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French Dip Squares

Golden, flaky puff pastry squares stuffed with tender, savory shredded beef and melted provolone cheese, served alongside a rich au jus for dipping.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours 25 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 12 squares
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Party Food
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

Shredded Beef Filling & Au Jus
  • 2.5 lbs chuck roast trimmed of excess fat
  • 2 cups beef broth or consommé
  • 1 packet dry onion soup mix approx 1 oz
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
Pastry Assembly
  • 2 sheets puff pastry thawed (1 box)
  • 8 slices provolone cheese
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 tbsp water for egg wash
  • 1 tbsp fresh thyme or parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Rolling Pin
  • Fine mesh sieve

Method
 

  1. Place the chuck roast into a slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk together the beef broth, onion soup mix, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce. Pour over the roast.
  2. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is very tender and shreds easily.
  3. Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Strain the remaining liquid from the slow cooker through a fine-mesh sieve into a saucepan to use as the au jus dipping sauce. Keep warm.
  4. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, gently roll out one sheet of puff pastry to smooth the creases. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
  6. Layer the provolone cheese over the pastry, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Top the cheese with an even layer of the shredded beef.
  7. Roll out the second sheet of puff pastry and place it over the beef. Press the edges of the top and bottom pastry sheets together firmly to seal.
  8. Brush the top of the pastry evenly with the egg wash. Use a sharp knife to gently score the top into 12 squares (do not cut all the way through).
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
  10. Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing completely through the scored lines. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve warm with the reserved au jus for dipping.

Notes

You can use 1 lb of high-quality deli roast beef, chopped and warmed slightly, for a shortcut version. Simply skip the slow cooker steps and use a store-bought au jus mix.