Ultimate Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Copycat Recipe: Better Than the Original

Few fast food sandwiches have achieved the iconic status of Arby’s Beef and Cheddar. This beloved creation features warm, tender roast beef piled high on a toasted onion roll, smothered with creamy cheddar cheese sauce, and finished with their distinctive red ranch sauce. The combination creates a flavor experience that has kept customers returning for decades. You can recreate this famous sandwich at home with our meticulously tested copycat recipe. Using readily available ingredients and simple techniques, you’ll craft signature sauces from scratch and assemble a sandwich that rivals the original. Perfect for satisfying fast food cravings without leaving your kitchen, this recipe delivers all the nostalgic flavor in less than 30 minutes.

homemade Arby's beef and cheddar sandwiches.

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Why This Recipe Works

This copycat of Arby’s Beef and Cheddar recipe succeeds where others fail because it perfectly recreates signature sauces that make the original sandwich so distinctive. Some copycat recipes suggest using Arby’s sauce on this sandwich, but Arby’s uses Red ranch sauce. This makes our recipe different.

The homemade red ranch sauce captures that unique tangy-sweet flavor profile that complements the beef, while the cheese sauce achieves the perfect creamy consistency and rich cheddar taste. Deli-sliced roast beef ensures the meat has the proper ultra-thin texture that Arby’s is known for without requiring specialized equipment. Gently steaming the meat keeps it moist and tender, just like in the restaurant. Finally, toasting the onion bun with a thin layer of butter creates the ideal foundation that stands up to the sauces without getting soggy, resulting in the perfect balance of flavors and textures in every bite.

What Makes this Copycat Arby’s Beef and Cheddar the Best

  • Features both signature sauces made from scratch
  • Uses readily available ingredients
  • Matches Arby’s unique flavor profile
  • The perfect balance of meat and sauces
  • Ready in under 30 minutes
homemade Arby's beef and cheddar sandwich cut in half.

Let’s Talk About the Meat

You can’t serve a great roast beef sandwich with just your average meat. But that doesn’t mean you should go through the trouble of cooking a pot roast to make this sandwich. In fact, don’t!

While your pot roast may be the talk of the neighborhood, what is most important for this sandwich are two things:

  1. The meat must be scarce.
  2. It has to be thinly sliced.

Unless you have a deli slicer at home, you will not be able to cut your home-cooked roast beef thin enough to do this sandwich justice. So, go ahead and buy some from the supermarket and ask the butcher for extra-thin slices.

Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Ingredients

For the Red Ranch Sauce

  • Ketchup – Forms the base of the red ranch sauce
  • Water – Helps achieve the right sauce consistency
  • Onion powder – Adds savory depth to the red ranch sauce
  • Garlic powder – Provides aromatic notes to the red ranch sauce
  • Worcestershire sauce – Contributes umami richness to the red ranch sauce
  • Salt – Enhances all flavors in the red ranch sauce
  • Apple cider vinegar – Creates the signature tangy flavor

For the Cheese Sauce

  • Milk – Thins the cheese sauce to the perfect consistency
  • Cheez Whiz – Provides the authentic base for the cheese sauce
  • Shredded cheddar cheese – Enhances the cheese flavor and creaminess

For the Sandwich

  • Thinly sliced deli roast beef – The star protein of the sandwich
  • Onion hamburger buns with poppy seeds – Create the authentic sandwich foundation
  • Butter – Adds flavor and creates a moisture barrier on the buns
Arby's beef and cheddar sandwich ingredients on a tray.

How to Make Arby’s Beef and Cheddar

You’ll need to make the sauces first.

Red ranch sauce: In a small bowl, combine ketchup, water, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and apple cider vinegar. Stir to combine.

Cheese sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the Cheez Whiz, milk, and shredded Cheddar cheese on low until the cheese has melted, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to simmer.

Building a Beef and Cheddar Arby’s Sandwich Like a Pro

  1. Heat a skillet over medium heat until hot.
  2. Spread the slices of roast beef evenly on the bottom of the pan.
  3. Sprinkle a tablespoon of water on top of the roast beef and cover immediately.
  4. Turn down the burner to medium-low and cook for 3 minutes until the meat is hot.
thin deli roast beef slices in a skillet.
  1. Meanwhile, spread a thin layer of butter on the inside of the top and bottom onion kaiser rolls. Pop the buns in the toaster for a few minutes to toast and crisp up. The butter adds a whole lot of flavor and a little extra protection against the wet roast beef turning the bun into a soggy mess.
  2. Next, spoon some red ranch sauce on the bottom bun. Not too much. A tablespoon should be enough.
  3. Remove the meat from the pan with tongs, shake off any extra water, and mound it on top of the Red Ranch sauce.
  4. Pour the warm cheddar cheese sauce over the roast beef, add the top bun, and serve with plenty of French fries or onion rings.
assembling homemade Arby's Beef and Cheddar sandwiches.

Variations

  • Add crispy onions
  • Use different cheese blends
  • Try potato or brioche buns
  • Add bacon or mushrooms
  • Make it spicy with jalapeños

Storage and Reheating

Sauce Storage:

  • Store sauces separately in airtight containers
  • Refrigerate cheese sauce for up to 3 days
  • Refrigerate red ranch sauce for up to 1 week

Reheating Instructions:

Open foil for last 2 minutes to crisp bun

Cheese Sauce:

  • Add a splash of milk
  • Heat over low heat
  • Stir frequently until warm

Complete Sandwich:

  • Wrap in foil
  • Heat at 350°F for 10 minutes
closeup of a homemade Arby's beef and cheddar sandwich.
homemade Arby's beef and cheddar sandwiches.

