Making Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich at home is more than just the beef and bun. Let me take you through how to replicate this classic in your own kitchen.
“Oh great, the Fox Valley Foodie is going to tell me how to make a sandwich consisting solely of roast beef and a hamburger bun. What ancient cipher did he discover to crack that code?” Yeah, yeah, I know. Don’t roll your eyes at me! However, the secret to this Arby’s Roast Beef copycat recipe is not the two ingredients needed, but rather how it is prepared.
File this recipe under “because I can.” Though I would argue the great thing about learning how to make food at home is that you don’t have to eat so much fast food, sometimes it is fun to replicate your favorite fast food flavors just because you can. Plus, it is always a great way to impress your kids. You do want your kids to love you, don’t you???
How to Make Fast Food at Home
I’m not going to lie. I get a certain sense of satisfaction from being able to demystify fast food in my own kitchen. The Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich copycat recipe was inspired by my attempt to create Arby’s Sauce the other day. However, I have also previously tackled How to Make a Fast Food Burger and Panda Express Chow Mein.
Arby’s Roast Beef Copycat Ingredients
Arby’s Roast Beef Copycat IngredientsIt is no secret, the two ingredients needed for this Arby’s Roast Beef copycat recipe are roast beef and hamburger buns. However, the type of roast beef you select will make a big difference. Skip the deli counter and head to the refrigerated meat section. You are looking for pre-packaged ultra thinly sliced roast beef. I found Hillshire Farm and Land ‘O Frost were two brands that sold ultra thin roast beef with reasonably close flavor to the classic Arby’s Roast Beef. Don’t bother with the Buddig brand. Along with its curiously pink color, it doesn’t taste anything like Arby’s… or beef… or meat.
After purchasing a couple sandwiches from Arby’s to compare, I weighed the beef prior to eating. Each sandwich has exactly 2.2 ounces of meat (UPDATE: I have been informed by readers who work at Arbys that I should have been given 3 ounces of meat), however, feel free to add more if you desire a bigger sandwich.
The best bun to replicate an Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich is a sesame seed hamburger bun. I found Pepperidge Farm even sold one that has the wavy top, just like Arby’s. However, in reality, any sesame seed bun should suffice.
How to Make Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich
Once you have the right ingredients, you can’t just throw it together and call it a day. The taste and texture will be completely off. The true Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich is homogeneously warm and tender and to replicate the true experience your sandwich needs to mimic that texture.
The roast beef needs to be heated, just as it is in the fast food joint. To do this in your kitchen, using your microwave or skillet on the stovetop would be the obvious choices. However, the microwave cooks unevenly and will quickly turn portions of your beef rubbery, and you don’t want to risk searing or crisping the beef in a hot fry pan. Instead, heat an inch or two of water in a saucepan and dunk the slices of roast beef in the hot liquid for approximately 10 seconds. The meat will be fully cooked through, yet still perfectly tender.
After lightly toasting the buns, the whole sandwich can be assembled and then thrown in the microwave for 11 seconds. This warms the bun and modifies the sandwich’s texture to perfectly resemble what you would expect to be served in a fast food joint.
All that is left to do is to act like you hate your life as you serve your family the wrong order.
How to Make Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 hamburger bun with sesame seeds
- 3 ounces ultra thinly sliced roast beef (Hillshire Farms or Land O' Frost are good options)
Instructions
- Add 2 inches of want to a saucepan and heat until almost boiling. Heat separate skillet on a different burner over medium-high heat.
- Lightly toast inside of hamburger bun in the skillet until it is just starting to brown, then remove bun from skillet.
- Separating each slice of roast beef, so they are not sticking together, briefly dunk meat in hot water until cooked through and warmed. Approximately 10 seconds.
- Assemble your sandwich by placing the warmed beef on the bun and place in the microwave on high for 11 seconds.
- Serve at your leisure.
Notes
If you enjoyed reading How to Make Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwich then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today.
J. Juarez says
Wow haha that’s cool, finally something in my cooking-skill range. Thanks!
Albert Bevia says
Living in Spain, we ain´t got no Arby´s, so I appreciate this recipe…thanks for the inspiration to make these beauties 🙂
D says
“Ain’t got no”. That is a joke, right?
Klaus Schmidt says
Spain Alabama?
ky says
you know this person could be from the south and then moved to spain, right?
