Tender Au Jus Recipe

Flavorful Au Jus Recipe for Dipping and Drizzling

Savory beef dishes reach new heights with a classic au jus recipe that adds rich, deep flavor to every bite.

This traditional French sauce brings restaurant-quality elegance to home-cooked meals.

Chefs love how quickly it comes together with just a few simple ingredients.

The deep, meaty essence captures the true spirit of French culinary technique.

Professional and home cooks alike appreciate its incredible versatility with roasted meats.

Drizzle this luxurious sauce over prime rib, beef sandwiches, or roast beef for an instant flavor boost.

Dive into this simple yet sophisticated sauce that transforms ordinary meals into extraordinary dining experiences.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 80 kcal

Servings: 3

All You Need For Au Jus Recipe

For Base Liquids:
  • Beef Drippings: Captures the rich, intense flavor from roasted meats, offering deep umami notes.
  • Butter: Provides a silky smooth base and adds luxurious richness to the sauce.
  • Red Wine or Dry Sherry: Enhances depth with sophisticated, tangy undertones and helps deglaze the pan.
  • Beef Broth: Delivers robust meaty essence and creates the primary liquid foundation.
For Seasonings:
  • Worcestershire Sauce: Adds complex, savory depth with its signature tangy and slightly sweet profile.
  • Garlic Powder: Introduces subtle, aromatic warmth without overwhelming raw garlic intensity.
  • Onion Powder: Contributes gentle, sweet undertones and rounded savory complexity.
  • Salt: Balances and amplifies the overall flavor profile.
  • Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and aromatic brightness.
For Thickening (Optional):
  • Cornstarch: Creates a smooth, glossy texture and helps bind the sauce when mixed with water.
  • Water: Used to create a light slurry for potential sauce thickening.

Utensils To Make Au Jus Recipe Smooth

  • Medium Saucepan: Essential for heating drippings and creating the sauce base.
  • Whisk: Perfect for stirring ingredients and blending smooth, lump-free sauce.
  • Fine Mesh Sieve: Crucial for straining the Au Jus and achieving a silky texture.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons: Help accurately measure broth, wine, and seasonings.
  • Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for stirring and scraping pan bottom while cooking.
  • Small Bowl: Useful for mixing cornstarch slurry if thickening the sauce.

Steps To Cook Au Jus Recipe The Simple Way

  • Flavor Foundation

Start by warming beef drippings in a cozy saucepan over a gentle flame. If drippings aren’t available, butter works beautifully. Lovingly scrape those delicious browned bits from the pan’s bottom to unlock deep, rich flavors.

  • Wine Whispers

Splash in a dash of red wine or dry sherry, letting it dance and reduce for a couple of minutes. This step adds complexity and depth to your sauce.

  • Broth Brilliance

Pour in robust beef broth with a splash of Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle in garlic and onion powders to create a symphonic blend of flavors. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to mingle and get acquainted.

  • Seasoning Symphony

Let your sauce bubble softly for 5-7 minutes, giving flavors time to develop and intensify. Taste and adjust with a pinch of salt and pepper until the flavor feels just right.

  • Smooth Finale

If you desire a slightly thicker consistency, whisk a small amount of cornstarch with water and gently incorporate into the simmering sauce. Allow it to thicken for a minute or two.

  • Serving Elegance

Strain the sauce through a fine mesh to achieve silky smoothness. Serve warm alongside roasted meats or as a dipping companion for hearty sandwiches.

Enhancing Flavors In Your Au Jus Recipe

  • Wine Selection Magic: Choose dry red wines like cabernet sauvignon or pinot noir. Avoid sweet wines which can make the Au Jus taste unbalanced and overly sugary.
  • Quick Thickening Technique: If you prefer a slightly more substantial sauce, use cornstarch sparingly. Add just enough to create a light coating consistency without turning the Au Jus into gravy.
  • Dietary Adaptations: For gluten-free versions, replace Worcestershire sauce with tamari and ensure your broth is certified gluten-free. Vegetarian alternatives can use mushroom broth instead of beef broth with added soy sauce for umami complexity.

Serving Au Jus Recipe With Roasts

  • Roast Beef Companion: Create classic French dip sandwiches by slicing tender roast beef thin and serving alongside a warm, rich Au Jus for dipping.
  • Gourmet Platter Presentation: Arrange sliced prime rib on a wooden board with small ramekins of Au Jus, garnished with fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme for an elegant touch.
  • Sandwich Enhancement: Transform simple sandwiches by drizzling warm Au Jus over roasted beef, turkey, or chicken for added depth and moisture, creating restaurant-quality flavor at home.
  • Veggie Flavor Boost: Use Au Jus as a savory dipping sauce for roasted vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or brussels sprouts to elevate their taste profile with rich, meaty undertones.

How To Store Au Jus Recipe For Later Use

  • Refrigerator Reserve: Store leftover Au Jus in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cool the sauce completely before sealing to maintain its rich flavor profile and prevent bacterial growth.
  • Quick Freezing Technique: Transfer cooled Au Jus into freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays. Frozen portions last up to 3 months, offering convenient flavor boosts for future meals.
  • Reheating Magic: Gently warm refrigerated Au Jus in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Avoid high temperatures to prevent separation and maintain smooth consistency.
  • Flavor Enhancement Tip: When reheating, consider adding a splash of fresh beef broth to revive the original depth and restore its vibrant taste if the sauce seems flat.
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Tender Au Jus Recipe

Tender Au Jus Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 40 reviews

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 3 1x

Description

Succulent prime rib with au jus brings robust flavor from classic French culinary tradition. Savory pan drippings combine with beef stock, creating a rich, intense sauce perfect for dipping roasted meats.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
  • 1 cup beef drippings
  • ¼ cup red wine or dry sherry
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • Salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  1. Initiate Flavor Base: Heat beef drippings or butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, carefully scraping caramelized remnants to build a robust foundational flavor.
  2. Wine Reduction: Deglaze the pan with red wine or dry sherry, allowing the liquid to reduce and concentrate its aromatic essence for 1-2 minutes while gently stirring.
  3. Liquid Infusion: Blend beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder into the pan, creating a harmonious liquid base that develops complex flavor dimensions.
  4. Simmer and Develop: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer for 5-7 minutes, periodically tasting to balance and intensify the emerging flavor profile. If desired, whisk a cornstarch slurry into the simmering liquid to achieve a more velvety consistency.
  5. Refine and Strain: Position a fine mesh sieve over a serving vessel, carefully straining the Au Jus to ensure a smooth, refined texture that will perfectly complement roasted meats or provide an exceptional dipping experience.
  6. Serve and Maintain: Transfer the strained liquid to a warmed serving container, preserving its temperature and ensuring the sauce remains ready to elevate the accompanying protein with its rich, savory character.

Notes

  • Boost Flavor Depth: Scrape caramelized bits from pan bottom to intensify the base flavor profile and create a more complex taste.
  • Control Wine Reduction: Watch the wine carefully while reducing to concentrate flavors without burning, which can introduce bitterness.
  • Adjust Seasoning Gradually: Taste and adjust seasonings in small increments to prevent oversalting or overpowering the delicate meat drippings.
  • Thickening Strategy: Use cornstarch slurry sparingly to maintain the traditional thin, light consistency of classic Au Jus, avoiding heavy gravy-like textures.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Dinner, Appetizer
  • Method: Simmering
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3
  • Calories: 80
  • Sugar: 0 g
  • Sodium: 400 mg
  • Fat: 4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 5 g
  • Cholesterol: 10 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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