Homemade Arby’s Beef and Cheddar: Complete Copycat Recipe

Recreate Arby's iconic Beef and Cheddar sandwich at home with this authentic copycat recipe, including homemade red ranch and cheddar cheese sauces. Ready in 30 minutes!
4.90 from 46 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Arby’s Beef and Cheddar, Arby’s Recipes, Beef and Cheddar Sandwich
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 568kcal

Ingredients

Arby’s Red Ranch Sauce

  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Arby’s Cheese Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 cup Cheez Whiz
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Roast Beef Sandwich

  • 16 ounces sliced roast beef higher quality lunch meat
  • 4 onion sandwich buns
  • 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

Arby’s Red Ranch Sauce Preparation

  • Combine the ketchup, water, onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Set aside.

Make Arby’s Cheese Sauce Preparation

  • Heat the Cheez Whiz, milk, and shredded cheddar cheese in a small saucepan on low heat until the cheese has melted. Reduce heat to a simmer.

Roast Beef Sandwich Preparation

  • Layer slices of roast beef in a nonstick skillet.
  • Sdd 1 tablespoon of water. Place the lid on the skillet. Turn the heat to medium and allow the beef to steam for 3 to 4 minutes.
  • In the meantime, slice the onion buns if necessary
  • Butter the inside of the buns, and toast in a hot skillet.
  • Build the sandwich by spreading about 1 tablespoon of Arby’s Red Ranch Sauce on the bottom bun. Add 1/4 of the roast beef to each sandwich, and top with Arby’s Cheese Sauce. Cover the sandwich with the top bun.

Video

Notes

Pro Tips for Success

  • Use very thinly sliced rare roast beef
  • Ask your deli to slice the meat “shaved” or “extra thin”
  • Don’t skip buttering the buns – it prevents sogginess
  • Keep sauces warm but not hot
  • Assemble just before serving

Nutrition

Calories: 568kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 3306mg | Potassium: 601mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 52mg | Calcium: 650mg | Iron: 5mg

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About Stephanie Manley

Stephanie Manley is the creator of CopyKat.com. She has been recreating copycat recipes since 1995. Learn more about Stephanie Manley.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Camille Banks

    4 stars
    We just finished eating these and though they were delicious, definitely some things I would do differently next time, cuz there WILL be a next time…

    1.) First off, the meat. I got Hillshire Farms Ultra Thin sliced roast beef and Land O Frost think sliced roast beef. Hillshire was definitely the closest to Arby’s flavor and texture. I would add a packet of au jus powder mix as directed on the package, bring it to a simmer, and then put the meat in at the very last RIGHT BEFORE you’re ready to make the sandwiches just to warm the meat only. Also, and I can’t stress this enough, ONLY use enough meat you know you’re going to use/eat. We didn’t use it all and the remaining meat was like silicone. Can’t cook lunch meat that’s already cooked and expect greatness for long.
    2.) I would use any store brand plain cheddar cheese dip/sauce, or Walmart’s Great Value Stadium Style Cheddar Cheese Dip is a good mild dip, just not Cheez Whiz. Then add the 1/4 cup of grated mild cheddar or colby jack and maybe just 1 – 1 1/2 Tbsp milk instead of 2 T. You can always add more if it’s too thick.
    3.) The sauce was good, but not quite right. Luckily, I bought Ken’s Country French Dressing as well and it was very good and so close to Arby’s Red Ranch Sauce. I would also like to give Catalina French Dressing a try as I’ve heard it’s supposed to be very close too.

    I will absolutely be making these again with just a couple changes is all, they are delicious!

  2. Betty J Brigham

    I would love to know how to make Arby’s fried macaroni and cheese balls. My great grandchildren love them. Thank you.

    • Holly

      The beef n cheddar has red ranch sauce on it which the recipe states. It does not have any Arby’s sauce on it. They are two couple different sauces. Red ranch sauce is sweet and is only on the beef n cheddar sandwiches. You can however get Arby’s sauce packets to add on the sandwich, either at the drive thru or in the restaurant.

      • Brian White

        3 stars
        ive been making these for years, the best i have i have made after so many tries is so easy. the red ranch i use kens steakhouse country french dressing and the big can of chedder cheese sauce at gordons food center. it taste just like the real deal and you can buy a big bag of curly fries and have all the cheese for them to boot.

  3. Mary Price

    Cheese Whiz is getting harder to find in my neck of the woods. Velveeta sells their cheese sauce in bags at Dollar General. It worked perfectly, and tasted delicious.

  4. Roxanne J

    5 stars
    you can use Catalina salad dressing for Red ranch sauce too, tastes just like it. this is one of my very favorite sandwiches from Arby’s.

    • Holly

      No it’s not. Catalina dressing is not the same as Arby’s red ranch sauce. It does not taste the same at all. The only thing that comes a little close to Arby’s red ranch sauce is Ken’s Steakhouse Country French with Orange Blossom Honey Dressing.

4.90 from 46 votes (37 ratings without comment)

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