Welcome, food enthusiasts! We’re thrilled to share an extraordinary recipe that promises to elevate your culinary experience: the incredibly delicious French Onion Steak Sandwiches. This remarkable dish has been rigorously tested and wholeheartedly approved by our dedicated Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testers, ensuring it’s a guaranteed hit in your kitchen. Today, we’re not only unveiling this mouth-watering recipe but also celebrating with an exciting giveaway: a $50 dinner party gift card and a signed copy of The Secret Ingredient Cookbook, penned by the talented Kelly Senyei herself. Dive into a world of flavor and discover why this sandwich is set to become your new favorite!
Embrace Summer Flavors with the Ultimate French Onion Steak Sandwich
As the days grow longer and the Summer Solstice approaches, there’s a magnetic pull towards lighter, yet deeply satisfying meals that perfectly capture the essence of the season. These French Onion Steak Sandwiches are precisely that. Imagine succulent, perfectly seared steak, bathed in rich, sweet caramelized onions, all nestled between soft, toasted French rolls and crowned with melted, bubbly Gruyère cheese. Each bite is a symphony of flavors and textures – savory, sweet, tangy, and utterly irresistible. This isn’t just a sandwich; it’s an experience, designed to bring the sophisticated comfort of a classic French onion soup into a portable, delectable format. It’s the ideal candidate for your next casual get-together, a relaxed weeknight dinner, or a centerpiece for your summer entertaining.
The Secret Ingredient: Unlocking Unforgettable Flavor
This incredibly decadent recipe comes straight from Kelly Senyei’s highly anticipated new book, The Secret Ingredient Cookbook, and it holds a clever culinary secret that simplifies the complexity of traditional French onion flavors. The key ingredient that transforms these sandwiches from good to absolutely phenomenal is something you might already have in your pantry: a humble package of onion soup mix! Yes, that familiar foiled-lined packet of powdered flavorings, often found in traditional holiday dishes, is the magic touch here. It’s a game-changer, intensifying the savory depth of the caramelized onions without the need for hours of slow cooking and complex layering of flavors. This simple addition elevates the umami profile, making the onions sing with a richness that perfectly complements the steak and cheese.
Crafting Perfection: A Step-by-Step Guide to French Onion Steak Sandwiches
Creating these French Onion Steak Sandwiches is a surprisingly straightforward process that yields incredibly impressive results. The journey begins with the onions, which are the heart and soul of this dish. Thinly sliced white onions are gently caramelized in butter, slowly softening and transforming into a beautiful golden-brown hue, their natural sugars sweetening with the heat. This initial slow cook builds the foundation of flavor. Halfway through this process, the secret ingredient—the onion soup mix—is introduced. This simple addition enriches the onions, giving them an unparalleled depth and a savory bite that is simply irresistible. The mix helps to deepen the caramelization, ensuring every strand of onion is packed with robust flavor.
While your onions are luxuriating in the skillet, you can turn your attention to the star of the show: the steak. We recommend sirloin steak for its excellent flavor and tenderness, but other cuts like ribeye or flank steak would also work wonderfully. Seasoned generously with kosher salt and black pepper, the steaks are seared to perfection in a hot skillet, typically reaching a juicy medium-rare at an internal temperature of 130°F in just about 8 minutes. The key is to get a beautiful crust on the outside while keeping the inside tender and moist. Once cooked, it’s crucial to let the steaks rest for at least 10 minutes before thinly slicing them against the grain. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring every slice is as tender and flavorful as possible.
With the onions caramelized and the steak perfectly cooked and sliced, the assembly of these French Onion Steak Sandwiches is remarkably quick. Halved French sandwich rolls are toasted lightly, then generously layered with the sweet, savory caramelized onions. Next comes the thinly sliced steak, and finally, a generous blanket of shredded Gruyère cheese. These open-faced sandwiches are then popped under the broiler for just a few minutes, long enough for the cheese to melt into a bubbling, golden crust, enveloping the steak and onions in a creamy, nutty embrace. The aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water!
