✔ Updated · fixed amounts, storage times + Arby's sauce vs Horsey
This copycat Arby's Horsey Sauce is creamy, tangy and just hot enough to tickle your nose, made in 5 minutes with mayo, horseradish and a pinch of sugar. Give it 30 minutes in the fridge and it tastes like the little packets.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Use prepared horseradish (grated root in vinegar), not creamy horseradish sauce, and squeeze out the liquid so the sauce stays thick.
Why You'll Love This Horsey Sauce
- Five ingredients, one bowl and no cooking.
- Adjustable heat: add horseradish a teaspoon at a time until it's just right.
- Goes with everything: roast beef, burgers, fries, prime rib and even salmon.
What Does Horsey Sauce Taste Like?
Creamy and cool first, then a tangy, peppery horseradish heat that hits your nose more than your tongue, with just enough sugar to round it off. It's made for salty, savory roast beef.
In our house, Monday lunch is leftover Sunday roast beef piled into soft rolls with a big squeeze of this. For a red sauce to go with it, try our Arby's red ranch sauce, and see more copycat recipes from your favorite chains.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Prepared horseradish, not horseradish sauce. Look for grated horseradish in vinegar in the refrigerated section. Creamy horseradish sauce already has mayo or cream in it and makes a runnier, milder result.
- Squeeze it dry. Press the horseradish in a sieve with the back of a spoon. That vinegar-y liquid thins the sauce and makes it sharp in the wrong way.
- Let it rest. Straight after mixing it tastes like mayo with a kick. After 30 minutes in the fridge it mellows into proper horsey sauce. Overnight is even better.
- Fresh horseradish root? Lucky you. Peel and finely grate 2 tablespoons on a microplane, in a well-ventilated kitchen. It's much hotter than jarred, so start with less.
- Out of horseradish? A teaspoon of wasabi paste or hot English mustard gives a similar nose-tingling heat. Not the same, but it'll save sandwich night.
Arby’s Horsey Sauce (Copycat)
10
servings (2 tablespoons)5
minutes0
minutes150
kcal35
minutesCopycat-style Arby’s Horsey Sauce: a creamy, tangy horseradish sauce made by whisking mayonnaise with prepared horseradish, a little sugar, a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt, then chilling so the flavors blend.
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise (full-fat for the creamiest sauce)
3 tablespoons prepared horseradish, drained (not horseradish sauce)
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice or white vinegar
1 pinch fine salt
Directions
- Put the mayonnaise in a small bowl. Add the sugar and whisk for about 30 seconds, until the sugar dissolves.
- Press the horseradish against a fine sieve to drain off the excess liquid, then whisk it into the mayo with the lemon juice and salt.
- Taste. Add more horseradish a teaspoon at a time for more heat, or a pinch more sugar for a milder, sweeter sauce. For a completely smooth sauce, blitz it for a few seconds with a stick blender.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors blend. Spoon it into a squeeze bottle or jar and keep it in the fridge.
- Serve on roast beef sandwiches, burgers, fries or steak.
Notes
- This recipe calls for mayonnaise. Now there are two ways to do this. The easy way, and the super classy, impress everybody way. The easy way is to use shop bought mayonnaise. However, if you want to take your Arby’s Horsey sauce recipe to the next level you can consider using homemade mayonnaise. This way you can get the flavor and texture exactly to your liking.
- Arby’s Horsey sauce is super creamy. If you want a slightly milder or creamier sauce then the addition of a tablespoon of cream will loosen its consistency and should provide it with a super silky edge.
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Ways to Use Horsey Sauce
- Roast beef sandwich: thin-sliced deli roast beef warmed in a little au jus, piled on a toasted onion roll with horsey sauce.
- Burgers: a roast-beef-style burger with Swiss cheese. More ideas in our burger toppings list.
- Dip: next to fries, potato wedges or onion rings.
- Steak night: a spoonful on prime rib or a steak sandwich.
- Seafood: stir in a little extra lemon and serve with salmon or crab cakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arby's Horsey Sauce made of?
Arby's doesn't publish a recipe, but it tastes like a creamy blend of mayonnaise and horseradish with a touch of sweetness. This copycat-style version uses mayo, prepared horseradish, sugar, lemon juice and salt.
Is Horsey Sauce the same as Arby's Sauce?
No. Arby's Sauce is the tangy, slightly sweet red sauce, a bit like a thin barbecue sauce. Horsey Sauce is the creamy white horseradish one. Lots of people mix both on a roast beef sandwich.
Is Horsey Sauce spicy?
It's mildly hot, with the sinus-clearing heat of horseradish rather than chili burn. To make it milder, use 2 tablespoons of horseradish and an extra pinch of sugar. For more kick, add up to 1/4 cup.
How long does homemade Horsey Sauce last?
Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Because it's mayo-based, don't leave it out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Horseradish loses heat over time, so it gets milder as it sits.
What can I put Horsey Sauce on?
Roast beef sandwiches are the classic, but it's great on burgers, prime rib, steak sandwiches, fries, potato wedges and salmon. I also stir a spoonful into potato salad.
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