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Make your own Arby’s Beef and Cheddar sandwich right at home with this copycat recipe that tastes better than the fast food version. You’ll love the thinly sliced roast beef and tangy homemade sauce!
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This copycat Arby’s Beef and Cheddar sandwich is one of the tastiest sandwiches I’ve ever had and one of the easiest copycat recipes to make. The cheddar roast beef sandwich is always my go-to when we zip through the Arby’s drive thru. There’s nothing quite like the combination of tender slices of tender roast combined with homemade melted cheddar and the signature tangy red ranch sauce. Each bite delivers a perfect balance of rich beef with creamy cheese. The flavor combination is a win for Arby’s and now a win for you in your own kitchen!
Ingredients in Arby’s Beef and Cheddar
This Arby’s roast beef sandwich is made with simple, easy to find ingredients, and comes together quickly. Here’s all you need:
For the Sandwich
- Roast beef – One pound of deli roast beef, rare. I ask the deli counter at my grocery store to slice the meat super thin. That way it tastes just like the restaurant.
- Onion hamburger buns – you can use regular buns if you like but the onion buns will elevate the flavor and give you that exact taste that the original Arby’s roast beef sandwich offers. Warm them in the oven before assembling, if you like.
Arby’s Cheddar Copycat Recipe
- Butter – two tablespoons unsalted butter
- Flour – two tablespoons of regular, all purpose flour
- Milk – three quarters of a cup. I like using whole milk for this recipe to make the sauce extra creamy, but you can use any kind you like.
- Cheddar cheese – one cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded by hand. Avoid pre-shredded cheese; it just doesn’t melt as well and won’t give you that creamy texture.
- Salt and pepper – to taste
Arby’s Secret Sauce Recipe
- Ketchup – half a cup of your favorite brand of regular ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar – one tablespoon. Find it next to the regular vinegar in the grocery store. It has a deeper, tangier flavor than regular white vinegar.
- Brown sugar – one tablespoon, or a bit more if you like a sweeter sauce.
- Water – a couple of tablespoons to thin out the sauce.
- Salt – just a pinch to taste
- Garlic powder – a quarter teaspoon
- Onion powder – a quarter teaspoon
- Frank’s Hot Sauce – to taste. This is optional but if you like a spicy kick, this is the perfect ingredient.
Steps to the Perfect Arby’s Beef and Cheddar
This sandwich comes together in just a few simple steps:
- First, spray non-stick cooking spray in a medium-sized to large skillet. Over medium heat, cook deli roast beef until heated through. You can add a dash of beef broth to keep the meat nice and juicy.
- Next, whisk together the Arby’s sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Let it simmer for just a few minutes until it’s the thickness you like.
- Then it’s time for the cheese sauce. Whisk together a simple roux of flour and butter, then slowly add the milk and stir until it thickens. Add the cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
- Finally, spread Arby’s sauce on the lower half of the bun and place roast beef on top of the saucy bun. Spoon cheddar cheese sauce on top of the roast beef and place the other half of the bun on the top and serve.
Homemade Cheese Sauce
This homemade cheese sauce is so good and can be used to dip French fries, drizzle over chicken, and of course, this Arby’s roast beef sandwich. But there are some tips to making it creamy and not lumpy:
- Shred the cheese by hand to make the sauce because the package of shredded cheese is tossed with cornstarch and it won’t melt into the creamy sauce the same way.
- If your milk and cheese mixture becomes too thick, add more milk and keep whisking until smooth.
- This also works for reheating the cheddar sauce. Place the cold sauce in a pan over medium low heat with some milk and whisk together as it warms up.
What to serve with the Beef and Cheddar Sandwich
It’s fun to serve these Arby’s Beef and Cheddar sandwiches with curly fries. They actually sell Arby’s curly fries in the freezer section of the grocery store. Or you can make your own with potatoes and an air fryer.
Additional ingredients to top your sandwich
I love eating the Beef and Cheddar just like it is, with a little extra Arby’s sauce for dipping, but there are endless options to make your sandwich the way you like it:
- Shredded lettuce
- Grilled onions
- Sliced tomatoes
- Diced jalapenos
- Onion straws, or fried onion rings
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More Irresistible Copycat Recipes
Whether you’re craving something from your favorite take-out restaurant or wishing to make something from a place that doesn’t exist in your town, we have all sorts of delicious copycat recipes from your favorite restaurants. Make them all at home in your own kitchen!
How to Make Arby’s Beef and Cheddar
Arby’s Beef and Cheddar
Ingredients
- 1 pound thinly sliced deli roast beef, rare
- 8 onion hamburger buns
- 1 cup Arby's Sauce
Cheddar Cheese Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¾ cup milk
- 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (shredded by hand, not pre-packaged)
- salt and pepper to taste
Arby's Sauce Recipe
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- pinch of salt
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Frank's Hot Sauce to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Spray a medium-sized skillet with cooking spray. Cook roast beef in a pan on medium until heated through. If desired, add a dash of beef broth to keep the meat juicy.
- Make the Arby's sauce and spread it over one side of each bun. Place beef on a bun.
- Top meat with cheese sauce and serve.
Arby's Cheese Sauce
- Make the cheddar cheese sauce by melting butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly, and cook for about 1 minute, forming a roux.
- Slowly whisk in milk until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Remove from the heat and stir in cheese. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
Arby's Sauce
- In a small saucepan combine all the Arby's sauce ingredients.
- Simmer over medium heat for a couple of minutes.
Notes
- Add red onion for a fresh kick.
- Use lettuce leaves for crunch and freshness.
- Throw on jalapenos (pickled or fresh) for spice.
- Slices of ripe tomatoes can make this slider very interesting.
- Fried onion rings will add crunch and flavor.
Can the leftover cheese sauce be refrigerated?
Yes you can keep it in the fridge. When reheating, place the cold sauce in a pan over medium low heat with some milk and whisk together as it warms up.