The Easiest Way to Enjoy a Classic Beef and Cheddar Sandwich
If you’ve read my recipes before, you’ll know that Arby’s will always have a special place in my heart because it’s what I’ve grown up eating with my parents. I craved the Jamocha shakes, enjoyed the seasoned curly fries dipped in Horsey or BBQ sauce, and most importantly, I feel nostalgic when I eat an Arby’s Beef and Cheddar sandwich.
The Famous 5 For 5 Arby’s Deal
Arby’s used to be the king of discounts in the early 90s. People all over the country would go nuts when Arby’s announced their 5 Roast Beef Sandwiches for $5 deal with NO LIMIT. I have vivid memories of watching my father come home with bags upon bags full of roast beef sandwiches. We’re not talking about coming home with 5, we’re talking about 50! My Old Man was a modern day resemblance of the Dad from A Christmas Story with his routine of buying every Roast Beef Sandwich he could get his hands on. When he brought them home along with the cheese dipping sauce you get in the potato chip aisle of the grocery store, and we would all eat at least two of them each, feeling like Kings and Queens, and then he’d wrap them all up individually and freeze them; making meals that would last us an entire month.
With what I know now, I can’t imagine what my sodium levels were at! It’s a good thing I was an athlete and I most likely sweat it all out of my system playing football or wrestling. If I tried that now, I’d easily be laid out on the floor in a fetal position. 😂
The Creation of the Beef and Cheddar
When Arby’s opened in 1964, they were on a mission to think different. Restaurants were all jumping on the ‘burger bandwagon’ and copying each others ideas. Arby’s brought something unique that really stood out: Thinly sliced roast beef sandwiches. Let’s also not forget that the Jamocha shake has been an Arby’s item since day one.
The menu was very straight forward and simple. But as their popularity grew, their competitors tried to take some of the market share away from them. Even KFC tried to get on the roast beef bandwagon with their Kentucky Beef Restaurant.
I love vintage ads and it always shocks me when I look at the prices and how much food somebody would get. I get there’s inflation, but just let me day dream a little here. 😜
The Key to Making Beef and Cheddar at Home: Simplicity
If you scour the internet for copycat recipes, you’ll find many versions of the sandwich. Lots of copycats and people are making the sandwiches so complicated, spending hours to give you a sandwich that you can run to the store and grab really quick. If sodium levels are a concern due to high blood pressure, making a sandwich from scratch may shave off some sodium, but the stress and cost of buying all of the ingredients really will counteract the entire purpose.
The key to making an Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Sandwich is to follow the restaurant’s own strategy: simplicity. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid), and you won’t stress out. You can also bulk-make these sandwiches to feed your entire family very inexpensively.
Below I’m outlining ingredients that you can grab from most grocery stores, Amazon, and other convenient locations. The key to a good Beef and Cheddar copycat comes down to these main ingredients:
- Onion buns
- Roast beef
- The cheddar sauce
- French dressing
If you’re able to get these four ingredients, you’ll have delicious Beef and Cheddar sandwich that will relive the pricing of the $5 for 5 (if not cheaper).
Arby’s Beef and Cheddar Sandwich Recipe
Eating a Arby's was one of my favorite memories growing up. As a kid I was bummed there were no toys, but when I got a hold of that Beef n Cheddar sandwich, nothing else mattered. My father used to take advantage of the 5 for $5 and we would have like 100 sandwiches sitting in the freezer; and we'd eat them every day and never get sick. Anyway, just a fun little story to share with you, and today I want to give you a simple copycat recipe that is super easy to create and have your own sandwich.
- Parchment Paper
- 4 Tablespoons cheddar cheese sauce (This is a great powder that will last a long time for any cheese topping.)
- 2 onion sandwich bun
- 2 Tablespoons Ken's Steak House Lite Country French with Orange Blossom Honey Dressing
- 16 oz thinly sliced roast beef deli meat
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
Lay a sheet of parchment paper flat on the counter.
Place the deli thin sliced roast beef on the paper
Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Throw the buns in for a couple minutes to warm up.
When the beef is almost done, you can either heat the cheddar cheese sauce in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds or take out the roast beef and add a bit of the cheese on top of the roast beef so it melts on top (it's messy but it will be delicious).
Place a layer of the the Country French with Orange Blossom Honey Dressing on the bottom bun, let it absorb in the bread.
- Layer on the roast beef slices piled high.
Spread the heated cheese sauce on top of the roast beef. Add a little more of the dressing so it drips off the sides, just like the Beef n Cheddar.
Finish your sandwich with the other half of the onion bun.