Quick roast beef and cheddar Hawaiian roll sliders layered with wafer-thin beef, plenty of melted cheese, and garlicky horseradish butter!
“These buttery roast beef and cheddar sliders are double-layered for the perfect bite, packed with savory garlic horseradish butter, and made with simple supermarket ingredients.” – Mona, Far From The Farm
Want to make a budget-friendly, 35-minute weeknight dinner that satisfies fast-food cravings for a fraction of the price? We have just the thing!
Hi! If you’ve been following me for long you’ll already know this, but for those who are new, welcome to Far From The Farm. I’m Mona, the Brit behind the recipes, learning life and food in the States while sharing our debt-free journey and what’s on the menu in our home today!
One thing I’ve discovered since moving to America is just how attached people are to their favourite fast-food orders. Everyone seems to have one sandwich they compare everything else to, and for my husband it’s always been Arby’s Beef ’N Cheddar.
So naturally, I wanted to see if I could recreate those familiar flavours at home.
Not an exact copy, because that’s never really my goal. I like taking the things we already enjoy and turning them into something that works for our family, our budget, and our own kitchen.
Soft Hawaiian rolls are layered with generous folds of wafer-thin roast beef, plenty of melted cheddar cheese, and brushed inside and out with a buttery mixture of garlic and mild prepared horseradish sauce.
If you can get hold of Arby’s Horsey Sauce, that works beautifully too. The result is a tray of warm, cheesy sliders that capture those familiar roast beef sandwich flavours while still tasting completely homemade.
Rather than laying the roast beef and cheddar in one flat layer across the rolls, each slider is assembled individually with two layers of folded roast beef and two pieces of cheddar. It only adds a couple of extra minutes, but every slider comes out evenly filled, wonderfully cheesy, and far more satisfying to eat!
If you’re worried about the horseradish, don’t be. Prepared horseradish sauces vary quite a bit from brand to brand, and most are much milder than people expect.
That’s why I’ve suggested using either a mild prepared horseradish sauce or Arby’s Horsey Sauce if you can find it. Start with a little less if you’re unsure. You can always add more next time.
The butter softens the flavour beautifully, the garlic rounds everything out, and the sweetness of the Hawaiian rolls keeps everything nicely balanced instead of letting the horseradish take over.
These sliders feel like a proper takeaway treat, but they’re made with ordinary supermarket ingredients and come together in about 35 minutes. There’s nothing complicated here. Just simple ingredients layered carefully so every bite is packed with roast beef, melted cheddar, and buttery flavour.
As a military family working through Baby Step 2 of our debt-free journey, we’re making more meals at home these days because every dollar we don’t spend on takeout gets us a little closer to our goals.
Recipes like this make that feel like a pretty easy trade because they satisfy those fast-food cravings for a fraction of the price.
And just a reminder that if you’re struggling and you need help with managing your budget or starting your own debt free journey then here’s some FREE resources below you may find helpful!
living frugally and fully
free tips and resources to make the most of what you have
As always, these photos are from my real kitchen here in our sweet military base home. No AI recipe images or staged lighting or spotless marble counters. Just real life and real food made in a small space. Proof that you can feed your family well without needing a dream kitchen or fancy tools!
So grab the roast beef, cheddar, and Hawaiian rolls and head into the kitchen to make these buttery roast beef and cheddar sliders!
Recipe Disclaimer
All Far From The Farm recipes are shared as a guide based on what works in my home kitchen. Results may vary depending on your ingredients, equipment, and cooking setup, so always use your own judgement. Please check all ingredients for allergies, intolerances, or dietary needs before making any recipe. Far From The Farm is not responsible for any reactions or outcomes from the use of these recipes. Nutritional information is an estimate only.
