This recipe for slow cooker beef and cheddar sandwiches is the Arby’s copycat you’ve been waiting for! Low and slow cooked chuck roast smothered in Arby’s sauce topped with cheese sauce piled high on an onion bun. It’s an easy way to recreate everyone’s favorite takeout at home!
If we’re going to get fast food, it’s usually Arby’s.
Nobody does beef and cheddar quite like they do, but as delicious as one of their classic sandwiches is, no one wants to eat fast food that often!
So, I’m sharing how to make the best copycat version of slow cooker beef and cheddar sandwiches using chuck roast, plenty of seasoning, cheddar cheese sauce, and Arby’s signature sauce. I kid you not, these are even better than the original so you’ll never need to make an Arby’s run again!
All you’re going to need to do is add the roast to the crockpot, smother it with seasoning and sauce, and let the crockpot cook it low and slow until it falls apart.
Once it’s done, pile it onto an onion roll, add the cheese sauce and more Arby’s sauce, and voila. Slow cooker roast beef sandwiches the entire family will devour!
Copycat Arby’s Beef ‘n Cheddar
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy and comforting – Sometimes you just want to sink your teeth into a beefy, cheesy, roast beef sandwich piled high on a tasty bun and this one delivers!
- Cost-effective – This recipe serves 6, which makes it super budget-friendly because as we know, takeout is no longer as cheap as it once was.
- A copycat but better – We’re using Arby’s sauce, but we’re also using fresh chuck roast, our choice of seasoning, and a slow cooker for juicy tender results.
Tools you’ll need
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
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- Chuck roast – A 2-3 pound chuck roast is what I use to make about 6 servings in a 6-quart slow cooker. If you want to increase that amount, and the size of your crockpot allows for that, go for it.
- Seasoning – Dried minced onion, Montreal steak seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Arby’s sauce – Their specialty sandwich sauce can be found at places like Walmart, on Amazon, and in some Arby’s restaurants depending on where you live. It’s a mouthwatering sauce that is a bit like a ketchup and BBQ sauce combo with a bit of creaminess and a kick of heat.
- Cheddar cheese sauce – I like Rico’s brand, but use your favorite.
- Onion rolls – These slow cooker roast beef sandwiches deserve to sit on a throne of onion rolls. It wouldn’t be a true copycat recipe without them.
How to make Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
Jump- Step One: Add the roast to the bottom of your slow cooker. Sprinkle with dried onion and steak seasoning. Then, pour the Worcestershire sauce on top, followed by the Arby’s sauce.
- Step Two: Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. Once it’s done, use two forks to shred the meat and swirl it into the sauce.
- Step Three: Turn the crockpot to the warm function so it stays warm while serving. Heat the cheddar cheese in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Step Four: Grab your buns, pile the shredded beef onto the onion rolls, and top with cheddar cheese and more Arby’s sauce. Enjoy!
Every slow cooker runs differently. Times given are a general recommendation and should be tested in your own slow cooker and adjusted as needed.
How to serve it
You could always go the classic route with a side of french fries. Or, switch it up with some oven baked sweet potato fries or roasted potatoes.
If you’re looking to add some veggies to your meal swap the potato side for baked green bean fries or these crispy baked zucchini fries. A side of coleslaw, which happens to be a Cracker Barrel copycat, is another delicious choice.
- Add tomato, lettuce, and mayo to make it a deluxe sandwich, just like Arby’s does theirs.
- If you can’t find any Arby’s sauce, I have a great homemade spicy BBQ sauce you could use instead.
- Swap the cheese sauce for shredded or sliced cheddar cheese. It’ll melt with the heat of the shredded beef.
- Toast the rolls first if you want them crispy.
- Don’t like onion rolls? Use any bun you like. If you’ve got some one hour dinner rolls on hand, think about making some sliders!
How to store leftover Beef and Cheddar
How to store leftovers
Keep leftover slow cooker beef in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll be good for leftovers for up to 3 days.
Reheating Instructions
If you’re reheating a lot, you can place it back into the slow cooker on the warm function until it heats up. Or, if it’s just a bit, a small saucepan on the stove or a bowl in the microwave.
FAQs
Should I sear the chuck roast first?
You don’t have to, however, if you have the time it’s never a bad idea! It does help to lock in the moisture and give it a lovely brown crust for extra flavor.
Can I use a different cut of beef?
A chuck roast has a lot of marbling and fat making it all the more tender once cooked low and slow, but other cuts will work too. Rump roast, eye of round, or brisket are a few options.
Need more hot sandwich recipes? Try these:
Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches
Click here to view my entire collection of sandwich recipes.
Did You Make This?
If you made this recipe, I’d love to know how it went in the comments section below.
You can also tag me on Instagram – @melissa_ppplates or share a pic in the Persnickety Plates Community Facebook group. I love seeing what you’ve tried!
Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2-3 pound chuck roast
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 ½ cups Arby's sauce plus more for topping
- 1 cup cheddar cheese sauce I like Ricos brand
- 6 onion rolls
Instructions
- Add the roast to the bottom of a 6 quart slow cooker.2-3 pound chuck roast
- Sprinkle the dried onion and steak seasoning evenly over the roast.2 teaspoons dried minced onion, 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning
- Pour the Worcestershire sauce over the top.1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Pour the 1 ½ cups Arby's sauce evenly on the roast.1 ½ cups Arby's sauce
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.
- After the cook time is up and the roast is tender, use two forks to shred the meat. Stir it into the sauce and turn the slow cooker to WARM for serving.
- Heat the cheddar cheese sauce in the microwave for serving.1 cup cheddar cheese sauce
- Pile the shredded beef onto onion rolls and top with cheddar cheese sauce and more Arby's sauce.6 onion rolls
Video
Notes
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Recipe will serve 4-6 depending on size of roast and how much beef is used on each.
- I like Ricos cheddar cheese sauce but nacho cheese can also be used.
- Any variety of bun can be used.
- Add crispy bacon to make a Bacon Beef N Cheese.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
