The best homemade copycat Arby’s Sauce

Arby’s Sauce is ketchup with a kick. No one does this better than Arby’s. You don’t need to worry about not having enough sauce anymore! Use it on your roast beef sandwiches, homemade beef and cheddar sandwiches, and so much more, this sauce packs so much flavor! Try this one today.

Copycat Arby's sauce in front of a roast beef sandwich.


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Sandwich and Dipping Sauce

Arby’s has been passing this sauce around forever with its 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.

What is Arby’s sauce?

If you have never had Arby’s sauce, has a sweet, tangy, and spicy flavor. It is a marriage made in heaven when it comes to flavor. You can make your own version of their signature sandwich at home with this easy recipe. It’s so much more than a tangy barbecue sauce!

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 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 for this copycat Arby’s sauce recipe:

  • Ketchup
  • Brown Sugar
  • White Vinegar
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Paprika
  • Worcestershire Sauce (Lea and Perrins)
  • Salt
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Water
  • Corn Starch
Copycat Arby's sauce ingredients on a tray.

How to Make Arby’s Sauce

  1. Place all sauce ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed for 15 – 20 seconds.
  2. Pour ingredients into a small saucepan, and heat on medium-low. Simmer gently for twenty minutes, stirring several times.
  3. After twenty minutes add the cornstarch mixture and stir well.
  4. When the sauce begins to thicken, let simmer at a very low temperature for ten minutes.
Copycat Arby's sauce in a pan.
  1. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. The sauce will be similar in thickness to the steak sauce.
  2. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
Copycat Arby's sauce and a roast beef sandwich.

How to Use Arby’s Sauce

Of course, you are going to want to use this on your own shaved roast beef sandwich. This sauce has the perfect balance of flavor, so you can use it on other food like:

  • Pour a little on your favorite burgers for a change.
  • Dip french fries into this sauce.
  • Use as a sauce for chicken tenders.
  • Dip mozzarella sticks into this sauce!
  • Make sloppy joes using this sauce, this is one of my family’s favorite dinners!

How to Store Arby’s Sauce

Now that you have made the sauce, you may not consume it all in one sitting. You can store this in either an airtight jar, mason jar, or other airtight containers. I love to place this into a squeeze bottle so I can squirt it into a sandwich!

This will last in your refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arby’s Sauce

Is Arby’s sauce the same as red ranch?

No, Arby’s serves the red ranch sauce on their beef ‘n’ cheddar. The regular Arby’s sauce is used on their classic sandwich and is available in packets upon request.

Is Arby sauce the same as barbecue sauce?

This classic sauce may be viewed as a barbecue sauce, but it has a larger range of spices in it to give it more flavor. This sauce is also thinner than most traditional barbecue sauce.

What does Arbys Sauce taste like?

Arby’s sauce tastes like a BBQ sauce that has been leveled up. It packs a kick of garlic, onion, paprika, and so much more.

Copycat Arby's sauce in a small glass bowl.

Want more copycat Arby’s recipes? Try these!

Easy Sandwich and Dipping Sauce Recipes

Be sure to check out more of my popular fast food copycat recipes and the best dips and sauces.

Copycat Arby's sauce in front of a roast beef sandwich.

Arby’s Sauce

You can make Arby’s famous sauce just like they do. 
4.90 from 64 votes
Print Pin Rate Add to Collection
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Arby’s Recipes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 32kcal

Ingredients

  • 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
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Place all the ingredients except the cornstarch into a blender with 1 cup of water and blend on high speed for 15 to 20 seconds.
  • Pour the mixture into a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring several times.
  • Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce and mix well.
  • When sauce begins to thicken, let it simmer on a very low temperature for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. The sauce should be similar in thickness to steak sauce.
  • Store in a covered container in the refrigerator and serve with hamburgers, pastrami, or hot wings.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 1.2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lydia

    4 stars
    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

  2. Ed

    5 stars
    It was very close and awesomely delicious.. I double the Worcestershire sauce and this made the recipe nearly perfect… thanks for posting it

  3. 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.

    • 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

    • 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.

  6. Andres

    4 stars
    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.

      • Max

        4 stars
        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.

  7. LizaJane789

    5 stars
    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!!!

  8. 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!

  9. Amandamarcum93

    I work at arbys the ingredients are water vinegar salt garlic soy bean oil and pepper spices and capsicum spice

    • fish

      5 stars
      Amandamarcum93 Thats odd! my daughter works there and they do not make it on site. it comes canned or in packets.

  10. Jgrant6489

    Your recipe is not even close to “Arbys Sauce” Just sayin! Tastes like horrible bbq sausce. just sayin!

4.90 from 64 votes (43 ratings without comment)

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