Mona – Far From The Farm
Equipment
- Baking sheet or casserole dish
- Bread knife
- Small microwave-safe bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Silicone pastry brush
- Sharp knife
- Aluminum foil
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Ingredients
Makes: 12 sliders. Serves 2 generously or 4 as appetizers
- 12 King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1 tbsp prepared horseradish sauce (or Arby’s Horsey Sauce if you can get it!)
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 3/4 lb wafer-thin deli roast beef
- 6 slices cheddar cheese, each cut into 4 quarters
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Optional Topping:
- 1 tsp dried minced onion
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1. Prepare the rolls
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Using a bread knife, carefully slice the Hawaiian rolls horizontally so that you have one connected top section and one connected bottom section.
Try to keep the knife level as you cut so that the bottoms are thick enough to hold the buttery mixture and layered filling without tearing.
Step 2. Arrange the bottom rolls
Place the bottom section into a casserole dish or onto a baking sheet.
Gently separate the individual rolls, then push them back together into their original shape. This helps them bake neatly as one tray while making them easier to pull apart when serving.
Step 3. Make the horseradish butter
Add the salted butter, prepared horseradish sauce (or Arby’s Horsey Sauce), and minced garlic to a small microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave until the butter has completely melted, then stir thoroughly so that the horseradish and garlic are evenly distributed throughout the butter.
Prepared horseradish varies in strength. Use 1 tablespoon for a noticeable horseradish flavor or reduce it to 2 teaspoons if yours is particularly hot. If using Arby’s Horsey Sauce use 2 tsp.
Step 4. Brush the bottom rolls
Brush approximately half of the horseradish butter over the cut surfaces of the bottom rolls.
Make sure each slider gets some of the mixture. Allowing the butter to soak directly into the bread gives every bite flavor instead of leaving all the seasoning on top.
Step 5. Add the first roast beef layer
Divide roughly half of the wafer-thin roast beef into 12 loose portions.
Fold or gently bunch one portion onto each slider position instead of laying the roast beef completely flat. Loose folds create more texture and make each slider feel more generously filled.
Step 6. Add the first cheese layer
Cut 3 slices of cheddar cheese into quarters.
Place one cheddar quarter over the roast beef on each slider.
Using sliced cheddar makes it easy to keep the cheese evenly distributed, but shredded cheddar can be used if that is what you have available.
Step 7. Repeat the layers
Divide the remaining roast beef between the 12 sliders, folding it loosely over the first cheese layer.
Cut the remaining 3 slices of cheddar into quarters and place one final piece over each portion of roast beef.
Each slider should now have two folded layers of roast beef and two pieces of cheddar.
Step 8. Replace the roll tops
Place the connected top section of the Hawaiian rolls over the filling.
If the rolls have not already been separated, carefully cut between the tops with a bread knife. This makes them much easier to pull apart after baking.
Step 9. Brush with the remaining butter and optional toppings
Brush the remaining horseradish and garlic butter generously over the tops of the rolls.
Encourage a little of the butter to run into the gaps between the sliders so that the flavor reaches the edges as well as the tops.
After brushing the remaining garlic horseradish butter over the tops of the rolls, sprinkle over the optional dried minced onion and poppy seeds (we leave this off as my family aren’t a fan of onions).
Step 10. Cover and bake
Cover the sliders loosely with aluminum foil.
Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 20 minutes. Keeping them covered during this first stage helps the roast beef warm through and the cheddar melt without the tops becoming too dark.
If you’re baking the sliders in a glass baking dish, start checking them a couple of minutes early, as glass can brown the bottoms a little more quickly than ceramic or metal baking dishes.
Step 11. Finish uncovered
Remove the foil and return the sliders to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden and the cheddar is fully melted.
Keep a close eye on them during these final few minutes, especially if using a glass baking dish, as oven-safe glass tends to retain heat and can continue browning the bottoms even after the foil is removed.
Step 12. Rest briefly and serve
Allow the sliders to rest for about 2 to 3 minutes, then pull or cut them apart.
Serve while the roast beef is hot and the cheddar is still melted.
