When it comes to fast food, an Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich is by far one of my favorites. However, after moving out of the DFW Metroplex to a small town in East Texas, the closest Arby's to me is thirty minutes in any direction. This is exactly what led me to create a copycat recipe for these famous sandwiches. Let me tell you, it's much easier than you might think.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
A Copycat Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich is affordable, quick, easy, and only takes a few ingredients. Making it the perfect weeknight meal for a busy family. Plus, who doesn't love a roast beef sandwich? Just be sure to make some Homemade Arby's Sauce and a Copycat Arby's Horsey Sauce, and you're good to go!
Ingredients
Meat: All you'll need is some ultra-thinly sliced deli roast beef. This can be prepackaged or from your deli, whichever you prefer.
Liquid: Just some regular beef broth or stock will do. Nothing fancy.
Bread: I like to serve mine with sesame seed buns that can be found at any local grocery store.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
First, in a medium saucepan, begin by boiling beef broth. The amount of broth that you boil depends on how many sandwiches you're making. As does the amount of roast beef and buns, obviously.
If you want to be as close to Arby's as possible, a regular Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich has 3 ounces of meat. The double is...well...6 ounces. So you can weigh the roast beef into piles if you'd like.
Once you have the piles of roast beef weighed out, add them to the boiling beef broth for about 2 minutes until they're fully heated and almost wilting a bit. Now, place the boiled roast beef on sesame seed split-top buns, top with Homemade Arby's Sauce and Homemade Horsey Sauce.
I like to serve these with Arby's frozen curly fries for the full experience.
BOOM! There you have it, Arby's Roast Beef (Copycat Recipe) Sandwiches.
Expert Tips
- Be careful not to overcook the roast beef when boiling it. If you see that it is starting to wilt at all, it's time to take it out. The main purpose here is to add some extra beefy flavor and heat the meat, not cook it.
- I like to stay true to split top a sesame seed bun. However, sometimes these are a bit more pricey. So, if you really want to be budget-conscious, grab a bag of plain hamburger buns.
- Toasting the buns can also add a different element to the sandwiches. But past that, I recommend just sticking to the classic sauces.
Recipe FAQs
Arby's has an array of roast beef sandwiches. A regular roast beef is the thinly sliced roast beef on a bun. However, there is also the beef and cheddar with a cheese sauce. But of course, you will always want to use Arby's Sauce and Horsey sauce.
Arby's uses slow-roasted beef that's cooked daily and deli-sliced extremely thin just before serving.
Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin Roast Beef is most like Arby's when looking for an at-home alternative to the fast food chain.
A regular Arby's Roast Beef sandwich contains three ounces of thinly sliced roast beef.
More Recipes You'll Love
If you made this Copycat Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich recipe or any other of my recipes, please leave a Star Rating and let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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📖 Recipe
Roast Beef Sandwich(Arby's Copycat)
Ingredients
- 48 oz Thinly Sliced Roast Beef
- 32 oz Beef Broth
- 8 Sesame seed split top buns
Instructions
- Boil Beef Broth
- Measure out 6 ounces of thinly sliced roast beef and make piles on a plate.
- Boil the piles of roast beef in the broth for about 2 minutes.
- Place the boiled roast beef on the buns and top with Arby's Sauce, Horsey Sauce, and Serve.
Video
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the roast beef when boiling it. If you see that it is starting to wilt at all, it's time to take it out. The main purpose here is to add some extra beefy flavor and heat the meat, not cook it.
- I like to stay true to split top a sesame seed bun. However, sometimes these are a bit more pricey. So, if you really want to be budget-conscious, grab a bag of plain hamburger buns.
- Toasting the buns can also add a different element to the sandwiches. But past that, I recommend just sticking to the classic sauces.
Curt says
Nailed it. The simmering in broth got exactly the right texture, taste, and temperature. I looked this up because Arby's Sauce is now for sale in grocery stores. I used the Hillshire Farms ultra-thin roast beef. A seven ounce package makes basically two sandwiches. Thanks so much. You unlocked the part I could never figure out on my own.
Jeremy says
Hey Curt! So glad they turned out for you! It's so quick and easy and you can have way more at a fraction of the price. It's a win-win all the way around.
Vicki Wiechel says
What kind of roast beef? I would like to make the roast myself! Best beef cut for this. You really need to bake your own beef!
Jeremy says
Hey Vicki! Thank you so much for checking out Chicken Fried Kitchen! I used thinly sliced deli roast beef from the grocery store. You could certainly make your roast beef and then slice it with an extremely sharp knife or a meat slicer. I would use a round roast if I were to go that route. Now, this is just my personal opinion, but it seems like that would be a lot of work for something that can be made so quickly. Especially for a budget and time friendly recipe such as this. If you do make them with your own roast beef I would love to know more about how they turn out and how you prepared them! I hope to hear back from you soon.
Ty says
Why no hyperlinks to your sauces?
Jeremy says
Hey Ty! I really wish I had a good answer as to why that is...but I don't. SO, good lookin' out...aaand I'm gonna get that fixed up here right quick!
Jeremy says
Done & Done! Thank you again!