. You can also customize, although these are some classic choices: carrots, broccoli, celery, radishes, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers. You’re also free to choose the dips!
5. Homemade Chicago-Style Giardiniera
Giardiniera or pickled vegetables are a favorite side or condiment for beef sandwiches, including French dip. This particular recipe makes them Chicago-style, which is hot and spicy so that you can add a bit of heat to your meal. It’s different from the Italian style, which cuts the veggies longer and thicker. You can serve it on the side, but it’s best to pile it on top of your French dip.
6. Half Sour Pickles
Zesty side dishes like giardiniera are excellent with French dip because they contribute fresh and bright flavors that help elevate the affair. Another way to incorporate such tastes is by serving a side of half sour pickles. Not only do these fermented pickles provide sour notes, but they also offer hints of saltiness and crisp textures. All these come together beautifully, making this a one-of-a-kind side treat.
7. Classic Wedge Salad
A wedge salad is named so because it’s an entire chunk of lettuce topped with a creamy, refreshing dressing and other toppings. This recipe has a blue cheese dressing and crumbs, bacon bits, chives, and cherry tomatoes. It’s fresh, cold, and crisp, providing flavors and textures that complement those of a French dip.
8. Garden Salad
Though it might not be as cold as a wedge salad, this easy garden salad provides light and crisp flavors. It brings together the freshest produce, and you can customize it according to the season. For instance, while the recipe calls for lettuce, you can easily replace it with mixed greens or arugula. All the elements are then tossed in a tangy, homemade ranch dressing.
9. Italian Salad
This Italian salad consists of romaine lettuce, red bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots, grape tomatoes, olives, and feta cheese. Still, it stands out best for its homemade, vibrant vinaigrette. This vinaigrette is made from fresh herbs, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and honey. This salad is highly recommended as a side dish to protein-rich entrees, such as French dip.
10. Cucumber Avocado Salad
This cucumber avocado salad serves cool and creamy flavors like wedge salad. But what sets this one apart is it also offers juicy slices, tender chunks, and a unique blend of tastes. That’s because, aside from the two main elements, this recipe also calls for fresh dill, lemon juice, and red onions. The salad’s homemade dressing is made from red wine vinegar, sugar, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
11. Kale and Broccoli Salad with Lemon Dressing
If you want the perfect blend of tang, crisp, and tender, serve your French dip with this kale and broccoli salad with lemon dressing. This dish is bright and healthy and well recommended for the winter season. Besides the kale and broccoli, there’s olive oil, salt, almonds, carrots, red onions, sunflower seeds, and cranberries; thus, you can expect more flavors and textures.
12. Classic Caprese Salad
A classic caprese salad consists of three main elements that complement and match your French dip. For instance, the red tomato slices bring a touch of acidity that brightens up your meal. Meanwhile, the mozzarella pieces provide more creaminess, cheesiness, and tender textures. Lastly, the basil leaves offer distinct flavors that make your sandwich taste fresher and more sophisticated.
13. Potato Salad
French dips go well with several potato sides, like fries and chips, and this salad is no exception. It may not be crispy like the other potato dishes, but it’s deliciously creamy, refreshing, and tender. Also, the flavor profile is more complex because of the multitude of elements in this salad, like eggs, mustard, dill, mayo, sweet pickles, and – of course – the potatoes.
