A hot beef sandwich is a spectacular comfort food classic that makes roast beef dinner leftovers into a meal that rivals the original. It’s a savory, beefy, delicious and easy leftover makeover. Scrumptious!
Picture thick-sliced, crusty bread, buttered and toasted to a golden brown.
Now, top that with a layer of tender, juicy leftover roast beef and drizzle with rich, savory roast beef gravy.
Finally, add a crown of creamy mashed potatoes, with a well at the center, to hold even more deep, brown gravy.
The gravy cascading over the entire dish brings every delicious bite into the ultimate comfort-food harmony. That, my friend, is the perfect hot roast beef sandwich. Bliss!
What is a Hot Beef Sandwich?
A hot beef sandwich is a true Midwestern classic. It’s a favorite at truck stops and diners across the plains. Even though it seems to be a specifically regional dish, if you ever get to taste a well-made hot beef sandwich, this beloved dish will be a go-to meal where YOU live.
I couldn’t find any background information on where this open-faced roast beef sandwich originated. But, my guess is that it was with a busy home cook who needed an inviting way to use leftovers.
My quick search around the Internet showed me that there are some out there who call this sandwich a Beef Manhattan. This is interesting because they still categorize it as a popular Midwest meal. Not sure where Manhattan enters in. lol
Whether you call it a hot roast beef sandwich, a Beef Manhattan or what we fondly refer to as a hot beef sandwich, you DO need to call this sandwich. Like right now. Dial the number. Invite it for lunch. You and your leftovers are going to be in heaven!
Love Your Leftovers
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I may as well come straight out and tell you.
Cooking once and creating meals that will actually become the foundation of two, three or even more meals is one of my favorite cooking strategies.
This recipe can be made from the leftovers of two popular meals here on the blog, my Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef and my recipe for Mississippi Pot Roast.
So, now when YOU prepare either one, you’ll be able to enjoy the same delicious leftover magic in this delectable hot roast beef sandwich recipe.
The Ingredients
- Leftover roast beef
- Leftover Gravy (here’s my Easy Roast Beef Gravy recipe)
- Leftover Mashed Potatoes (Leftover if you have them. If not, I have a fast and easy solution I’ll share below.)
- French Bread, sliced into 1 to 1.5″ thick slices
What to Serve with a Hot Beef Sandwich
Prep Your Leftovers
- First, you want each of your sandwich’s components to be hot and ready simultaneously.
- If you prepared roasted potatoes with your original roast beef meal, it’s definitely the most frugal option to mash any leftovers you have. Potatoes don’t usually make it to the leftover stage at our house, though. lol So, I’ve discovered a quick and easy solution.
- I do most of my grocery shopping at the Walmart in our small community. Their refrigerated case, where they sell biscuit dough, crescent dough, etc., also displays some convenience items. One of our personal favorites is these pre-made mashed potatoes. They’re delicious and convenient when I don’t have potatoes left over. Heat them in the microwave for 6 minutes.
- Reheat leftover roast beef in a skillet on the stovetop or in your microwave. If you place it in the skillet with a little beef broth and heat it over medium heat, it will warm and still be juicy and tender. The microwave does get the roast beef reheated, but I feel that it dries it out as it’s doing that.
- You’ll heat the leftover gravy, as well.
- Add a small amount of water to thin it if it has set too thick in the refrigerator.
- Keep it over medium-low heat in a pan on the stovetop.
- Whisk the gravy as necessary to bring it back to a smooth consistency.
Toast the Bread
This is the step where they always lost me as a kid. Texture is such a HUGE part of making food palatable for me.
Traditionally, this sandwich is served over a plain, untoasted slice of white bread. It soaks up the gravy and is MUCH too soggy for this finicky girl. No worries! We’re NOT doing it. This simple change made me into a hot beef sandwich lover for life!
- Cut a thick slice of crusty French bread.
- Lightly butter both sides of the bread and toast it.
- Use a skillet on the stovetop to toast the bread if you make only one to four hot beef sandwiches. Brown both sides, and you’re ready to go.
- If you need to cook more than four slices at a time, put the bread on a sheet tray under the broiler for a couple of minutes.
Assemble the Hot Roast Beef Sandwich
- Lay a slice of the toasted bread on a plate.
- Top the toasted bread with a layer of warm roast beef and a drizzle of hot gravy.
