A Copycat Arby’s Beef N’ Cheddar tastes just like the original, but it’s ready in a flash with ingredients already in your kitchen. Get your favorite fast food sandwich fix without ever leaving the house!
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One of my favorite fast food sandwiches is the Arby’s Beef ‘N Cheddar.
Mmm, with its roast beef smothered in a magical golden cheese sauce on a soft bun topped with tangy Arby’s sauce.
It’s a thing of beauty.
But it physically pains me to pay for fast food when I can make something of equal or greater quality and taste at home.
My husband, a die-hard Arby’s flavor fanatic, agreed this sandwich is an Arby’s clone.
I think he’s wrong.
These taste better!!
It’s the same great flavor you love, but without any of the old greasy taste.
Ingredients
To make these you’ll need:
- Buns– Onion buns
- Roast beef– Thinly sliced from the deli. The thin cut is important as it will give you more tender roast beef that will melt in your mouth.
- Cheese– American cheese
- Milk
- Spices– Ground black pepper and garlic powder
- Sauce ingredients– Ketchup, water, garlic powder, onion powder, salt
How to Make
It’s so easy to make a roast beef n cheddar at home that you’ll wonder why you ever would want to go to Arby’s in the first place!
To do it, just heat a skillet over medium heat.
Add the meat to the warm skillet and cover it with a lid.
Then turn the heat to medium low.
While the meat warms, stir together the sauce ingredients and spread the sauce on the buns.
Put a small pot on the stove over medium low heat.
Add the cheese, milk, garlic powder, and pepper to the pot.
Stir everything together until completely melted and evenly combined.
Then assemble the sandwiches by piling the warm roast beef onto the buns.
Top the meat with cheese sauce and more Arby’s sauce if desired before closing the sandwich with the other half of the bun.
Serve immediately, with curly fries, for an authentic in-home Arby’s experience.
Enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
I don’t recommend planning for leftover assembled sandwiches as the sandwiches will get soggy in the fridge.
However, if you have leftover beef, cheese sauce, or Arby’s sauce, you can store them separately in their own individual air tight containers in the fridge for a few days.
Should I toast the rolls?
It’s up to you!
Arby’s does toast the onion roll in their classic sandwich but you can skip it if you prefer.
What is the sauce on Arby’s Beef n Cheddar??
It’s not actually the classic Arby’s sauce, but something they call Red Ranch.
I find this sauce closest to Catalina salad dressing.
You can also buy Arby’s special sauce, which is different from the tangier Red Ranch, at most grocery stores or online HERE.
Where can I buy the best tasting roast beef?
If you have a Kroger nearby, you can buy their store brand.
I also highly recommend Boar’s Head.
Whatever brand you buy, I recommend buying the medium doneness.
Tip and Tricks
- Ask the deli to thinly slice the beef.
- You could substitute shredded cheddar for the American cheese in the sauce if you prefer or even use Velveeta instead,
- Don’t want to make the sauce? Buy a bottle of Catalina dressing and save yourself a step!
- For the full Arby’s experience, serve these with Arby’s curly fries. You can find them in bags in the frozen french fry section of most grocery stores.
Other Fast Food Copycat Recipes
We love these copycat Arby’s beef n’ cheddar sandwiches to satisfy our cravings at home.
Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other fast food copycat recipes?
Try these:
- Copycat Chick Fil A Sandwiches
- McDonald’s Big Mac (Copycat Recipe)
- Taco Bell’s AM Crunch Wrap
- Instant Pot ‘McRib’ Sandwiches (McDonald’s Copycat)
If you’ve tried these COPY CAT ARBY’S BEEF N’ CHEDDAR sandwiches, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Copycat Arby's Beef N' Cheddar
Ingredients
- 4 onion buns
- 1 lb thinly sliced, deli roast beef
- 5 slices American cheese
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- ground black pepper, to taste
For The Arby's Signature Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tsp water
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the meat and place a lid over the top, and then turn the heat to medium low.1 lb thinly sliced, deli roast beef
- Meanwhile, stir together the Arby's sauce ingredients and spread on the buns.4 onion buns, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tsp water, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, pinch of salt
- In a pot on the stove on medium-low heat, add cheese, milk, garlic powder, and pepper and stir until completely melted and evenly combined.5 slices American cheese, 3 tbsp milk, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, ground black pepper, to taste
- Place the meat on the buns, add the cheese sauce, and a little more Arby's sauce (if desired). Top the sandwiches off with their other half.
- Serve immediately, with curly fries, for an authentic in-home Arby's experience.
Notes
- Ask the deli to thinly slice the beef.
- You could substitute shredded cheddar for the American cheese in the sauce if you prefer or even use Velveeta instead,
- Don't want to make the sauce? Buy a bottle of Catalina dressing and save yourself a step!
- For the full Arby's experience, serve these with Arby's curly fries. You can find them in bags in the frozen french fry section of most grocery stores.
Nutrition
recipe adapted from Oh Sweet Basil
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Annette Williams says
How many bound of roast beef do I need to make a meal for 7 people when they want 3 each?
Sheila says
I would use 6 lbs that way you have a little more left over to pile on.
Molly says
Arby’s toast their buns; FYI
Cyndi says
Catalina dressing is not remotely close to Arby’s sauce. Your cheese sauce worked well though!
Lesley says
Agreed. The red sauce only tasted like ketchup. I added some Worcestershire and A1 and more garlic powder. Tasted a little better
Heather says
I picked up the Arby’s Signature Sauce from the store and made these; very well received by my family. So happy it was simple and satisfying.