If ever there were a perfect excuse to embrace the magic of your slow cooker, these Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches are it! Imagine melt-in-your-mouth shredded roast beef, smothered in a zesty sauce, blanketed with warm, gooey cheddar, all on a soft onion roll—every bite bursts with rich flavor and cozy nostalgia. This meal is the ultimate treat for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or game days with friends, and you hardly have to lift a finger while your kitchen fills with delicious aromas. It’s comfort food turned all the way up!

Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

This dish is a beautiful example of how simple ingredients can harmonize into something crave-worthy. Gather these essentials and let each one shine—every component adds a layer of taste, texture, or mouthwatering color to your Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches.

Chuck roast: The perfect cut for slow cooking, turning incredibly tender and juicy as it simmers for hours.
Dried minced onion: Adds a gentle savory depth and subtle sweetness that blooms as it cooks.
Montreal steak seasoning: A foolproof blend for beef, delivering bold flavor with hints of garlic, pepper, and herbs.
Worcestershire sauce: This classic umami booster brings rich, slightly tangy undertones that elevate the beef.
Arby’s sauce (plus more for topping): Signature zing and sweetness that soaks into every strand of the shredded beef.
Cheddar cheese sauce (I like Ricos brand): Creamy, velvety cheddar is a non-negotiable for that irresistible melt.
Onion rolls: Soft, flavorful rolls with just the right amount of bite to cradle all those juicy fillings.

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches

Step 1: Add Roast to Slow Cooker

Start by placing your 2-3 pound chuck roast in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. No need to sear—let the slow heat do the heavy lifting to unlock all those deep, meaty flavors.

Step 2: Season the Beef

Evenly sprinkle the dried minced onion and Montreal steak seasoning across the top of the roast. This ensures every bite will be just as flavorful as the last, and the seasonings will permeate the meat as it cooks.

Step 3: Add the Worcestershire Sauce

Pour the Worcestershire sauce over the seasoned roast, letting it drizzle into all the nooks and crannies. This touch adds a delightful savory punch and helps tenderize the beef even more.

Step 4: Pour on the Arby’s Sauce

Generously pour 1 ½ cups of Arby’s sauce over the roast. This sauce infuses the beef with its signature sweet-zesty flavor, turning ordinary roast into something truly special for your Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches.

Step 5: Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic

Cover with the slow cooker lid and set to LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. This gentle cook time breaks down the beef until it’s fall-apart tender. Don’t lift that lid too often—let patience do the work here!

Step 6: Shred and Stir

Once your roast is fork-tender, use two forks to shred the meat right in the slow cooker. Stir everything together so the shredded beef can soak up every last drop of that amazing sauce, then switch your slow cooker to WARM to keep it perfectly ready for serving.

Step 7: Heat the Cheddar Cheese Sauce

While the beef keeps cozy, warm up your cheddar cheese sauce in the microwave until it’s silky and pourable. This step guarantees your sandwiches get that dreamy cheese pull.

Step 8: Assemble the Sandwiches

Pile the hot, saucy shredded beef high onto onion rolls, smother each with a generous blanket of cheddar cheese sauce, and finish with a drizzle of extra Arby’s sauce—now you’ve created the ultimate Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches

Garnishes

Make these sandwiches sing with a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color, a few pickle slices for tang, or even crispy fried onions for crunch. A little garnish goes a long way to add freshness and contrast to each bite.

Side Dishes

Pair your Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches with golden French fries, classic coleslaw, or a crisp green salad to balance out the richness. Potato chips and a crunchy dill pickle spear never go out of style, either!

Creative Ways to Present

Serve the sandwiches slider-style for parties, or load up hoagie rolls for a crowd-pleasing feast. For a fun twist, try stuffing the beef and cheddar mixture into baked potatoes or ladling it over crispy waffle fries—there are no wrong turns here!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Place any leftover shredded beef and cheddar sauce in airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. Store the rolls separately to preserve their texture and prevent sogginess.

Freezing

The beef mixture freezes beautifully—just let it cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe bags or containers. It’ll keep its flavor for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge for the best results.

Reheating

Gently warm the beef mixture in a saucepan over medium-low heat or microwave in short bursts, adding a splash of extra Arby’s sauce or broth to loosen if needed. Warm the cheese sauce separately, then build your sandwiches as fresh as ever.

FAQs

Can I use a different cut of beef for these sandwiches?

Chuck roast is best for Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches, but you can also try brisket or bottom round—just remember, marbled cuts yield the most tender, flavorful results.

What if I can’t find Arby’s sauce?

No worries! You can substitute with a tangy barbecue sauce mixed with a dash of hot sauce and a sprinkle of brown sugar. It’ll still bring that sweet and zesty kick to your sandwiches.

How can I make this recipe spicier?

Add a teaspoon or two of hot sauce or a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes when seasoning the roast. You can also offer sliced pickled jalapeños or spicy cheddar as a topping for those who love extra heat.

Are Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches good for meal prepping?

Absolutely! The beef mixture is easy to prepare in advance and reheats beautifully, making these sandwiches a perfect choice for straightforward meal prep or work lunches throughout the week.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! Simply use gluten-free rolls and double-check that your Worcestershire sauce and cheese sauce are certified gluten-free. All the flavor, none of the gluten.

Final Thoughts

If you love flavorful, crowd-pleasing comfort food, you have to give these Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches a try. They’re easy to make, outrageously satisfying, and guaranteed to become a repeat favorite at your table. Gather your friends or family—these sandwiches are too good not to share!

Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches Recipe

★★★★★

5.3 from 23 reviews

Author: Mariam
Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes on LOW or 4 hours 15 minutes on HIGH
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: None

Print Recipe

Description

These Slow Cooker Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches are a delicious and easy meal to prepare for a hearty lunch or dinner. Tender shredded beef cooked in flavorful seasonings, topped with cheddar cheese sauce, and served on soft onion rolls.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Beef:

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)

For Serving:

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. Sprinkle the dried onion and steak seasoning evenly over the roast.
Pour the Worcestershire sauce over the top.
Pour the 1 ½ cups Arby’s sauce evenly on the roast.
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.
Pile the shredded beef onto onion rolls and top with cheddar cheese sauce and more Arby’s sauce.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH
Category: Main Dish
Method: Slow Cooker
Cuisine: American