Mastering the Art of Make-Ahead: Prep Your Sandwiches for Effortless Enjoyment
One of the many benefits of these French Onion Steak Sandwiches is their incredible flexibility, particularly when it comes to preparing components in advance. We at Steamy Kitchen were curious if this recipe could truly shine as a make-ahead meal, and we put it to the test ourselves! The results were overwhelmingly positive, proving that you can significantly cut down on last-minute prep without compromising on flavor or quality. This makes them an ideal choice for busy weeknights, meal prepping, or when you’re planning a gathering and want to minimize stress on the day of the event.
Our experiment began by making the caramelized onions the day before. Once cooled, these flavorful onions were transferred to a glass jar and stored in the refrigerator. Their rich, sweet flavor actually deepens overnight, making them even more delicious. Simultaneously, we seasoned our sirloin steaks and seared them according to the recipe instructions, achieving that perfect 130°F internal temperature. Instead of slicing them immediately, which can dry out the meat when stored, we allowed the cooked steaks to cool completely before placing them whole into a glass container in the fridge. This method helps to retain their moisture and tenderness.
The next day, about 30 minutes before we planned to assemble our French Onion Steak Sandwiches, we pulled both the steak and the caramelized onions from the fridge. This crucial step allows them to come down to a more ambient temperature, ensuring even heating and preventing the steak from becoming tough when sliced cold. While the oven preheated for broiling, we thinly sliced the sirloin steaks against the grain – a key technique for maximum tenderness – and grated the Gruyère cheese. The sandwich rolls were briefly warmed in the oven to achieve a perfect texture. Finally, we tossed our fresh arugula with a light lemon vinaigrette. Having the onions and steak prepped ahead of time truly made the rest of the recipe come together in a flash! Within moments, our incredible French Onion Steak Sandwiches were assembled, broiled to melty perfection, and ready to be devoured. We sat down with a cold beer, and were thoroughly satisfied, proof that a little planning goes a long way in delivering an extraordinary meal with minimal fuss.
This Recipe is Tested by Our Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testers! Read Reviews Below!
At Steamy Kitchen, we believe in bringing you not just recipes, but tried-and-true culinary successes. That’s why every featured dish undergoes rigorous testing by our community of passionate home cooks – the Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testers! Their invaluable feedback, real-world kitchen insights, and clever adaptations help us refine each recipe, ensuring it’s accessible, delicious, and foolproof for you. The French Onion Steak Sandwiches were no exception, receiving rave reviews and some fantastic tips. Here’s what our testers had to say:
Marie Egerton: “So, we tried this swapping out the olive oil for hemp seed oil, and it was delicious. A small note, I would suggest broiling the base part of the bun plain in the oven for a minute before topping and melting the cheese. (There is plenty of butter in the bun so no need to add that)”
Viv Taylor: “A truly easy recipe that’s absolutely delicious! I made this for my bf and his two friends and they all loved it. In fact, they all agreed it was restaurant quality good! The dressed arugula was the perfect touch, adding a light citrusy tang that really compliments the richness of the cheese. I tried to follow the recipe as written, but I didn’t have French rolls and just used a loaf of French bread cut into sandwich size. I think it was a little too ‘bready’ as a result. One person suggested adding au jus to help with the ‘breadiness’, or if you like your sandwich a little more saucy. Second, I added a thin layer of butter on both the top and bottom halves of bread before broiling. And lastly, it wasn’t in the recipe to warm the top halves with the bottom ones, but I did assuming that it would be recommended. Overall, the sandwiches were a hit and I will 100% make again!!“
Evelyn Achuck Yue: “Tried the French Onion Steak Sandwiches recipe on my family tonight. It was a big hit! I used rib eye steak and French bread instead. I hollowed out the bread a bit so that it wouldn’t be too ‘bready’ and had a nice ratio of the steak, onion, cheese and arugula. The onion powder mix was the secret ingredient that gave the onions and sandwich a nice umami flavor! Initially, I was concerned that the kids may not like arugula but that wasn’t the case. The lemon and oil gave the arugula a nice refreshing taste without the bitter and peppery taste of some arugula. Will make this recipe for the family again!”
