~ French Dip Sliders ~

Ingredients
Sliders
15 ounces slider buns, 12-count (Martin’s brand Potato Rolls)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided into 4 tablespoons and 2 tablespoons
3 cups thinly sliced yellow onion, from 1 large onion
3 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, divided into 2 teaspoons and 1 teaspoon
2 teaspoons grated garlic, from 2 cloves (divided in half)
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
¾ teaspoon salt, divided into ½ teaspoon and ¼ teaspoon
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1½ pounds thinly sliced deli roast beef, cut into 1-inch wide strips
½ pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced

Au Jus Dipping Sauce
10.5 ounces French onion soup Campbell’s bran
1½ cups water
1 ounce Au Jus mix

Instructions
Sliders
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the bottom half of your slider buns in a single layer into a 9x13 glass baking dish. Reserve the tops on a separate plate.

In a large skillet on medium-high heat, add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Once the butter has melted, add the thinly sliced yellow onions, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon grated garlic, granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and black pepper.

Allow the onions to cook and caramelize for 10 to 15 minutes or until the onions have turned a golden brown and reduced by almost half. If your onions are browning too fast before softening, you can turn the heat down to medium to allow the onions to caramelize evenly.

Once the onions are done, add the strips of thinly sliced roast beef and gently toss the sliced roast beef with the caramelized onions until evenly distributed. Be sure to break up any large chunks of the roast beef. Remove from the heat.

Top the bottom layer of slider buns with an even layer of the roast beef and onion mixture. Tongs work great for this step.
Layer the sliced Swiss cheese over the entire surface of the roast beef.
Top the Swiss cheese layer with the tops of the slider buns.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl for 30 to 40 seconds. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves, 1 teaspoon of grated garlic, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir to combine.

Using a pastry brush, brush the tops of the slider buns with the melted butter mixture.
Bake these French dip sliders for 15 to 20 minutes or until the tops of the buns are golden and the cheese is melted. While your sliders are baking, you can make your au jus dipping sauce.

Au Jus Dipping Sauce
In the skillet used to caramelize the onions on medium heat, add the French onion soup, water, and packet of au jus mix.

Whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer while the French dip sliders are baking. This should take 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove the sauce from the heat and pour it into a serving bowl or small individual serving bowls.

Notes
To ensure enough cheese to cover the sliders, have your deli counter person slice the cheese thinly or use a combination of different cheeses for added variety.

If your slider buns are not pre-sliced, use a serrated knife to slice them in half before assembling the sliders.
If you don't have a small zester for grating garlic, finely mince the garlic instead for a smoother texture.

You can pre-cut the individual servings of the French dip sliders using a serrated knife before placing them into the oven. This is not necessary but helps for easy serving when the sliders are still hot.

LINK
https://spaceshipsandlaserbeams.com/french-dip-sliders/