Confession time.

I’ve eaten these copycat Arby’s roast beef and cheddar sandwiches every day for the past week.  Partly because I was trying to get the Arby’s Red Ranch sauce perfect, but mainly because they are just so stinking good.

How did it take me a week to get this sauce down?

Well, the first sauce I attempted was a mixture of ketchup with some spices.  While this was tasty, it tasted absolutely nothing like the Arby’s Red Ranch sauce, which is much sweeter.

For my second go-around, I added a good portion of molasses to my spiced-up ketchup mixture.  I was getting closer with the taste, but it was still missing something.  Tang!

So, I added some apple cider vinegar.

Close – so close!

My fourth sauce attempt, I removed the garlic and onion powder I had originally been using and replaced it with some Worcestershire sauce.  While the taste was almost an exact match, the sauce was so runny.  Like make-your-onion-bun-a-soggy-mess type of runny.

So, on day five I replaced the molasses with brown sugar.  But the grit! Arghhh.

At this point, I was seriously thinking about giving up.  But on say six, I decided I was going to simmer the sauce on the stove top to melt the sugar and thicken the sauce.

And on day seven, I ate the exact same sauce from day six because it was spot-on and so flipping good.

So now you know what it takes for recipe development.  And my dedication to being able to eat Arby’s at home.

Fluffy onion buns are spread with this sweet and tangy copycat Arby’s Red Ranch sauce and piled high with thinly sliced roast beef before adding a generous amount of my favorite cheddar cheese sauce to create the best dang sandwich.  And the best part is?  You don’t even have to put pants on to enjoy this fast food style sandwich at home.

You just make it.  And devour.

---

Beef and Cheddar Sandwich

serves 1

copycat Arby’s Red Ranch sauce:

• 1/4 c. ketchup
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a small saucepan, add all ingredients and simmer until sugar has dissolved completely, and the sauce begins to thicken.  This recipe is easily multiplied and can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple days.

beef and cheddar sandwich:

• onion bun
• 2 tbsp. copycat Arby’s Red Ranch sauce (recipe above)
• thinly sliced roast beef
• cheddar cheese sauce

In a frying pan, heat the roast beef on low heat until warmed through.  Meanwhile, spread the Arby’s Red Ranch sauce on the onion bun.  Top with warmed roast beef and a generous amount of cheddar cheese sauce.  Serve with some Arby’s seasoned curly fries for the full Arby’s dining experience.