- Add a scoop of mashed potatoes to the top of the stack and drizzle with more gravy.
This is the definition of comfort food, my friend. Savory, toasty, creamy deliciousness! A hot roast beef sandwich is going to be your new happy place.
Enjoy!
The Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send you the link so you always have it at your fingertips. Plus, I’ll send a collection of easy recipes to your inbox every Friday!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Glenda Embree.
Hot Roast Beef Sandwiches
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 1 sandwich 1x
Description
Reheat as many of the leftovers, from your roast beef dinner, as necessary for the number of people you’re feeding. This recipe is enough for 1 serving. Multiply it for each sandwich you want to serve. Trust me when I tell you, NO ONE will know this delicious comfort food meal is made from leftovers. Why tell them?
Ingredients
- 1/4 lb leftover roast beef
- 1/4 cup leftover gravy
- 1/2 cup mashed potatoes (leftover if you have them. If not, grab pre-made at the store.)
- 1 slice French bread, sliced into 1 to 1.5” thick slices
Instructions
- Heat the mashed potatoes. I think the microwave works best. Use your own leftovers or try pre-made mashed potatoes from the refrigerated case at your favorite market. I use Bob Evans Original brand.
- Reheat leftover roast beef in a skillet on the stove top or in the microwave.
- Warm the leftover gravy, as well. Add a small amount of water to thin it, if it has set too thick in the refrigerator. Keep it over medium low heat, in a pan on the stove top, whisking as necessary to bring it back to a smooth consistency.
- Cut a thick slice of French bread. Lightly butter both sides of the bread and toast it. If you’re just making one to four hot beef sandwiches, this can most easily be achieved in a skillet on the stove-top. Brown both sides and you’re ready to go. (For more than four at a time, you can put them on a sheet tray under the broiler in your oven for a couple minutes.)
- Assemble the luscious hot beef sandwiches.
- Lay a slice of the toasted bread on a plate.
- Top the toasted bread with a layer of warm roast beef and a drizzle of hot gravy.
- Add a scoop of mashed potatoes to the top of the stack and drizzle with more gravy.
- Serve hot with your favorite veggie sides.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Get More Scrumptious Sandwich Recipes
Go forth, Friend! It’s time for you to make leftovers your happy place and create a meal your family will never believe you put together in minutes from what was left in your fridge.
That delicious pot roast will become a luscious hot roast beef sandwich before you know it. You can do it! And if you have leftover chicken or turkey, be sure to check out my other delicious sandwich recipes. Your leftovers are going to make you a star!
Are you looking for more great comfort-food sandwiches? Check out the recipe for this delish Philly Cheese Sausage Dog over at Call Me PMC! Or Jenn’s Instant Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches over at Cook What You Love. They’re scrumptious!
About Glenda
I believe cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated and that YOU can do it. My simple recipes, tutorials, and cooking tips will help you get weeknight dinners on the table with less stress. Forget takeout or the drive-thru. Let me show you how to make homemade easy. Read more...
My dad always buys these sandwiches from the gas station and they look so horrible. I made him this version, and I don’t think he will ever buy them again 🙂
Donna, a win for cooking at home and for Dad’s digestion! lol Glad he enjoys them.
So soul satisfying! This is a hearty meal and we all loved it! So easy, too!
Glad you loved it, Jennifer. It’s one of our absolute favorites!
Oh. My. Goodness. This beef sandwich was SO good – will definitely be making it again!
Yay! So happy that it worked well for you, Mandy!
So I made this for my husband and now it’s his favorite dish I make! Thank you so much!!
Jessica, that’s the best news I’ve heard, today! I’m so glad it’s a winner in your home, too.
My family loves, loves, loves this hot beef sandwich recipe!! Full of flavor and homemade goodness that is perfect with leftover pot roast.
Sherry, we think it’s the best, too. So glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Paula! I’m excited for you to try it! Leftovers never tasted so good. 🙂
This looks wonderful!! Love all the flavors, def going on my menu! Sharing to my fb page – Thanks for the linkback.
Glenda! This is an amazing idea! Why haven’t I thought of this before now?!! I’m going to make this delicious meal next week! Thanks for the idea. One question… can you explain how you make your homemade gravy? I’ve never mastered it.
Thanks. Keep these great posts coming. .. you are one of my favorite bloggers!
Leigh, you’re a peach! Thank you! I’ll get a post up for Roast Beef Gravy, this evening.