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How to Make Roast Beef
Learning how to make roast beef gives you an easy family dinner plus plenty of possibilities for leftovers. Cook a beef roast slowly until tender for pot roast and shredded beef, or roast it in the oven when you want beef that can be sliced and served for dinner.
Add potatoes, carrots, onions or other vegetables to make an all-in-one meal, then turn leftover roast beef into sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, shepherd's pie or individual meat pies.
Start Here: Choose Your Roast Beef Recipe
- Want the easiest method? Start with Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef for a simple beef roast with onions and optional vegetables.
- Want sliced roast beef? Follow How to Cook Roast Beef in the Oven and use a meat thermometer to check doneness for your particular cut.
- Want a classic pot roast? Try American-Style Pot Roast with potatoes and an easy creamy onion gravy.
- Want a different flavor? Try Pepperoncini Pot Roast or Slow Cooker Apricot BBQ Beef.
- Already have cooked beef? Jump to What to Do with Leftover Roast Beef for easy ways to turn leftovers into another meal.
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Easy Slow Cooker Roast Beef
This simple slow cooker roast beef is an easy way to make a tender family dinner with very little prep. Add onions for flavor, then include potatoes, carrots or other vegetables if you want to cook the whole meal together.
Before starting: Thaw the beef roast completely in the refrigerator before placing it in the slow cooker.
Ingredients
- 1 beef roast
- 1-2 onions, chopped
- 1/2 cup water
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Directions
- Place the beef roast in the slow cooker.
- Add the chopped onions and pour the water around the roast.
- Season the beef with salt and black pepper.
- Cover and cook until the beef is tender and easily pulls apart. Many pot roasts take about 6-8 hours, but cooking time will vary depending on the size and cut of the roast and your slow cooker.
- Transfer the roast to a cutting board or serving platter and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing or shredding.
- Save the cooking liquid if you'd like to use it for gravy or another sauce.
Make It a One-Pot Dinner
Add potatoes, carrots, onions or turnips around the roast so the vegetables cook along with the beef. Cut larger vegetables into similar-size pieces so they cook more evenly.
Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can help wash vegetables, measure the water and season the roast. An adult should handle the raw beef and hot slow cooker.
How to Cook Roast Beef in the Oven
Roast beef can also be cooked in the oven instead of the slow cooker. Oven cooking works especially well when you want sliced roast beef rather than meat that pulls apart.
1. Prepare the Roast
Place the beef roast in a roasting pan or large casserole dish. Season with salt, black pepper and other favorite herbs or seasonings.
2. Add Vegetables
If you'd like a one-pan dinner, arrange potatoes, carrots, onions or turnips around the roast. Cut the vegetables into similar-size pieces so they cook more evenly.
3. Roast in the Oven
Cook the roast according to the size and cut of beef you are using. Use a meat thermometer rather than relying only on cooking time. Beef roasts should reach at least 145°F in the thickest part, followed by a rest of at least 3 minutes before slicing.
4. Rest Before Slicing
Remove the roast from the oven and let it rest for at least 3 minutes before slicing. Resting also gives the juices time to settle back into the meat.
Slow Cooker or Oven?
Choose the slow cooker when you want very tender beef that can be shredded or pulled apart. Choose the oven when you want a roast that can be sliced and served with potatoes and vegetables.
Potatoes & Vegetables to Cook with Roast Beef
Adding vegetables turns roast beef into an easy all-in-one family dinner. Potatoes, carrots, onions and other sturdy vegetables can cook alongside the beef and soak up some of the flavor from the roast.
Potatoes
Use small red or white potatoes whole, or cut larger potatoes into chunks. Potatoes are especially good for soaking up the flavorful juices from the roast.
Carrots
Peel and cut carrots into thick pieces so they don't become too soft while the beef cooks. Baby carrots are another easy option.
Onions
Cut onions into wedges or large pieces and arrange them around the roast. They soften as they cook and add flavor to both the beef and cooking liquid.
Turnips & Other Root Vegetables
Cut turnips or other favorite root vegetables into chunks and cook them with the roast for another easy way to add vegetables to the meal.
Cut Vegetables into Similar-Size Pieces
Keep vegetable pieces fairly large and similar in size so they cook more evenly. When using a slow cooker, place sturdy root vegetables around or beneath the roast so they have plenty of time to become tender.
Don't Throw Away the Roast Juices
After the roast is cooked, save the flavorful liquid left in the slow cooker or roasting pan. Skim off excess fat, then use the juices to make homemade gravy or sauce, or spoon a little over sliced or shredded beef to help keep it moist.
Easy American-Style Pot Roast
This easy pot roast cooks beef and potatoes in a creamy onion gravy for a simple family dinner. Cream of mushroom soup and onion soup mix make the sauce especially easy to put together.
Ingredients
- 1 (4-pound) beef roast
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 package dry onion soup mix
- 1/2 cup water
- Small white or red potatoes, scrubbed
- Black pepper, to taste
Directions
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream of mushroom soup, onion soup mix and water until combined.
- Spread a small amount of the soup mixture over the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Place the beef roast in the slow cooker and arrange the potatoes around it.
- Pour the remaining soup mixture over the roast and season with black pepper.
