Easy Roast Beef Sandwich Spread
Use up leftover roast beef with this easy sandwich filling that makes a perfect spread.
This Roast Beef Sandwich Spread is a fantastic way to use leftover pot roast which, no matter how carefully reheated, never tastes quite right. We were awful about not eating the leftovers, so I wanted a way to repurpose them.
Now, this recipe is a favorite in my home as a sandwich spread, added to pita bread or scooped up with crackers. We like it so much that I’ve started buying bigger beef roasts, just so I can make this the next day.
Sandwich Spread from Leftover Pot Roast
Are you old enough to remember the Underwood sandwich spreads that came in paper-wrapped cans? Old-fashioned, I know. But for some of us, there’s a bit of school lunch nostalgia behind those sandwiches.
So, the first few times I tinkered with my Roast Beef Sandwich Spread recipe, I whirred the ingredients in my food processor to get that same creamy smoothness. It was good, but I guess my tastes have changed. I like a bit more texture to sandwiches these days.
No Food Processor Required
One day, I decided to skip the food processor and just chop the ingredients by hand. Oh, baby, was it good! Fresh chunks of celery and dill pickle combine with zingy bites of onion and tender roast beef. Yum! To me, that’s a cravable combination. Try it both ways and tell me which one you like best!
Serving Ideas
This Roast Beef Sandwich Spread is excellent for sandwiches, of course, but here are some other great ways to enjoy it.
- Spread it on crackers
- Use it in tortilla wraps
- Go low-carb and wrap it in Romaine lettuce leaves
- Add a scoop on top of a green salad
- Spoon it into celery sticks
- Stuff it into hollowed tomatoes
Storage
This recipe tastes bests when eaten within three days, though I’ve had it five days later and needed to add a bit more mayo. I wouldn’t serve it beyond that since leftover pot roast only stays good for so long.
Roast Beef Sandwich Spread
Ingredients
- 1 lb. cooked roast beef
- ½ cup yellow onion chopped
- 3 stalks celery chopped
- 2 spears dill pickle chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise or combination of mayo and Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons prepared creamy horseradish
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley minced (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine roast beef, onions, celery and chopped pickles in a medium bowl.
- Stir in mayonnaise, horseradish, onion powder, and garlic powder. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir in minced parsley if using.
This looks so yummy… I love sandwiches spreads they are great for camping, or enjoying at the beach. I will have to give this a try the next time I have leftover roast beef. Thank you for sharing.
They’re great for telling your kids “Go make yourself a sandwich”, too!
I have some home canned beef. I was looking for a recipe for making a sandwich spread. Thanks for your roast beef spread, I will try it with the canned beef
I haven’t tried it with canned beef, so would love to hear how it turned out.
I love this! I have made a similar recipe for years, but the addition of the pickles is spot on! This is what was missing from my original recipe. Thanks for sharing this. SO delicious.
You’re welcome!
I’ve never had roast beef spread before, but I’ve heard such a thing existed. I did a google search, and was drooling when I read your recipe. I even made a chuck roast for the leftovers to make this, haha! It was sooooo good! I did alter it a bit. I added a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the sauce mix. I also doubled prepared horseradish (in place of creamy- we love our horseradish, lol). I didn’t want to put it in the fridge to blend. I wanted a sandwich right away! If I had to describe what it’s like. It reminds me of a beef version of tuna salad. That is a compliment, because we love tuna salad too. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe. Five stars all the way!
Hi Katie, thanks for the recipe. I made the spread for my son’s end of the school pool party. Every one simply loved it. The only chnage I made is, since we are vegetarian, we used roated Beyond Beef instead and it wa delicious. Now in double mind if I should share recipe with family and friends or keep it for myself?
Hi Vivek,
I’m so glad you liked the recipe! I’ll have to try it with Beyond Meat, since we’re trying to eat more plant-based, too. Thank you for sharing that idea!
Glad I found this. I get tired of left over roast, and it’s often tossed also. So I was thinking why not make spread like chicken salad etc. let me google see if it’s a thing. And here we are getting ready to make some after I hit enter. Out of horseradish, but some chopped jalapeño should work
Ooh, yes, jalapeño should be amazing in it!