If you are a fan of Arby’s famous roast beef sandwiches, you will love this recipe for a copycat Arby’s Beef and Cheddar! Tender roast beef is piled high, smothered in a rich cheesy sauce, and served on a warm, toasted onion bun. It’s pure comfort food in sandwich form.
This recipe lets you ditch the drive-thru line and the hefty price tag! You can get all the mouthwatering deliciousness of Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar right in your own kitchen.
The secret weapon is your slow cooker. It does all the hard work of making delicious roast beef while you go about your day. You end up with tender, melt-in-your-mouth meat with almost no effort.
With this easy slow cooker recipe, you can enjoy a delicious homemade dinner that is budget-friendly and will leave your family asking for seconds! In this post, I’ll walk through the ridiculously easy steps to bring this sandwich to life, including a few tips and tricks to make it as close to Arby’s as possible.
Try some more of my favorite sandwich recipes! Italian Beef Sandwiches, Pulled Chicken sandwiches, and Cowboy Sandwiches all make delicious dinners.
🥘Ingredient Notes
For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below
- Chuck roast: It’s marbled with fat, so it’ll cook down to be tender in the slow cooker. Plus, it shreds like a dream, making it ideal for piling high on those buns.
- Dried minced onion: Or onion powder.
- Steak seasoning
- Worcestershire sauce
- Arby’s sauce: Arby’s sauce is the signature element that gives these sandwiches a distinct tangy sweetness. You can buy it in stores or find a copycat recipe online.
- Cheddar cheese sauce: Use your favorite cheese sauce. I like Ricos because it melts nicely.
- Hamburger buns: You can use any buns, but Arbys uses onion buns.
🥣How to Make Arby’s Beef and Cheddar
- Put your chuck roast in the slow cooker. Sprinkle it with the dried minced onion and steak seasoning.
- Then, add the Worcestershire sauce and that all-important Arby’s sauce.
- Set your slow cooker to low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Once the roast is tender, shred it with forks. Pile that beef onto your onion buns, drizzle with more Arby’s sauce, and spoon on that creamy cheese sauce.
🍴Serving Ideas
To truly capture the essence of Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar at home, serve these slow cooker beef and cheddar sandwiches with homemade or frozen curly fries. Add a dill pickle spear on the side for that classic drive-thru diner vibe.
For a healthier side, try serving with air fryer sweet potato wedges. They give you that fry flavor with less grease. A crisp garden salad with a tangy vinaigrette can add a refreshing contrast to the rich flavors of the sandwich.
If you want to switch up the flavor, drizzle a bit of ranch sauce on your sandwiches!
💭How to Store
You can store the shredded beef in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It’s best to keep the beef separate from the buns to prevent them from getting soggy.
This beef freezes beautifully. Pack it in a freezer-safe bag or container, and it’ll keep for up to three months. When you’re ready for round two, just thaw in the fridge overnight.
When it’s time to reheat, warm the beef in the microwave or stovetop until it’s hot and steamy. If you’re using the microwave, cover the meat with a damp paper towel to keep it moist.
⭐Tips
Be sure to check out the step by step instructions
- If you’re short on time or just don’t feel like using the two-fork method, you can shred the beef with a hand mixer right in the slow cooker. It’s quick and efficient.
- Try toasting your onion buns before piling on the beef and cheddar for an extra touch of magic. A little time under the broiler or on a skillet can add a delightful crunch.
- If you’re using a jarred cheese sauce, gently warm it before drizzling it over your hot roast beef sandwiches.
- Be mindful of the sauce-to-beef ratio; too much sauce can overpower the meat, and too little can leave you high and dry. Start with the recommended amount and adjust to your liking. Remember, you can always add more but can’t take it away!
- You can add bacon and make these Bacon, Beef & Cheddars.
📝Reader Questions
Absolutely! While chuck roast is ideal for shredding, you can use brisket or round roast if that’s what you have.
No Arby’s sauce? No problem! You can whip up a homemade version with ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, and a few other pantry staples.
To lighten up this indulgent sandwich, you could use a leaner cut of beef and opt for a low-fat cheese sauce. You could also serve the meat on a whole wheat bun or even wrapped in lettuce for a low-carb option.
Don’t skip the onion buns for that authentic Arby’s flavor—they really make a difference. Also, be generous with the Arby’s sauce.
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Arbys Beef and Cheddar Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 pound chuck roast
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion or 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon steak seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups Arbys sauce plus more for serving
- 1 cup cheddar cheese sauce use your favorite, I like Ricos
- 4-6 onion hamburger buns
Instructions
- Place your roast in the bottom of your slow cooker. Sprinkle the steak seasoning and minced onion all over the roast.2-3 pound chuck roast, 1 teaspoon steak seasoning, 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- Pour over the Worcestershire sauce.1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Pour the 1 ½ cups Arbys sauce on the roast.1 ½ cups Arbys sauce
- Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- When the roast is cooked through and falling apart tender use 2 forks to shred it.
- To assemble sandwiches, pile the roast beef on onion buns and top with more Arbys sauce and the cheddar cheese sauce.4-6 onion hamburger buns, 1 cup cheddar cheese sauce
Notes
- Try toasting your onion buns before piling on the beef and cheddar. A little time under the broiler or on a skillet can add a delightful crunch.
- If you’re using a jarred cheese sauce, gently warm it up before drizzling it over your sandwiches.
- Start with the recommended amount of Arbys sauce and adjust to your liking. Remember, you can always add more but can’t take it away!
- You can add bacon and make these Bacon Beef and Cheddars.
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Nutrition Information
Nutrition facts are estimates.
