Arby's Cheese Sauce: What's In The Melty Goodness?

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Arby's cheese sauce is a beloved component of their famous Beef and Cheddar sandwich. The sauce is known for its creamy texture and gooey consistency, perfectly complementing the thinly sliced roast beef and signature Red Ranch sauce. While the exact recipe for the cheese sauce remains a closely guarded secret, some have attempted to recreate it at home, achieving a similar flavour and texture. The homemade versions typically include ingredients such as cheddar cheese, butter, milk, flour, and various seasonings, resulting in a delicious sauce that can be drizzled over the sandwich or used for dipping.

Characteristics Values
Type of Cheese Cheddar
Consistency Creamy
Texture Gooey
Ingredients Ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, butter, flour, milk, and sharp cheddar cheese

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Arby's cheese sauce ingredients

Arby's cheese sauce is a key ingredient in their famous Beef and Cheddar sandwich. The sandwich is made with thinly sliced roast beef, cheddar cheese sauce, and their signature Red Ranch sauce, served on a toasted onion roll. While the exact recipe for the cheese sauce is not publicly available, several copycat recipes online suggest ways to recreate it at home.

One recipe recommends using a combination of ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, whole milk, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese. The recipe starts by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat and then stirring in flour. Milk is then slowly added while whisking constantly. The mixture is brought to a simmer before removing it from the heat and stirring in the cheese until melted.

Another recipe suggests using a similar set of ingredients, including ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, butter, flour, milk, and shredded cheddar cheese. The process involves melting butter, adding flour and cooking for a minute, and then slowly whisking in milk to form a béchamel-like sauce. The cheese is then added and stirred until melted.

While these recipes may not be exact replicas of Arby's cheese sauce, they provide a close approximation that can be used to create a delicious, cheesy sandwich at home. The key to achieving the right texture and flavor is in the cooking process, ensuring that the sauce is smooth, creamy, and well-combined.

In addition to the Beef and Cheddar sandwich, Arby's also offers other menu items that feature cheese sauce, such as their fried macaroni and cheese balls, which are another popular choice among customers.

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How to make Arby's cheese sauce

Arby's cheese sauce is a key component of their iconic Beef and Cheddar sandwich. The following recipe will allow you to recreate this delicious sauce at home.

Ingredients:

  • Unsalted Butter
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Whole Milk
  • Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Optional:

  • Ketchup
  • Brown Sugar
  • Vinegar
  • Worcestershire Sauce
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder

Instructions:

First, prepare your ingredients. It is important to have everything ready before you begin cooking, as the process moves quickly once started. Shred the cheese, measure out the milk, and gather and measure the remaining ingredients.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the flour and cook for approximately 1 minute, stirring constantly to avoid burning. This step creates a roux, which will thicken the sauce and provide a base for the cheese to melt evenly.

Slowly whisk in the milk, being careful to avoid lumps. Continue whisking until the mixture comes to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.

Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until melted. If you prefer a smoother sauce, you can blend it at this point using an immersion blender.

At this stage, you can also add in the optional ingredients (ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder) to taste if you want to create a copycat version of Arby's signature sauce. These additional ingredients add a tangy, slightly sweet, and savory dimension to the cheese sauce.

Your Arby's-style cheese sauce is now ready to be served! Enjoy it on sandwiches, as a dip for fries, or however, you desire.

Tips:

  • For a smoother sauce, use a blend of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
  • If the sauce becomes too thick, thin it out with a small amount of warm milk.
  • For a more intense cheddar flavor, use sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese.

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Arby's Beef and Cheddar sandwich

  • Ketchup
  • Brown sugar
  • Vinegar
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
  • Butter
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Sharp cheddar cheese

The key to achieving the signature taste and texture of the beef and cheddar sandwich lies in the quality and preparation of the meat. The roast beef should be extremely rare and thinly sliced, almost melt-in-your-mouth, which can be challenging to achieve without a deli slicer. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase pre-sliced roast beef from a supermarket or deli.