Notes
- This recipe uses prepared horseradish, not dry horseradish powder.
- Horseradish varies greatly between brands. Use 1 tablespoon for a noticeable kick or reduce it to 2 teaspoons for a milder batch.
- Wafer-thin roast beef folds more easily and creates better texture than thick slices.
- Sliced cheddar gives you tidy, even layers. Shredded cheddar can be divided between the two layers instead.
- Folding the roast beef loosely helps each slider feel fuller than laying the meat flat.
- Sweet Hawaiian rolls balance the savory roast beef, sharp cheddar, garlic, and horseradish.
- Brioche slider rolls or soft milk rolls can be substituted if Hawaiian rolls are unavailable.
- Keep the sliders covered during the first 20 minutes so the cheese melts before the roll tops brown.
- Glass baking dishes tend to brown the bottoms of the rolls a little more than ceramic or metal dishes. If using glass, begin checking the sliders a few minutes early and shorten the uncovered baking time if needed.
Troubleshooting
My sliders taste too strongly of horseradish
Prepared horseradish varies considerably between brands. For your next batch, reduce the amount from 1 tablespoon to 2 teaspoons. Or use Arby’s Horsey Sauce instead.
My cheese has not melted completely
Make sure the sliders are covered with foil for the first 20 minutes. If needed, cover again and bake for a few more minutes before finishing uncovered.
My roll tops are browning too quickly
Keep them covered for longer or tent them loosely with foil until the filling is hot and the cheese has melted.
My sliders are difficult to pull apart
Separate the individual rolls before assembling, then gently push them back together. You can also cut between the roll tops before baking.
Storage
- Store cooled leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in a 325°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the roast beef is warmed through and the cheese has softened again.
- Cover them loosely with foil during reheating if the tops are already sufficiently browned.
- These sliders are best enjoyed fresh. Freezing may affect the texture of the soft Hawaiian rolls and melted cheese.
Serving Ideas
Serve these roast beef and cheddar sliders with:
- Curly fries
- Regular French fries
- Potato wedges
- Potato chips
- Pickle spears
- Coleslaw
- Pasta salad
- Macaroni salad
- Baked beans
- Fresh fruit
- Game day appetizer platters
- Movie night snack boards
- A simple green salad
- Extra horseradish on the side for anyone who likes more heat
Why You’ll Love This Recipe?!
- Two layers of roast beef and cheddar in every slider
- Inspired by familiar roast beef and cheddar fast-food flavors
- Garlicky horseradish butter brushed underneath and over the tops
- Uses easy-to-find grocery store ingredients
- Ready in about 35 minutes
- Generous small-batch dinner for two
- Easy party appetizer for four
- Simple to double for larger gatherings
- Sweet, savory, cheesy, and lightly tangy
- No complicated sauce or cooking technique required
- A fun homemade alternative to ordering fast food
FAQ
Yes. Divide the shredded cheddar into two portions. Sprinkle the first layer over the first layer of roast beef, and the remaining shredded cheese over the second layer of beef before topping the Hawaiian roll sliders.
Absolutely. While this recipe uses sliced cheddar cheese for easy, clean layering in a small kitchen, a warm canned nacho or cheddar cheese sauce works beautifully. Pour the warm cheese sauce directly over the folded deli roast beef slices right before putting the top buns on the tray.
Use 1 tablespoon for a noticeable horseradish kick in the slider glaze. Reduce it to 2 teaspoons if your prepared horseradish is particularly strong, or swap it completely for 2 teaspoons of Arby’s Horsey Sauce.
Yes! If you want to replicate the standard Arby’s sandwich flavor profile rather than the “Beef ‘N Cheddar” Horsey style, simply swap out the prepared horseradish sauce in the butter mixture for a tablespoon of classic, tangy store-bought Arby’s Sauce.
