Arbys Sauce is ketchup with a kick. No one does this better than Arby’s. We did find that Lea and Perrins gave the best flavor for this sauce.
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Arby’s has been passing this sauce around forever with their roast beef sandwiches. I think this sauce is such a nice change on pastrami or hamburgers, and it’s a great dipping sauce for hot wings. Spread it on a sandwich and your sandwich will zing.
Table of Contents
About Arby’s
Arby’s was the inspiration of two brothers, Forrest and Leroy Raffel who opened the first restaurant in Boardman, Ohio in 1964. They had the idea that there was a market opportunity for eateries based on a food other than hamburgers.
The brothers first wanted to name their restaurants “Big Tex” but that name was already taken. Instead, they chose the name “Arby’s” – based on “R” and “B”, the initials of the Raffel Brothers. Nice and simple.
Arby’s Menu
In the beginning, Arby’s served up only roast beef sandwiches along with potato chips, and soft drinks. Over time, the menu expanded to include beef ‘n cheddar, chicken sandwiches, curly fries, jamocha shakes, and two sauces that became Arby’s famous signature sauces: horsey sauce and Arby’s sauce.
More items have been experimented with and in 1991 Arby’s became the first fast-food chain to offer a complete “lite” menu with several sandwiches and salads coming in at under 300 calories and 94 percent fat-free. Read a lot more about the history of Arby’s.
Homemade Arby’s Sauce
Having to buy something just to get some sauce is kind of expensive, but you can make Arby’s tangy sauce just like they do at home. Mix this sauce up and make the family smile. Make a batch and store it in a covered container in the refrigerator so it will always be on hand.
Ingredients
Here’s what you need:
- Ketchup
- Brown Sugar
- White Vinegar
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Worcestershire Sauce (Lea and Perrins)
- Salt
- Cayenne Pepper
- Water
- Corn Starch
How to Make Arby’s Sauce
- Place all sauce ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed for 15 – 20 seconds.
- Pour ingredients into a small saucepan, heat on medium-low. Simmer gently for twenty minutes, stirring several times.
- After twenty minutes add cornstarch mixture and stir well.
- When sauce begins to thicken, let simmer on a very low temperature for ten minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. The sauce will be similar in thickness to steak sauce.
- Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Want more copycat Arby’s recipes? Try these
Easy Sandwich and Dipping Sauce Recipes
- McDonalds Dipping Sauces – Hot Mustard
- Chick Fil A Sauces – Honey Mustard
- Big Mac Special Sauce Recipe
- Swiss Chalet Sauce – BBQ
- Outback Tiger Sauce Recipes
- BK Sauce
- Red Robin Campfire Sauce
- Smashburger Smashsauce
- Tartar Sauce
Be sure to check out more of my popular fast food copycat recipes and the best dips and sauces.
Arby’s Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup Water
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoon Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup White Vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 3/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
- 3 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce (Lea and Perrins)
- 1/8 teaspoon Salt
- 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Corn Starch Mixture
- 1 tablespoon Corn Starch
- 2 tablespoon Water
Instructions
- Place all sauce ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed for 15 - 20 seconds. Pour ingredients into a small saucepan, heat on medium low. Simmer gently for twenty minutes, stirring several times.
- After twenty minutes add cornstarch mixture and stir well. When sauce begins to thicken, let simmer on a very low temperature for ten minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Mixture will be similar in thickness to steak sauce. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. This sauce is a nice change on hamburgers or pastrami, and great dipping sauce for hot wings.
Heather
There is definitely nutmeg in Arby sauce. I’m eating it right now and that’s the predominant flavor.
Lydia
I have found yours to be the closest online recipe. It’s my preferred go to. I just added 1/8 tsp ground cloves, and it pretty much nails it. Thanks Stephanie
Stephanie
Thank you!
Daver
Perfect! Been missing my Arby’s during the lockdown. This was exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!
Stephanie
I am so glad you like it!
Ed
It was very close and awesomely delicious.. I double the Worcestershire sauce and this made the recipe nearly perfect… thanks for posting it
Debra
I can’t wait to try this! Thank you so very much!
Rita Heilman
Do you happen to have Arby’s “Red Ranch Sauce Recipe?” I love that or do you have their “Greek Sauce” they put on the one sandwich? it sounds like year-o? sorry I can’t remember how to spell it.
Stephanie
I am sorry I don’t have either one of those sauces. I will keep them in mind. I think you are asking about takizi sauce for the Greek sauce.
