This Arby’s Sauce Copycat Recipe makes it easy to recreate the sweet, tangy red sandwich sauce inspired by Arby’s famous roast beef sandwiches. Made with ketchup, dark brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and simple pantry seasonings, this homemade condiment delivers bold flavor without complicated ingredients or preparation.
If you love the signature sauce served at Arby’s, this easy homemade version is a convenient way to enjoy similar flavors whenever you’re making roast beef sandwiches, burgers, or other favorite meals. It takes just 10 minutes to prepare and cook, followed by a short cooling period before serving.
Unlike thick, smoky barbecue sauces intended for slow-cooked ribs, this copycat Arby’s Sauce has a smoother, more pourable consistency. The ketchup provides a tomato base, dark brown sugar adds sweetness, and Worcestershire sauce brings savory depth. A small amount of Tabasco gives the sauce a gentle kick, while garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper round out the flavor.
To make the sauce, combine one cup of ketchup, two teaspoons of water, two teaspoons of dark brown sugar, and the remaining seasonings in a small saucepan. Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it begins to bubble, approximately seven minutes.
A small stainless steel saucepan is ideal for this recipe because it heats the sauce evenly and makes stirring easy.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the sauce to cool before transferring it to a clean, covered container. The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools. If necessary, stir in a small amount of additional water to achieve your preferred consistency.
Serve this homemade Arby’s Sauce on warm roast beef sandwiches, as a dipping sauce for fries, or as a flavorful addition to burgers and grilled meats.
For a complete restaurant-inspired experience, pair it with homemade Arby’s Horsey Sauce, which adds a creamy horseradish kick.
With its simple ingredients and quick stovetop preparation, this easy Arby’s Sauce copycat is a useful condiment to keep on hand for sandwich night.
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Arby’s Sauce® – Copycat Recipe
- Total Time: :10
- Yield: 20 Servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 teaspoons water
- 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
- 1⁄4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
- 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Combine the ketchup, vinegar, water, dark brown sugar, Tabasco sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan.
- Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently until the brown sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth.
- Continue heating for approximately 7 minutes, until the sauce begins to bubble gently.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
- Check the consistency and add a small amount of water if a thinner sauce is desired.
- Transfer to a clean, airtight container and refrigerate promptly.
Notes
How to Store Homemade Arby’s Sauce
Allow the sauce to cool, then transfer it to a clean, airtight container and refrigerate promptly.
Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below. For a conservative homemade-sauce guideline, use within 5–7 days.
Always use a clean spoon when serving. Discard the sauce if it develops mold, an unusual odor, or other signs of spoilage.
This recipe has not been tested for shelf-stable canning and should not be stored at room temperature.
- Prep Time: :03
- Cook Time: :07
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American