Kim Semsel: “Made with portobello mushroom caps. Used Gouda cheese. My husband is wolfing it down! The onions make a difference.”
Carol Hays: “It came out very yummy!! Interesting idea to use the Onion Soup mix!”
French Onion Steak Sandwiches
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 medium white onions thinly sliced
- 1 1-oz. package onion soup mix
- 2 8-oz. sirloin steaks
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 4 French sandwich rolls halved
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 cups arugula
Instructions
- Heat the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then stir in the onion soup mix. Cook the onions, stirring as needed to prevent burning, until they are dark brown and caramelized, about an additional 30 minutes. If at any point the onions begin to burn, add 2 tablespoons water to the pan and continue cooking. Set the onions aside.
- Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Coat the bottom of a large skillet set over medium-high heat with olive oil. Once the skillet is hot, add the steaks and cook to your desired doneness. For medium-rare, cook for about 8 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 130°F.
- Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and let them rest for 10 minutes. Slice the steaks as thin as possible against the grain.
- Preheat the oven to broil. Place the four bottom halves of the sandwich rolls on a baking sheet, then divide the onions among the rolls. Top the onions with the steak and Gruyère cheese. Place the sandwiches under the broiler until the cheese is melted.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 teaspoons olive oil and the lemon juice. Add the arugula and a pinch of salt and pepper, then toss to combine. Top the sandwiches with the arugula, then add the top halves of the rolls and serve.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
While the French Onion Steak Sandwich recipe is perfect as written, don’t hesitate to experiment and make it your own! For those who prefer a different cheese, provolone or even a sharp cheddar could offer an interesting twist, though Gruyère’s nutty melt is hard to beat. If sirloin isn’t your cut of choice, thinly sliced flank or skirt steak would also be fantastic, just be sure to adjust cooking times to achieve your desired doneness. For our vegetarian friends, Kim Semsel’s suggestion of using portobello mushroom caps is brilliant – they absorb the rich onion flavors beautifully. You could also explore different types of bread; while French rolls offer that classic crisp exterior and soft interior, a hearty ciabatta or even a robust sourdough could add another layer of texture and flavor.
To complete your meal, these decadent sandwiches pair wonderfully with a variety of sides. A simple green salad, perhaps with a balsamic vinaigrette, can provide a refreshing counterpoint to the richness. Crispy oven-baked fries or sweet potato fries are always a crowd-pleaser and a classic sandwich companion. For a truly indulgent experience, consider serving these alongside a small bowl of au jus for dipping, as Viv Taylor suggested – it adds an extra layer of moisture and beefy flavor that some might prefer, especially if using a denser bread. And, of course, a cold beer or a crisp glass of white wine would perfectly complement the savory flavors of the steak and onions.
Whether you’re serving these for a casual lunch, a hearty dinner, or impressing guests at your next gathering, these French Onion Steak Sandwiches are sure to be a showstopper. Their ease of preparation, especially with the make-ahead options, means you can enjoy restaurant-quality flavor with minimal fuss in your own home. Get ready to delight your taste buds and earn rave reviews from everyone who tries them!
Ready to try Kelly Senyei’s brilliant recipes? To purchase Kelly’s new book, The Secret Ingredient Cookbook, click HERE!
Win Big with Steamy Kitchen!
To celebrate the launch of this incredible recipe and Kelly Senyei’s fantastic new cookbook, we’re giving you the chance to win! Enter now for your opportunity to receive a $50 gift card, perfect for hosting your own dinner party, and a signed copy of Kelly’s book, The Secret Ingredient Cookbook. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to bring more deliciousness into your life and kitchen!
We hope you enjoy making and savoring these French Onion Steak Sandwiches as much as our recipe testers and we do. Happy cooking, and good luck with the giveaway!