Matt
When we ran out of red ranch when I worked at arbys, my boss always had me go to the grocery store and buy French dressing. It is exactly the same. I hope this helps!
Rick
I worked for Arby’s in the early 1970’s in Cambridge, MA. I was told the name Arby’s come from the the letters R & B, which stood for Roast & Beef.
Kashi
Loved this sauce.
Bette
For those of you criticizing this because it doesn’t have the three peppers, the title doesn’t say its Arby’s three-pepper sauce. It says Arby’s sauce. The three-pepper has not even been around that long. Arby’s Sauce is the original Arby’s sause that they have been passing out forever with their roast beef sandwiches.
Mark
This may achieve an approximation of the taste.
Stephanie
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I do have paprika, and cayenne, but this does not contain jalapeno at all. The ketchup and the Worcestershire sauce offers additional flavor profiles, that are similar to the listed ingredients.
Thank you for dropping by.
Andres
This recipe is a good sauce, but is only marginally close. The ingredients for the original sauce are located on the Arby’s website. To have a better approximation, replace the ketchup with Heinz or Del Monte Chili Sauce. Ditch the Worcestershire, and add a little red bell pepper puree, ground celery seed, and chipotle powder. Replace the paprika with smoked paprika. That will get you there.
Laura (hotlipslaurag) Grant
WHERE ON THE WEBSITE DO U FIND THE ARBY’S SAUCE RECIPE????
Stephanie
It’s on this page, a little above where you wrote your comment.
Max
Arby’s Sauce®: Water, Corn Syrup, Tomato Paste, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Soybean Oil, Xanthan Gum, Garlic (dehydrated), Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Onion (dehydrated), Spice and Spice Extractives, Artificial Flavor, Extractives of Capsicum.
LizaJane789
This sauce is almost exactly the same as Arby’s Sauce. IMO, it’s the VINEGAR that does it. And the consistancy, Arby’s Sauce isn’t terribly thick. I’ve been looking for this for years, and my family and I think this recipe is the closest match. Thank you!!!
Elmer
I have just discovered Arby’s Three Pepper Sauce within the last four months. Like others, I really like it. However, having to buy something just to get some sauce is getting kind of expensive. Let’s not mention the cardiac issues just around the corner if I continue to make jalapeno bits a staple. So the quest began to duplicate it.
Before I found the recipe you posted. My initial close examination at the sauce
reminded me of a tomato based Hamburger relish the Heinz Company used to
produce. The major difference being, that was a chunky relish and Arby’s product is a sauce. However, both are in similar in flavor from my recollection of the hamburger relish.
A closer look reviled that there were very small pieces of
either pickle or a pepper that appeared to be in a course tomato base. After seeing
your recipe and comparing it to what I already observed, I just didn’t think it
was right.
So here’s what I did.
1 12oz bottle of Aldi’s chili sauce
4 to 5 jarred jalapeno slices, very finely diced
1 heaping Tbsp. light brown sugar
½ tsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish, very finely diced
7 drops hot pepper sauce
1/8 tsp. ground turmeric
Heat all ingredients in a small sauce pan and then let it
cool. I think this sauce is closer but
there is smoothness on the pallet that I can’t seem to totally duplicate.
Enjoy!
Stephanie
I am sure they added some nice xantham gum or something to help make it smooth and creamy.
Tammy Hayes
If you could give me a recipe for the Arby’s French dipping sauce that would be awsome.
Rebecca
It’s just au jus. Concentrated beef broth.
Rebecca
It’s just au jus. Concentrated beef broth.
Jack
Eat all the jalapenos you want, they in no way cause cardiac issues!! Enjoy without worry 🙂
Amandamarcum93
I work at arbys the ingredients are water vinegar salt garlic soy bean oil and pepper spices and capsicum spice
fish
Amandamarcum93 Thats odd! my daughter works there and they do not make it on site. it comes canned or in packets.
Mary Paldino Smith
I really liked this recipe, and I thought it was better than “Arbys Sauce” Kudos to you!
Jgrant6489
Your recipe is not even close to “Arbys Sauce” Just sayin! Tastes like horrible bbq sausce. just sayin!
Railbaron
You SURE you didn’t screw it up???
steve
not everyone can cook lollll
Chipandsalsa
I look forward to trying it! In Sweden, we dont have Arbys, and man do I miss it! Thanks
Fran
I would really like a recipe for Arby’s three pepper sauce
Anonymous
Close enough to the real thing for me!
Tummy
wow thanks. this is terrific