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    Home » Recipes » Sandwich

    How to Make Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich

    Published: Jan 10, 2018 · Modified: Dec 2, 2020 by Fox Valley Foodie · This post may contain affiliate links

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    How to Make Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich - Copycat Recipe

    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.

    Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich CopycatFile 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.

    How to Make Arby's Roast BeefArby's Roast Beef Copycat Ingredients

    It 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.

    Arby's Roast Beef Recipe

    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.

    Arby's Roast Beef

    How to Make Arby's Roast Beef Sandwich

    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.
    4.79 from 37 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved
    Course: Sandwich
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 2 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 minute
    Total Time: 3 minutes
    Servings: 1
    Calories: 192kcal
    Author: Fox Valley Foodie

    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

    Scale this recipe up to make as many sandwiches as you desire.
     
    You will want to check out my Arby's Sauce recipe too for a perfect condiment to serve on your sandwich!

    Nutritional Information

    Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 1151mg | Potassium: 228mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 28.1mg | Calcium: 248mg | Iron: 2.8mg
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    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.

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    « Arby's Sauce Copycat Recipe
    Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Wings - Baked »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jon A

      October 03, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      5 stars
      We just tried this recipe and it turned out fantastic! We used Hillshire Farms meat and I was stunned how similar it was to Arby's roast beef. We also bought some deli roast beef so we could compare and it was not as good, but okay.
      We also used Secret Stadium Sauce for Arby's sauce which is a little spicier but very similar.

      Also, for others, the point is not to make a cheaper option to Arby's, it's to see if you can recreate it at home. Plus most Arby's around us are no longer dine in.

      Thanks for posting this!

      Reply
    2. Bob

      August 05, 2022 at 1:20 pm

      Hilshire Farms roast beef comes in 7oz tubs for $5. You can either make two sandwiches with 3.5oz each or 3 sandwiches with 2.3oz. In our local supermarket a bag of 8 Pepperidge Farms sesame buns is usually $4 or $.50 each. If you make 2 sandwiches they would cost $3.00 each. Arby’s sells them 2 for $6. Where’s the savings?

      Reply
      • Sandy

        September 03, 2022 at 9:33 am

        Have to agree with Bob. I just finished making this using Hillshire Farms Roast Beef. The meat was not good.
        However, on the positive side, Pepperidge Farms makes an excellent bun. You can buy an onion roll with sesame seeds. 2 packs for $6 at Food Lion yesterday.

        Reply
    3. Ruth

      July 01, 2022 at 11:15 pm

      Team Onion Bun!!

      Reply
    4. Sarah

      June 14, 2022 at 10:09 am

      Do you think the sandwiches could be made and frozen? My grandma is not well and love arby’s so I wondered if I could pre-make some for her to pull out of freezer as she needs to eat. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Fox Valley Foodie

        June 15, 2022 at 8:47 am

        I haven't tried it, but I do think it may be possible. I would recommend wrapping one in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn and test it out.

        Reply
      • Bruce Johnson

        December 28, 2022 at 9:42 am

        You can always vaccum seal the meat once it is cooked. When ready, you simply take it out and let it thaw. Then you simply drop the bag in a pot of boiling water for a short time to heat it up, take it out and cut the bag open and then you are ready to go!

        Reply
    5. Tara

      May 17, 2022 at 1:38 pm

      Interesting....the Arbey's in my area use onion buns. That's part of what makes them so great 😊

      Reply
      • Sarah

        May 31, 2022 at 2:24 pm

        Butterball roast beef tastes the most like Arby's but I've only ever seen it sold at one Piggly wiggly that's like an hour and a half away from me. Not sure if it's sold in your area but I've tried the ones you mentioned and it's so much better.

        Reply
        • Jeri

          November 05, 2022 at 5:25 pm

          Butterball? I never knew they made anything outside of turkey products. I’ll have to check our piggly wiggly.

          Reply
    6. Gina

      May 05, 2022 at 6:32 pm

      Your so correct on this method. I'm glad someone knows how it's really done. Thanks

      Reply
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