The cheese sauce, a crucial component, is prepared by creating a base with butter, flour, and milk, and then incorporating shredded sharp cheddar cheese. This results in a creamy and gooey sauce that complements the beef perfectly. The Red Ranch sauce, another distinctive element, adds a sweet and zesty touch to the sandwich.

Preparing the Beef and Cheddar sandwich at home allows for customization and the addition of personal touches. Some people may prefer to use a homemade sauce instead of store-bought options, as it can enhance the overall flavor and freshness of the sandwich. Additionally, the type of roast beef used can vary, with some preferring the Boar's Head Simplicity Oven Roasted Beef for its tenderness.

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Arby's Red Ranch sauce

While the exact recipe for the Red Ranch sauce is not publicly available, some food bloggers have attempted to recreate it at home. One such attempt describes the sauce as "BBQ-like" and "sweet", with a consistency that is perfect for dipping or topping. This particular recipe includes ingredients such as ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder, resulting in a zesty and flavorful sauce.

Another key characteristic of the Red Ranch sauce is its distinct red colour, which likely comes from the use of ketchup or tomato-based ingredients. This sets it apart from other sauces, such as the regular Arby's sauce, which is often described as a pepper sauce. The Red Ranch sauce is also specifically associated with the Beef and Cheddar sandwich, while the regular Arby's sauce is available as a condiment for other menu items.

The Beef and Cheddar sandwich, and by extension the Red Ranch sauce, have gained a cult following over the years, with many customers attempting to recreate the unique flavour at home. The combination of the rare, thinly sliced roast beef, the creamy cheddar cheese sauce, and the zesty Red Ranch sauce has made this sandwich a standout item on Arby's menu.

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Arby's sauce alternatives

Arby's offers a variety of sauces for its sandwiches and other menu items, including cheese sauce. While the exact recipe for Arby's cheese sauce is not publicly available, several sources suggest alternatives and copycat recipes. Here are some ideas for creating your own Arbys sauce alternatives:

Copycat Arby's Cheese Sauce

For a simple copycat version of Arby's cheese sauce, you can combine a cup of cream or whole milk with two slices of processed American cheese and a teaspoon of tapioca flour. This creates a similar consistency to the original sauce.

Other Cheese Sauce Variations

If you want to experiment with different ingredients, you can try using different types of cheese, such as sharp cheddar cheese, or adding additional spices to enhance the flavour. You can also adjust the consistency by using less or more milk to create a thicker or thinner sauce.

Arby's Sauce

Arby's has its own namesake sauce, which is a staple condiment at the restaurant. It is a tangy and slightly sweet sauce, similar to a blend of ketchup and BBQ sauce. You can try combining ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder to create a zesty sauce that pairs well with roast beef sandwiches.

Red Ranch Sauce

Arby's Beef and Cheddar sandwiches typically feature a Red Ranch sauce. While the exact recipe is not known, you can experiment with different combinations of ingredients such as ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices to create a sweet and tangy sauce.

Other Arby's Sauce Alternatives

In addition to cheese sauce, Arby's offers a range of other sauces that you can use as alternatives. These include the Spicy Buffalo Sauce, Bronco Berry Sauce, Horsey Sauce, Kentucky BBQ Bourbon Sauce, and Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. Each of these sauces has its own unique flavour profile, so you can choose the one that best suits your taste preferences or the specific dish you are preparing.

Frequently asked questions

Cheddar cheese.

It is creamy and gooey.

It is made by adding ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder to a mixing bowl and whisking to combine.

The Red Ranch sauce is sweet and only available on Beef 'n' Cheddar sandwiches. Arby's sauce is available in packets at the drive-thru or in the restaurant.

Yes, you can make a copycat version of Arby's cheese sauce at home by melting butter in a saucepan, stirring in flour, and then slowly adding milk while whisking constantly. Once the mixture simmers, you can stir in the cheese until it melts.

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