My classic Hot Roast Beef Sandwich is a hearty comfort food with tender slices of beef sandwiched between two slices of bread, served with fluffy mashed potatoes, and smothered in a rich beef gravy.
I remember my mom making this hot sandwich recipe for us growing up and also serving it to my customers when I worked at Kaleva’s Lenz Country Side Restaurant when I was a teenager.
This hot beef sandwich is a meal that I make for my husband on a regular basis and is requested often. It’s quick to prepare and I will give you tips to make in under an hour.
Serve this restaurant quality sandwich for lunch, dinner, or as a hearty weekend brunch. This classic dish is sure to be a true crowd-pleaser with family and friends!
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Hot Beef Sandwich Ingredients
- Roast Beef, Thinly Sliced
- Beef Stock
- Seasoned Salt and Pepper
- Potatoes, Russet
- Milk
- Butter
- Bread
- Cornstarch
What Beef to Use for Hot Beef Sandwiches
I use thinly sliced Rare Seasoned Roast Beef from the grocery store deli counter. Rare meat is important because you will warm it up in the hot beef stock before you assemble the sandwich.
Which will cook the meat a touch. I do not recommend using a pot roast that you shred. This will give you a different texture beef and will result in a different tasting roast beef sandwich.
How to Make Homemade Mashed Potatoes
Gather Ingredients: Gather all the ingredients needed to make your hot beef sandwich.
Boil the Potatoes: Peel, rinse, and cube your russet potatoes. Place into a pot and fill with cold water until all the potatoes are covered. Cook, uncovered over medium heat, and bring to a low boil. Boil for 30 minutes and check for doneness by inserting a knife into one of the largest potato cubes. Twist the knife and if the potato breaks apart easily, they are done. If the potato does not break apart, cook longer until done.
Prepare the Mashed Potatoes: Once the potatoes are done, remove from the burner and drain all the water off. Add the milk and the butter to the hot cooked potatoes. Use a hand potato masher and mash until your desired consistency is achieved. Do not over mash as it will result in gummy mashed potatoes. If needed, add more milk or butter. Cover and set aside until ready to assemble the sandwich.
How to Make Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches
Heat the Roast Beef: In a medium saucepan over medium heat on the stove, add the beef stock. Season the stock with your desired salt and pepper. Bring to a low boil. Separate the sliced roast beef layers. Place the roast beef into the boiling beef stock. Use a pair of tongs to move the sliced beef around in the liquid to help warm the meat up but do not overcook. With the tongs, remove the beef to a plate. After a minute, drain any liquid from the plate of hot sliced beef back to the saucepan.
Make the Gravy: Bring the beef stock back to a boil. In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch with cold water. Stir to combine the cornstarch water (aka: slurry). Slowly pour the slurry into the boiling beef stock and stir with a whisk to combine and remove any lumps. Once all the slurry is added, cook at a low boil for two minutes. If the gravy is not as thick as you would like, make some more slurry (cornstarch and cold water) and add to the boiling gravy. Just make sure to boil for another two minutes after adding.
How to Assemble Hot Beef Sandwich with Gravy
Assemble the Sandwiches: Do not assemble the sandwiches until you are ready to serve them otherwise the bread will get soggy. Add a slice of bread to your dinner plate. Top with your desired amount of hot sliced roast beef. Next, add the second slice of bread to the top of the beef. Cut the sandwich in half to create two triangle shaped pieces. Spread the sandwich halves apart to create a space for the mashed potatoes.
Add the Mashed Potatoes: Add a large dollop of mashed potatoes to the plate alongside the sandwich. Create a hole in the center of the mashed potatoes.
Top with Gravy: Top the sandwich and the mashed potatoes with hot beef gravy. If desired, add some gravy over the sliced beef and then top with the bread and more beef gravy over the whole top. Serve right away before the bread turns soggy.
How to Store Leftover Hot Beef Sandwich
A leftover hot roast beef sandwich with gravy does not store very well because the bread becomes soggy from the gravy.
If you want to store a leftover hot beef sandwich, disassemble the sandwich, and discard the bread. When ready to eat leftovers, warm up in the microwave and add fresh slices of bread.
What to Serve with Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches
Hot roast beef sandwiches with gravy pair well with a variety of sides. Here are some delicious options to serve with the sandwich:
- Mashed Potatoes: The traditional side to serve with a hot beef sandwich is homemade creamy mashed potatoes. They soak up the flavorful gravy and add a comforting touch to the meal. Get my full recipe for mashed potatoes.
