Caramelized Onion Roast Beef Rolls are crescent roll dough rolled up with roast beef, provolone cheese, and caramelized onions. For another tasty appetizer with tender roast beef and caramelized onions, try my French Dip Sliders.
Caramelized Onion Roast Beef Rolls
Although I think this recipe could be an appetizer, it could most definitely pass as a meal! The rolls are a savory roll with crescent roll dough and lots of roast beef and cheese. The caramelized onions add a little nutty flavor with a little bit of sweetness. And, the baked rolls are topped with a salted butter topping.
Caramelized Onion Roast Beef Rolls Ingredients
Roast Beef: If you buy roast beef from the deli, have it shaved or thinly sliced. You can also find it prepackaged.
Onions: I went with yellow onions for this recipe because they caramelize so well. You could also try a sweet onion, like a Vidalia onion or a Walla Walla onion.
Provolone Cheese: Provolone cheese is commonly used in a French dip sandwich, which is what these are close to, but with no au jus, or dipping, sauce. (But trust me, you don’t need any dipping sauce; these are so flavorful as is)! These would also be great with Gruyere cheese or even Swiss cheese.
Crescent Roll Dough: You will need two cans of the crescent roll sheets to roll up all the flavors inside.
Can I Make Roast Beef Rolls Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! Just prepare the rolls up to Step #4 under the Roast Beef Rolls, and then wrap them in plastic wrap and then refrigerate for up to 24 hours. You can bake them right out of the refrigerator.
How to Store
These rolls will last up to four days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just pop the rolls into the microwave to reheat and enjoy!
Caramelized Onion Roast Beef Rolls
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) unsalted butter
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Roast Beef Rolls
- all-purpose flour, for work surface
- 2 tubes (8 ounces each) refrigerated crescent rolls
- 10 slices provolone cheese
- 1 pound deli roast beef, shaved or thinly sliced
Butter Topping
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) unsalted butter
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
Caramelized Onions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter.
- Add onions and sugar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften and brown (about 5 minutes).
- Add salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium.
- Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and caramelized (10-15 more minutes).
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
Roast Beef Rolls
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Remove the crescent rolls from the cans. On a lightly floured surface, unroll the crescent dough and combine into one large rectangle. Pinch together the seams.
- Top with provolone cheese, roast beef, and caramelized onions.
- Roll up tightly starting on the long edge.
- Using a very sharp knife, cut the log into 12 rolls. Place them into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 43-45 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown.
Butter Topping
- When the roast beef rolls are almost done baking, prepare the salted butter topping. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the salt and parsley.
- Brush the salted butter over the warm rolls. Serve.
Did you make this recipe?
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Oh my goodness… I made these last night (but with ham because that’s what I had) and they were fantastic. Thank you for sharing ❤️ Family loved it.
Sounds great!
I made two batches of these for a Christmas party. My husband doesnt eat cheese so I decided to make a horseradish dip for his. They were delicious on their own but the sauce was a good idea as a compliment! Thank you!
Can you just use the beef from a beef roast instead of deli meat?
These are relatively easy to make and taste really good. My daughter and I made a double batch together so we could both have them for dinner. We both felt like they needed something, but couldn’t figure out what it was. I think I figured it out. I make homemade bbq sauce that is not unlike Arby’s sauce. I tried it with my bbq sauce and I feel it put the flavor over the top! These caramelized onion roast beef rolls will be added to the rotation. Awesome recipe! Thank you.
Thank you. I made these tonight in Sweden… using store bought (smördeg) butter dough, 0.2 grams of roast beef slices (always expensive here in Sweden 😉 with or without inflation), gouda cheese and I only had purple onions on hand so I used those. It was good, even one of our kids (age 4) ate one. We served it with stone mustard and fresh cut cucumber. Thanks again.
I can’t rate the recipe as I haven’t made it yet. It sounds delicious and easy. I’ve never heard of using sugar when caramelizing onions, is it necessary to the recipe?
You could omit it. It just adds a level of flavor to the caramalization.
I don’t care for crescent rolls. Would pizza dough work?
Sure
This looks really good. Please send me the website thank you
Your brave lady as have you checked the price of roast beef lately. Your looking at about $150.00 or more in meat alone your a very kind woman. I would think for adults 3 to 4 for women and 5-6 for a man after all it is dinner. I would think a salad and some kid of corn or Brussel sprouts done with bacon and balsamic vinegar are two good choices. For color I would go with corn. Hope they all enjoy and your a very kind lady especially now with inflation. ❤️🥰❤️
This recipe serves 12 and it only calls for 1 lb. deli roast beef. That is about $10 here, or less. Where do you come up with $150?
These were delish – however, not sure if you lay the pastry side by side the long way or on top of each other to make a thicker dough – can you let me know *** ?? I also made these 2 other versions 1 with shaved fat free turkey & Mexican cheese & a fat free ham with cooper cheese YUMMO for all 3 kinds! I also used unsalted butter for the the topping and the onions as we are trying to cut back on the salt & find that the crescent rolls are salted enough; I also made 1/2 batch without the butter topping, still DELISH! Next versions will have a thin layer of horseradish sauce on the beef; a layer of mustard on the ham & a layer of cranberry jam on the turkey … 🙂 endless possibilities!! Great Recipe!!
i’m calling these the best scrolls to be had!
i cheated and used a jar of caramelised onion jam but i’m sure it would be better if it was from scratch!
I did a little variation on this. I spread a thin layer of brown mustard on the dough. Then I layered with the cheese and ham, instead of beef. No onions. They turned out great.
Now I may try with a shredded mix of Italian cheese, a layer of tomato sauce, and a meat (pepperoni, sausage or meatball). The possibilities are endless. Thanks.
Can these be frozen? My husband and I are empty nesters now so 12 rolls are too much for us. I was thinking make them, freeze half for a meal on another day. Also, I suggest adding some horseradish sauce to these!
I would just half the recipe rather than freeze. It calls for 2 of crescent rolls, so just use 1..then 1 onion, 5 cheese, 1/2# roast beef. My husband ets 3 and I eat 2 with a salad.
Meh. I had hoped for more from this recipe. It was easy ( and fun) to make but the taste was off..
My husband didn’t care much for it either. I’m not sure what the off flavor was? Possibly the cheese? Either way, not a fan of this one.
It will taste like the ingredients you add… so if you don’t like the ingredients then you won’t like the final flavor. Hope that helps!
OMG! These look amazing. What are you dipping them in? Thank you
You can dip them in brown gravy or au jus. 🙂
Can’t wait to try this. Looks delicious. Thanks.
Well bro you know imma give you my version of this so get ready get ready get ready…..
This sounds so good! I make and donate a meal for 60 people for a local organization called Lazarus House once month and will be making this for my August meal. I’m going to do it 5x – how filling are these as a main coarse if served with salad as well? Wondering if I should make 6x or 7x the recipe so people can have more than 1. If served as a main dish with side salad, is there an easy vegetable side you’d recommend for the flavor profile?
Looks yummy, I will have to try these next time my family is over
On the caramelized onion and roasted beef rolls what pastry did you use
Ready made cresent dough is not available in our country. Any substitution for it?
Thanks and Im a fan from the Philippines ☺️
You can make your own. https://iambaker.net/crescent-rolls/ You can use any quick dough – pizza dough works.
I didn`t have crescent rolls but had puff pastry sheets so I used that. SO good!
Have not tried but sounds delish