Horsey Sauce is the pale, creamy, gently spicy dip that comes alongside roast beef sandwiches and curly fries at Arby’s. It tastes like a mellow mayonnaise with a sinus-clearing kick of horseradish behind it. It is tangy rather than hot, which is why it works on almost anything savory.
This homemade copycat approximation takes about five minutes and needs no cooking, only a bowl and a spoon. You control how sharp it gets, and you end up with a full jar instead of a few small packets. The key is a short rest in the fridge so the horseradish can bloom.
About Arby’s Horsey Sauce
The sauce is built from three things: a creamy base, prepared horseradish, and a little acid. Mayonnaise gives the body and richness. Prepared horseradish supplies the pungent bite, and a splash of white vinegar sharpens the flavor and keeps it from tasting flat. A touch of sugar rounds off the edges, and salt and pepper tie it together.
The technique is simply to drain the horseradish, whisk everything until smooth, and let it rest. Resting matters because horseradish heat develops and mellows into the mayonnaise over time. This is a homemade copycat approximation, so adjust the horseradish to match the level of bite you remember.
Horsey Sauce: Restaurant vs. Homemade Cost
| At Arby’s | Homemade (8 servings (about 1 cup, 2 tablespoons each)) | You Save |
|---|---|---|
| $4.49 | $1.46 | $3.03 (67%) |
Arby’s price is the approximate cost of a comparable retail bottle of creamy horseradish sauce. Homemade cost is an estimate from
US average grocery prices (US BLS Average Price Data, May 2026) and typical store prices for items BLS does not track (marked est.).
Ingredient cost breakdown
| Ingredient | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| mayonnaise | 0.75 cup | $1.44 est. |
| prepared horseradish, drained | 3 tbsp | — |
| distilled white vinegar | 1 tsp | $0.01 est. |
| granulated sugar | 0.5 tsp | $0.00 |
| salt and a pinch of black pepper | 0.25 tsp | $0.01 est. |
| Total (makes 8 servings (about 1 cup, 2 tablespoons each)) | $1.46 | |
Pantry staples not counted: prepared horseradish, drained (negligible cost).
Nutrition (estimated per serving)
Estimated from listed ingredients using USDA FoodData Central reference values. Actual values vary with brands, portions, and preparation.
How Much Does It Cost to Make Arby’s Horsey Sauce at Home?
A full batch makes 8 servings (about 1 cup, 2 tablespoons each) for an estimated $1.46 in ingredients, roughly $0.18 per serving. Ordering the equivalent at Arby’s runs around $4.49 (approximate menu price), so making it yourself saves an estimated $3.03 (67%). The grocery figures are estimates based on US average grocery prices (US BLS Average Price Data, May 2026) and typical store prices for the rest; the per-ingredient breakdown is in the table above. Your local store and restaurant prices will differ, but the gap stays large because you buy staple ingredients instead of a prepared, served dish, and one batch stretches across several servings.
Why Make It at Home?
Making it at home means you can scale the heat up or down, make a big batch for a party, and skip the preservatives found in many bottled sauces. It costs a fraction of buying multiple bottles, and the ingredients are pantry and fridge staples. Once you have the base ratio, you can reuse it for sandwiches, burgers, roast beef and fries any night of the week.
Ingredients for Copycat Arby’s Horsey Sauce
Here’s the full ingredients list you’ll need to make Arby‘s Horsey Sauce at home:
- 0.75 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp prepared horseradish, drained
- 1 tsp distilled white vinegar
- 0.5 tsp granulated sugar
- 0.25 tsp salt and a pinch of black pepper
A few ingredient notes:
- Use prepared horseradish sold in a jar in the refrigerated section, not horseradish cream or sauce that already contains mayonnaise. Drain it well in a fine sieve so the sauce does not turn watery.
- Choose a plain, full-fat mayonnaise such as a standard jarred brand. Light mayonnaise or salad dressing changes the texture and sweetness, so the sauce will taste noticeably different.
- Distilled white vinegar keeps the flavor clean. Apple cider vinegar adds a fruity note that does not fit the classic flavor, so stick with white if you can.
🛒 Shop the Ingredients & Tools
- Mayonnaise
- Prepared horseradish, drained
- Granulated sugar
- Stainless steel mixing bowls
- Half sheet baking pan
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How to Make Arby’s Horsey Sauce at Home
Prep: 5 min · Cook: 0 min · Makes: 8 servings (about 1 cup, 2 tablespoons each)
- Place the prepared horseradish in a small fine-mesh sieve and press with the back of a spoon to drain off the excess liquid.
