The 11 Best Cheeses for French Dip Sandwiches

Are you looking for the perfect cheese to top off your French dip sandwich?

The right cheese can make or break this classic sandwich.

So if you are wondering what is the best cheese for french dip sandwiches, then you are in the right place.

I’m sharing 11 of the best cheeses that pair perfectly with a classic French dip sandwich.

Whether you prefer a sharp cheddar, a nutty gruyere, or something else entirely, there is sure to be something on this list that will take your sandwich to the next level.

Read Also: Blue Cheese Wine Pairing – The Best Wines for Blue Cheese

The 11 Best Kinds of Cheese for French Dip Sandwiches

Here are eleven of the best cheeses that will go well with this classic sandwich.

From mild and creamy to sharp and tangy, each one will make your sandwich even more delicious:

1. Swiss Cheese

Swiss cheese is the perfect choice for a French dip sandwich. Its creamy, slightly sweet flavor balances the acidity of the au jus that is traditionally used to accompany a French dip sandwich.

The texture of Swiss cheese also helps it melt smoothly and creates an ideal cheesy mouth feel as you take each bite.

Swiss cheese offers more than just taste and texture; its distinctive holes mirror those found in a loaf of sourdough bread, giving visual cohesion to your sandwich.

When choosing Swiss cheese for your French dip, you may opt for traditional Emmenthaler or Gruyere varieties, both known for their great melting properties and mild nutty flavors that pair perfectly with beef and salty juices like those found in Au Jus sauce.

Many chefs also suggest using spicy pepper jack or Gouda cheeses for added depth of taste and visual appeal when constructing their sandwiches—they’re certainly worth considering if you want something unique!

2. Provolone Cheese

When it comes to French dip sandwiches, you can’t go wrong with provolone cheese.

Provolone cheese is an Italian-style semi-firm cheese made from cow’s milk that has a mild nutty flavor and creamy texture – making it the perfect complement for the savory beef in a French dip.

The unique flavor of provolone complements traditional ingredients like roasted beef and juicy onion, offering more depth without overpowering the flavors of these ingredients.

The hint of spicy tones in this cheese brings out the richness of au jus quite nicely while still maintaining its own subtle sharpness. Its semi-soft consistency makes it easy to melt into the melted pieces of beef on your sandwich as well as grip onto them when biting through or picking up with one hand!

Plus, since provolone has a low moisture content that doesn’t release too much liquid when heated or melted, you won’t end up with a soggy bun that would otherwise ruin your delicious French dip sandwich before even taking one bite!

3. Cheddar Cheese

When it comes to the perfect French dip sandwich, you can’t go wrong with a generous helping of cheddar cheese.

Cheddar is a semi-hard cheese that is known for its sharp, nutty flavor and smooth texture.

The robust flavor of cheddar works perfectly with the salty, savory flavors of a French dip sandwich.

As the cheese melts into the hot sauce and warm roast beef, you get an almost creamy consistency that adds delicious complexity to every bite. The combination will have your taste buds singing!

I recommend using aged cheddar cheese if available as it has a deeper more intense flavor than younger cheeses and won’t overpower other ingredients like milder options might.

If you are feeling extra adventurous try pairing white or yellow cheddars with different types of roasted meats like pork or pastrami to create unique flavor combinations.

No matter what type of meat or cheese you choose, melted cheddar on top adds that classic “cheesy pull” factor everyone loves in their sandwiches.

4. Mozzarella Cheese

When it comes to creating the perfect French dip sandwich, cheese is an essential component. And when you’re talking about French dips, mozzarella cheese is usually the star of the show.

Mozzarella has a mild flavor and creamy texture that adds to any sandwich but especially a juicy roast beef or turkey dip. Its meltability makes for great stretchy strings as you pull away from your bun!

Having fresh sliced mozzarella on hand will make assembling a delicious French dip super simple. Assemble your bun with slices of moving and your favorite condiments before topping with roasted meat, then toast in the oven until perfectly melted.

One tip: if you are going to add some horseradish mayo or spicy mustard to spice things up, use low-moisture mozzarella—it won’t become waterlogged as regular mozzarella would!

5. Gouda Cheese

Gouda cheese is a perfect choice for any French dip sandwich. Its unique and buttery flavor adds an incredible depth to this already delicious meal!

Gouda cheese offers a smooth texture with a mild, nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the savory flavors of French dip sandwiches. The creamy qualities of Gouda makes it an ideal partner for dipping into the rich meat jus on these sandwiches.

The best Gouda cheeses to use are aged varieties that have been aged for at least six or seven months, which will add even more richness and complexity to your sandwich.

You can also opt for smoked or brushed-rind varieties if you’re looking for something more flavorful.

To really take your French dip sandwich up a level, pair some fresh onion rings, sliced tomatoes, and lettuce leaves with your Gouda cheese-topped bread slices before putting everything in the oven just long enough to melt your Gouda!

6. Colby Cheese

When it comes to French dip sandwiches, Colby cheese is a classic choice. This cheese has a mild flavor and creamy texture that pleases even the pickiest palates.

This soft yellow cheese has hints of buttery and nutty notes with a slightly sweet finish. When melted, the flavor intensifies but still remains subtle enough not to overpower the other ingredients of your sandwich.

A great way to use Colby in a French dip sandwich is by grating or shredding it before topping onto each side of your hoagie roll. Once placed on top, you can easily melt it under the broiler for ooey-gooey perfection!

