Arby's Half Pound Deluxe Cheesesteak

About the Half Pound Deluxe Cheesesteak

The Arby's Half Pound Deluxe Cheesesteak is the bigger of the two deluxe chicken subs, priced at $15.48 and listed at 1,050 cal. Despite the generic name, this one is a chicken sandwich: a half pound of seasoned chicken that Arby's covers in caramelized onions and melted Cooper cheese, crowned by sliced tomato and a pile of shredded lettuce, all in a toasted sesame seed sub roll.

It helps to clear up that name first. Many people expect beef when they see Half Pound Deluxe Cheesesteak on the board, but Arby's describes the filling as seasoned chicken, the same as the regular Deluxe Chicken Cheesesteak. If beef is what you want, the Half Pound Cheesesteak uses shaved Angus steak instead.

With a full half pound of chicken inside, the savory meat becomes the main event. The seasoning is mild and peppery, the Cooper cheese melts into a creamy glue, and the onions lend small bursts of sweetness throughout. Then the cold toppings change the mood. Crisp lettuce and juicy tomato give each bite a fresh finish, which keeps a sandwich this large from feeling monotonous by the halfway point.

Visually it is tall and colorful. Golden chicken spills out of the sesame roll, white cheese runs over the edges, and the red and green toppings sit on top like a garnish you actually eat. The roll is toasted for structure, and it needs every bit of that strength to carry the load.

Protein comes in at 88 grams, which ties the other half pound chicken builds. Half Pound Deluxe Cheesesteak calories run only slightly above the plain half pound chicken version, since lettuce and tomato add almost nothing. The price is a different story, as the fresh toppings carry a small upcharge over the plain build at the Austin, Texas restaurant behind our numbers. Other locations can charge a bit more or less.

This sub works for a big lunch shared between two people, a dinner for one serious appetite, or a workday meal that needs to last until late evening. It sits on the cheesesteak menu as the most loaded chicken option that skips the spicy sauce.

A side of Jalapeno Bites adds the heat this sandwich leaves out, and a Strawberry Lemonade keeps the whole order bright.