What sauce does Arby’s put on their Beef and Cheddar?

The classic Arby’s Beef and Cheddar sandwich is topped with their signature Red Ranch sauce. It’s not the creamy ranch you might expect. Instead, it’s a tomato-based sauce with a tangy, slightly sweet flavor. You can recreate it at home using ketchup, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Some recipes even add a small pinch of sugar to mimic that fast-food flavor.

What is on an Arby’s Roast Beef and Cheddar?

The sandwich includes thin-sliced roast beef, warm cheddar cheese sauce, Red Ranch sauce, and a soft onion bun. The magic comes from the combination of savory meat, tangy sauce, and creamy cheese, all tucked into a slightly sweet and toasted roll. It’s simple but bold, and easy to make using basic grocery store ingredients.

What does Arby’s use for their roast beef?

Arby’s uses pre-cooked, ultra-thin sliced roast beef that’s steam-heated before serving. For your homemade version, deli-style roast beef works best. Ask your local deli to shave it extra thin to match the texture. The thinner the slice, the closer it will taste to the original.

What does Arby’s season their roast beef with?

The flavor in Arby’s beef mostly comes from the cooking method and its natural juices, not heavy seasoning. In your home version, you don’t need to add much. A pinch of salt and pepper is enough, especially when paired with bold sauce and cheese. Steaming the beef rather than frying it helps retain moisture and deliver that authentic, tender bite you expect from the sandwich.

Copycat Arby’s Beef Cheddar: Best 20-Minute Comfort Recipe

Name: Copycat Arby's Beef Cheddar
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 7 oz thin-sliced deli roast beef; 2 tbsp cheddar cheese sauce; 1 onion sandwich bun; 1 tbsp butter (for toasting); 2 tbsp homemade red ranch sauce (see below); 1/4 cup ketchup; 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar; 1/8 tsp onion powder; 1/8 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce; Pinch of salt

Ingredients

Scale

7 oz thin-sliced deli roast beef

2 tbsp cheddar cheese sauce

1 onion sandwich bun

1 tbsp butter (for toasting)

2 tbsp homemade red ranch sauce (see below)

Red Ranch Sauce:

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/8 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Pinch of salt

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Instructions

1. Make red ranch sauce: Whisk all sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.

2. In a saucepan over low heat, warm cheddar cheese sauce or make fresh by melting cheddar with milk.

3. Butter the insides of the onion bun, then toast in a skillet until golden.

4. Steam thin-sliced roast beef in a covered pan with a splash of water for 2–3 minutes.

5. Spread red ranch on the bottom bun, layer with roast beef, pour cheese sauce over, and close with top bun.

6. Serve immediately while warm.

Notes

For extra richness, add a slice of American cheese to the cheddar sauce.

Store leftover sauce in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Use deli roast beef sliced “shaved” for best texture.

Author: Chef Saly
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Sandwich
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 sandwich
Calories: 610
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 1670mg
Fat: 28g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 36g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 90mg