It pairs best with thinly sliced rare roast beef, some zesty horseradish mayo on each side of your roll, and plenty of hot beef jus gravy soaking up all those flavors on your plate.

7. Pepper Jack Cheese

When it comes to making the perfect French dip sandwich, pepper jack cheese is an ideal choice. Made with a combination of peppers and Monterey jack cheese, this unique blend creates an intense flavor profile that stands out from other types of cheese.

The creamy texture of Monterey jack contrasts nicely with the crunchy peppers and spicy kick they provide. The bold flavor helps to cut through the richness of the roast beef in your sandwich while offering just enough heat to make every bite exciting.

When you opt for pepper jack cheese on your French dip sandwich, don’t forget about dipping it Au Jus (a rich gravy). This simple addition will take everything up a notch! The contrasting flavors bring out the best in each other and draw out more complexity from the meat.

It doesn’t hurt either that visually speaking too, pepper jack really adds something special to any French dip dish – being able to see tiny specks of red peppers dotted throughout its bright white backdrop.

Whether melted atop toast or diced finely into pieces as part of slaw toppings for Rueben’s sandwiches, nobody can deny how delicious ooey-gooey portions of pepper jack tastes!

8. Havarti Cheese

Havarti cheese is a mild, semi-soft cow’s milk cheese with a buttery flavor and creamy texture. Its creamy taste pairs perfectly with the flavors of beef in French dip sandwiches.

Havarti adds an irresistible creaminess to your sandwich! In addition to its delicious flavor, Havarti melts quickly and smoothly offering excellent coverage for your meat.

Unlike some other cheeses, Havarti’s subtle yet flavorful character won’t overwhelm or overpower the intense taste of au jus of the dip.

Instead, its buttery notes pair beautifully together to enhance both components of the sandwich; perfect for those who are afraid of being swept away by too much tang from their cheese selection. Try adding pickled onions for more zing if desired!

Havarti’s delicate nature also lends itself nicely to many different types of breads such as brioche or hearty wheat toast sliced thickly while its unique shell-mold shape looks striking on display when featured atop fresh slices of heirloom tomatoes at parties as well as individual sandwiches during that evening tailgate!

At lunchtime, it can be melted over prime rib roast beef griddle sandwiches providing contrast in flavors and textures without clashing against complementary condiments such as tomato chutney sauces or BBQ dips.

Adding Havarti is sure to take any French Dip sandwich from evidence of satisfactory accomplishment into downright masterpiece status – no matter what type of bread you use!

9. Blue Cheese

Blue Cheese is an excellent choice for a French dip sandwich due to its bold flavor, salty tanginess and creamy texture.

The blue cheese helps cut through the rich flavors of juicy seasoned roast beef, creamy mayonnaise, and crunchy bread – making it the perfect combination of tangy and savory.

When choosing your particular variety of blue cheese, consider the type that best fits with your topping preferences or dietary restrictions.

There are many different types of blue cheeses such as Danish Blue Cheese which has a slightly nutty taste but still packs quite a punch; Gorgonzola which is a milder version with notes of bitterness; or Roquefort which has strong earthy nuances often compared to raw mushrooms or truffles.

Other considerations include utilizing pre-crumbled blue cheese instead of slicing it in order to better spread its flavor across your sandwich and preventing unwanted crumbles from slipping out onto your plate!

Finally, don’t forget about accompaniments like lettuce leaves and creamier dressings that can help bring out more intense flavors in this classic sandwich favorite.

10. Brie Cheese

Brie cheese is an amazing choice for a French dip sandwich. If you’ve never tried this combination before, you have to give it a go!

Brie has a rich and creamy texture as well as an earthy flavor that enhances the beef in the French dip. The buttery nature of brie allows it to deliciously melt and ooze off the bread in every bite providing a luxurious kiss of flavor in each one.

Truly indulgent, but worth it!

Not all Bries are created equal though; opt for Triple Creme Brie which has been enriched with extra cream, making them incredibly luscious. This style will take your sandwiches to the next level with its velvety texture and hints of mushroom-like notes.

If you like Brie’s full-bodied, salty sweetness paired with juicy beef, try adding some thin slices of white onion or horseradish sauce for added depth and kick of spice!

11. Asiago Cheese

When it comes to French dip sandwiches, you want a robust cheese that can hold its own against the delicious roast beef or other favorite meats.

Asiago is an ideal choice as it has a bold flavor and a slightly firm texture that stands up to the rich juices of the roast beef.

With its nutty and pungent flavors, Asiago adds complexity to each bite of your sandwich. A great addition if you’re looking to take your French dip up a level! It pairs perfectly with onion and horseradish on the side for an extra punch of flavor.

Asiago also melts beautifully when warm, making it a great topping for hot variations like au jus sauce or garlic butter—an explosion of flavors!

When choosing which type of Asiago to use, opt for an aged version if you’re in search of intense flavor; otherwise a younger variety works well by adding mild but earthy notes without overpowering your sandwich. Go ahead and experiment – there are plenty of varieties out there so be creative!

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, French Dip sandwiches are a classic dish that can be taken to the next level with the right cheese.

The best cheeses for French Dip sandwiches are Swiss cheese, provolone cheese, cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese, gouda cheese, colby cheese, pepper jack cheese, havarti cheese, blue cheese, brie cheese, and asiago cheese.

Each of these cheeses has its own unique flavor and texture that can complement the other ingredients in the sandwich.

With the right combination of these cheeses, you can create a sandwich that is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.