Yes. Double all the ingredients and assemble across 24 slider rolls. You can bake them together using two separate 9×13 pans or baking sheets, keeping the meat and cheese arranged in two layers for an even melt.
You can assemble the roast beef and cheddar layers on the rolls earlier in the day and keep the tray covered in the refrigerator. Melt and brush on the savory horseradish butter glaze shortly before baking so the buns do not become soggy.
To keep the Hawaiian rolls from getting chewy, avoid the microwave. Instead, wrap your leftover sliders loosely in aluminum foil and warm them in the oven at 325°F for 8 – 10 minutes until the cheddar cheese is melted and the bread is crisp.
Copycat Arby’s-style Roast Beef and Cheddar Hawaiian Roll Sliders Recipe!
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slice the Hawaiian rolls horizontally, keeping the tops and bottoms connected.
- Place the bottom half of the rolls into a baking dish or onto a baking sheet. Gently separate the individual rolls, then push them back together.
- In a microwave-safe bowl combine the butter, prepared horseradish sauce (or Arby’s Horsey Sauce), and minced garlic. Microwave until the butter has melted, then stir well to combine.
- Brush about half of the horseradish butter over the cut side of the bottom rolls.
- Divide half of the roast beef between the sliders, loosely folding the meat onto each roll.
- Place one quarter slice of cheddar onto each slider.
- Repeat with the remaining roast beef, then top each slider with another quarter slice of cheddar.
- Place the connected tops of the rolls over the filling.
- Brush the remaining horseradish butter generously over the tops of the rolls.Then you can sprinkle over the optional dried minced onion and poppy seeds if you prefer, or leave without.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. If baking in a glass dish, begin checking a couple of minutes early as glass tends to brown the bottoms more quickly than metal or ceramic.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for 3 to 5 minutes, until the tops are lightly golden and the cheese is fully melted.
- Rest for 2 to 3 minutes before pulling the sliders apart and serving warm.
Notes
- Prepared horseradish sauce is much milder than straight horseradish and gives these sliders their classic roast beef sandwich flavor.
- Arby’s Horsey Sauce can be used instead of prepared horseradish sauce if you can find it.
- Fold the roast beef rather than laying it flat so every slider has a generous bite.
- Layering the roast beef and cheddar twice helps every slider stay evenly filled.
- Shredded cheddar can be substituted by dividing it evenly between both cheese layers.
- Sprinkle the optional dried minced onion and poppy seeds over the buttered tops before baking if you’d like an even closer nod to classic Arby’s sandwiches.
- Glass baking dishes brown the bottoms of the rolls more quickly than ceramic or metal. Begin checking a little early and shorten the uncovered baking time if needed.
Storage
- Store leftover sliders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in a 325°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the roast beef is warmed through and the cheese is melted and the roast beef is warmed through. Cover loosely with foil if the tops are already browned.
- These sliders are best enjoyed fresh, as freezing can affect the texture of the Hawaiian rolls and melted cheese.
Related Recipes
- Planning a party spread? Browse all our Appetizer Recipes!
- Looking for more family dinner inspiration? Explore our Dinner Recipes!
- Love homemade takeout favorites? Check out all our Better Than Takeout Recipes!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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The Takeaway
Sometimes the simplest recipes end up being the ones you make again and again.
These roast beef and cheddar sliders come together with everyday grocery store ingredients but still feel like something you’d happily order from your favorite sandwich shop.
The buttery garlic and horseradish topping, the double layers of roast beef and cheddar, and those soft Hawaiian rolls make every bite feel a little indulgent without requiring much effort at all.
If you’re looking for an easy dinner, a game day favorite, or something a little different for movie night, I hope these sliders earn a permanent place in your recipe rotation.
What to Try Next?!
Share & Rate This Recipe!
If these roast beef and cheddar sliders make it onto your dinner table, tap the stars on the recipe card and leave a quick comment below. I’d love to hear if they became a new favorite in your home too!
Last update on 2026-08-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