- Crispy French Fries: Crispy French Fries offer a satisfying crunch and are amazing when smothered with hot beef gravy.
- Side Salad: Pair a fresh side salad before the sandwich is served to help get your greens in for the day.
- Steamed Vegetables: Substitute the homemade mashed potatoes and gravy with healthy steamed vegetables. Steamed vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, carrots, or cauliflower offer a lighter option that still adds color, flavor, and nutrition to the meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the most tender and flavorful results, choose a freshly cut deli sliced rare cooked roast beef from your grocery store deli counter. If needed, ask one of the team members for recommendations and a sample piece.
Pair the hot beef sandwiches with a traditional mashed potato, French fries, roasted vegetables, coleslaw, or a simple side salad.
Hot Beef Sandwich
My classic Hot Roast Beef Sandwich is a hearty comfort food with tender slices of beef sandwiched between two slices of bread, served with fluffy mashed potatoes, and smothered in a rich beef gravy.
Ingredients
- Roast Beef, Thinly Sliced 1 pound
- Beef Stock 3 cups
- Seasoned Salt and Pepper
- Potatoes, Russet, Large 6 each
- Milk 1/2 cup
- Butter 1/4 cup
- Bread, Slices 6 each
- Cornstarch 3 tablespoons
- Water 1 cup
Instructions
How to Make Mashed Potatoes
- Gather Ingredients: Gather the ingredients needed to make your hot beef sandwich.
- Prepare the Homemade Mashed Potatoes: Peel, rinse, and chunk your russet potatoes. Place into a saucepan and fill with cold water until all the potatoes are covered. Cook, uncovered over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Boil for about 30 minutes and check for doneness by inserting a knife into one of the largest potato cubes. Twist the knife and if the potato breaks apart easily, they are done. If the potato piece does not break apart, cook longer until done. Once the potatoes are done, remove from the heat and drain all the water off. Add the milk and butter to the hot cooked potatoes. Use a hand potato masher and mash to your desired consistency. Do not over mash as it will result in gummy potatoes. If desired, add more milk or butter. Cover and set aside until ready to assemble the hot sandwich.
How to Make a Hot Beef Sandwich
- Heat the Sliced Roast Beef: In a medium pan over medium heat on the stove, add the beef stock. Season the beef stock with your desired salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Separate the sliced roast beef. Place the roast beef into the boiling beef stock. Use a pair of tongs to move the sliced roast beef around in the liquid to help warm the meat up but do not overcook. With the tongs, remove the hot beef to a plate. Drain any liquid from the plate of hot sliced beef back to the saucepan.
- Make the Gravy: Bring the beef stock back to a rolling boil. In a separate container, mix the cornstarch with cold water. Stir to combine the cornstarch mixture (aka: slurry). Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the boiling beef stock and stir with a whisk to combine and remove any lumps. Once all the cornstarch slurry is added, cook at a low boil for at least two minutes. If the beef gravy is not as thick as you would like, make some more slurry (cornstarch and cold water) and add to the boiling beef gravy. Just make sure to boil for another two minutes.
How to Assemble the Hot Beef Sandwich with Gravy
- Assemble the Hot Sandwiches: Do not assemble the hot beef sandwiches until you are ready to serve them otherwise the bread will get soggy. Add a slice of bread to your plate. Top with your desired amount of sliced roast beef. Next, add the second slice of bread to the top of the roast beef. Cut the beef sandwich in half to create two triangle shaped pieces. Add a large dollop of mashed potatoes to the plate alongside the beef sandwich. Create a hole in the center of the dollop of mashed potatoes. Top the sandwich and the mashed potatoes with hot gravy. Serve right away with an desried side dishes.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This page contains affiliate links. Click on the highlighted text in a post to explore a product. If you purchase through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I ONLY EVER ENDORSE PRODUCTS THAT I TRULY LOVE. Thank you for your support!
Nutrition Information
Yield
6Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 557Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 61mgSodium 1186mgCarbohydrates 85gFiber 7gSugar 7gProtein 27g
Note: For exact nutritional information, consult your dietitian. All nutritional information is simply a guideline.
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Are you using deli roast beef for this recipe?
Yes, I am using rare/medium rare deli roast beef.