- Add the mayonnaise to a small mixing bowl.
- Stir in the drained horseradish, white vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Whisk until the mixture is completely smooth and evenly pale, with no streaks of horseradish.
- Taste a small amount on a spoon and adjust: add a little more horseradish for more bite, or a pinch more sugar to soften it.
- Transfer the sauce to a small jar or airtight container.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the horseradish flavor develops and blends into the base.
- Stir once more before serving and spoon into small dipping cups.
Tips for the Best Results
- Let the sauce rest at least 30 minutes, and ideally a few hours, because the flavor deepens as it chills.
- Add horseradish a teaspoon at a time when adjusting. It gets stronger as it sits.
- Use a clean spoon each time you scoop so the sauce lasts longer in the fridge.
- For a smoother, more restaurant-like texture, whisk for a full minute rather than just stirring.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping the draining step, which leaves the sauce thin and watery.
- Using horseradish sauce that already contains cream or mayonnaise, which throws off the ratios.
- Serving it right after mixing, before the heat has had time to develop.
- Overdoing the vinegar, which makes the sauce sharp and runny instead of creamy.
Variations to Try
- Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard for a deli-style tang.
- Stir in a pinch of garlic powder and a dash of lemon juice for a brighter dip.
- Mix in a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt in place of some mayonnaise for a lighter version.
Storage & Reheating
Store the sauce in an airtight jar in the refrigerator, where it keeps for about one week. Horseradish loses its bite over time, so the sauce gets milder the longer it sits. Do not freeze it, since mayonnaise separates and turns grainy when thawed. Serve it cold or at room temperature straight from the fridge, with no reheating needed.
What to Serve It With
Horsey Sauce is the classic partner for roast beef sandwiches, and it is just as good on burgers, steak sandwiches and prime rib leftovers. Use it as a dip for curly fries, potato wedges, onion rings and chicken tenders. It also works spread on a toasted bun, stirred into deviled eggs, or served beside roasted vegetables.
The Bottom Line
Arby’s Horsey Sauce is one of those dishes that feels like it should be hard to make and expensive to buy, but at home it’s neither. For an estimated $1.46 in everyday ingredients you get 8 servings (about 1 cup, 2 tablespoons each), fresh and warm, for roughly 67% less than ordering out. Make it once and it’ll join the short list of recipes you reach for without thinking. Bookmark this one, grab the ingredients, and keep an eye on CopyKitchen for more copycat favorites with an estimated cost to make them at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arby’s Horsey Sauce made of?
Horsey Sauce is a creamy sauce built on a mayonnaise-style base with horseradish, vinegar and seasoning. This copycat approximates it with mayonnaise, prepared horseradish, white vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Arby’s does not publish an official recipe, so this is a homemade approximation.
How spicy is homemade Horsey Sauce?
It is mild to medium, with a tangy horseradish bite rather than lingering heat. Starting with three tablespoons of horseradish for three-quarters of a cup of mayonnaise gives a balanced result. You can add more horseradish a little at a time if you want a stronger kick.
Can I make it without mayonnaise?
Yes, though the flavor and texture will change. Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream blended with a little oil can stand in, but the result will be tangier and less rich. For the closest match to the original creamy style, mayonnaise is the best base.
How long does Horsey Sauce last in the fridge?
In a sealed container it keeps for about a week. The horseradish flavor fades gradually, so it will taste milder by the end of the week. Discard it if it develops an off smell or any visible change.
Should I use fresh or jarred horseradish?
Jarred prepared horseradish is the easiest and most consistent choice, and it already has vinegar for balance. Freshly grated horseradish is much more potent and needs extra vinegar and care to use. If you use fresh, start with a small amount and taste as you go.
Why does my sauce taste weak at first?
Horseradish needs time to release and blend its flavor into the mayonnaise. Chilling the sauce for at least 30 minutes, or a few hours, makes it noticeably more flavorful. Also make sure you drained the horseradish rather than diluting the mix with its liquid.
Cost figures are estimates for comparison, based on US BLS Average Price Data (US city average) and an approximate menu price; your local grocery prices and Arby’s current menu price will vary. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. CopyKitchen is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Arby’s or any brand mentioned; this is an independent, homemade copycat recipe, and all trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