Becca says
This is soooo good. I also get satisfaction from copying items claimed to be one of a kind! Love this!
Carrie says
You are The Best! Seriously! This is my son’s all time fave fast food but it is enough of a drive that we maybe go two times a year.
I have been searching for a recipe for this but all I kept finding was people calling something Arby’s or better than Arby’s and it is just a crockpot roast in bbq sauce.
This is exactly what we were looking for! Added a bit of beef broth to the boiling water and next time will add a bit of salt. Our options at the store close to home for deli type meats are very limited, and this one needed salt.
But we agreed it is going on the regular easy meal list and I could eat another right now!
Thanks again
Fox Valley Foodie says
Yes! I totally know what you are talking about. I stumbled on those other recipes too when I was creating this one, and I agree it is really frustrating.
Charles Putzer says
I found a top round roast at a local grocery store 4 pounder. seasoned it and baked. then sliced thin slices got me some hawian onion buns made your Arby’s sauce and found horsey sauce recipe made both. slappen meat on bun with cheese microwaved it 1 minute added sauce and Bam. good stuff HighFive to you
Susan Ross says
I have a deli slicer what i want to know is what type of roast
John Mauney says
@Susan_Ross I don’t think that’s going to work. Arby’s doesn’t use a real beef roast; they use a processed roast that could be specially made for them. You can look in the deli to see if they make processed “roast” but I’ve never seen it before. The only other places that I am aware of are the lunch meat packages mentioned by this article (that’s why it says to skip the deli).
Fox Valley Foodie says
John is correct.
Gene says
Arbys does use “Real” roast beef. Do you understand what “processed” means when referring to a food item. Look at the package of chicken legs or breasts in the grocery store. Almost all brands add “broth” as they call it. Is that now not “real” chicken? Of course it is real, it is also processed. Canned vegetables are obviously processed.
You make it sound like Arbys uses meat that has been minced and formed into a loaf using a binding agent. Absolutely not true.
Melissa says
Making this tonight. But I’m going to add melty cheddar Mmmmm
Yvette Kerr says
Mmm…THIS sounds soooo damn good especially since I have Been wanting this soo bad!! But can you please let me know what brands you used to make the yummy, melty cheddar cheese and exactly what you did please!??? I have been craving beef n cheddar since i can remember last year lol
Mike says
The last paragraph of your article was hilarious and accurately represents the reality of employee apathy at fast food joints. Great recipe as well!
Sandy says
Haha, I worked there in college…we legit had to measure out the meat perfectly!
Patty says
Hahahahhaha! The last part! Serve your family the wrong order Hahahahha thabks for the recipe and laughs
Andy says
Arby’s roast beef sandwich is on an onion bun not sesame seed bun
Fox Valley Foodie says
That would be the Roast Beef and Cheddar you are thinking of. The classic roast beef is a toasted sesame seed bun as seen here: https://arbys.com/our-menu/beef/roast-beef
Fitz says
If you weighed only 2.2 ounces of meat then of the following is happening.
1.) Your Arbys scale is off
2.) Your scale is off.
3.) Your Arbys is short changing you on the beef
Arbys classic RB are suppose to weigh in at 3 ounces.
Melissa says
Actually I work at arby’s actually it gets exactly 3 ounces of roast beed
Fox Valley Foodie says
Thanks for letting me know. I guess they just shortchanged me. I’ll update the recipe!
Kevin says
This is good, but I had to upgrade. We have a toaster oven, which makes everything easier. First I cut a thicc slice of cabot seriously sharp cheddar. I placed the cheese onto a slice of normal wheat bread, and stuck it into the toaster oven along with a blank piece of bread. Toast until the cheese begins to melt, then pull the blank slice out of the toaster. Spread a thin layer of mayo onto the bread, then a packet of arbys horsey sauce. You could just mix horseradish and mayo. Stack on the roast beef. Next pull the fully melty slice out of the toaster oven, and stick the loaded roast beef slice back into the toaster and toast another cycle. When happy, join both slices together and enjoy. I think I forgot bacon 🙁
David says
I actually use a tip roast and created a paste using garlic, black pepper, kosher salt, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. Rubbed the paste both sides of the roast and cooked it in a slow cooker on low until the internal temperature reached 135.
Sadie says
Would warming the meat in a crockpot of water work?
Fox Valley Foodie says
Yeah that should be fine, the thinly sliced beef won’t take long to heat through though.