- Cover and cook for about 6 hours on high or 8 hours on low, or until the beef is tender and the potatoes are cooked through.
- Let the roast rest for several minutes before slicing or shredding. Serve with the potatoes and spoon some of the gravy over the beef.
Add More Vegetables
Carrots and onions can be added with the potatoes for an easy one-pot meal. Keep the pieces fairly large so they hold their shape during the long cooking time.
Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can scrub the potatoes, measure the water and stir together the soup mixture. An adult should handle the raw beef and hot slow cooker.
Easy Pepperoncini Pot Roast
Recipe by Eve, MS Gulf Coast
This simple pepperoncini pot roast needs only two main ingredients. The peppers and their juice add plenty of flavor while the beef slowly cooks until tender. Serve it with rice or mashed potatoes, then save any leftovers for sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 1 (3-4 pound) beef roast
- 1 jar pepperoncini peppers, including the juice
Directions
- Place the beef roast in the slow cooker.
- Pour the entire jar of pepperoncini peppers, including the juice, over and around the roast.
- Cover and cook for about 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low, or until the beef is tender.
- Remove the roast from the slow cooker and let it rest briefly before slicing or shredding.
- Serve with rice, mashed potatoes or another favorite side dish.
Turn the Leftovers into Sandwiches
Shred leftover pepperoncini beef and pile it onto sandwich rolls with some of the cooked peppers. Add cheese if you'd like, or spoon a little of the cooking liquid over the beef to keep it moist.
Try It with Pork
Eve's original recipe can also be made with a pork roast. Use the same simple pepperoncini method and cook until the meat is tender enough to slice or shred.
Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can help place the pepperoncini peppers around the roast and, with adult help, pour in the juice. An adult should handle the raw beef and hot slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Apricot BBQ Beef
Recipe by Christine, Ohio, USA
This easy BBQ beef combines barbecue sauce with apricot preserves, Dijon mustard and brown sugar for a sweet and tangy slow cooker roast. Shred or slice the finished beef and serve it as a main dish or pile it onto buns for BBQ beef sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds top round beef roast
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1 jar apricot preserves
- 1/2 cup diced bell peppers
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 medium onion, sliced
Directions
- Place the beef roast in the slow cooker.
- Add the BBQ sauce, apricot preserves, bell peppers, Dijon mustard, brown sugar and sliced onion.
- Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- Remove the beef from the slow cooker and let it rest briefly.
- Slice or shred the beef, then stir or spoon some of the BBQ sauce mixture over the meat before serving.
- Serve as a main dish or spoon the BBQ beef onto buns for sandwiches.
Make BBQ Beef Sandwiches
Shred the cooked beef and mix it with enough of the sauce to keep it moist. Spoon the BBQ beef onto buns for an easy dinner or a way to serve leftovers the next day.
Kids Cooking Tip: Kids can measure the BBQ sauce, apricot preserves, mustard and brown sugar and stir the sauce ingredients together. An adult should handle the raw beef and hot slow cooker.
Kids Cooking Recipe Cards
Roast beef recipes are a great way for kids to practice measuring ingredients, preparing vegetables and following simple cooking steps. Our Kids Cooking Recipe Cards give young cooks more family-friendly recipes they can make with adult supervision.
What to Do with Leftover Roast Beef
Leftover roast beef can become an entirely different meal the next day. Slice or shred the cooked beef, then use it in pies, tacos, quesadillas, salads, sandwiches and other easy family dinners. Cooked roast beef can also be portioned and frozen for future meals.
More Easy Ways to Use Leftover Roast Beef
- Roast beef sandwiches: Thinly slice the beef and layer it on bread or rolls with cheese and favorite sandwich toppings.
- BBQ beef sandwiches: Shred the beef, stir in barbecue sauce and warm it before serving on buns.
- Beef salad: Add sliced leftover beef to a chef or Cobb-style salad for an easy lunch or dinner.
- Beef and vegetables: Warm chopped roast beef with leftover potatoes, carrots or other cooked vegetables for a quick skillet meal.
Save the Beef in Meal-Size Portions
Before storing leftovers, slice or shred the roast and divide it into portions for another meal. That makes it easier to grab just what you need for sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas or meat pies.
Roast Beef in the Crockpot Video
Watch how to prepare roast beef in the slow cooker for another look at this easy cooking method.
More Easy Beef Recipes
Once you've learned how to make roast beef, try more family-friendly beef dinners and cooking methods.
Roast Beef FAQ
Is roast beef better in the slow cooker or oven?
Use the slow cooker when you want very tender beef that can be shredded or pulled apart. Oven roasting works well when you want roast beef that can be sliced and served with potatoes and vegetables.
Can you cook vegetables with roast beef?
Yes. Potatoes, carrots, onions and turnips can all cook alongside the beef. Cut the vegetables into similar-size pieces so they cook more evenly.
How do you know when slow cooker roast beef is done?
For pot-roast style recipes, cook until the beef is tender and easily pulls apart with a fork. Cooking time varies by the cut, size of the roast and slow cooker. Beef roasts should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 145°F.
Should roast beef rest before slicing?
Yes. Let roast beef rest for at least 3 minutes before slicing. Resting also gives the juices time to settle back into the meat.
What can you do with the liquid left from roast beef?
Save the flavorful cooking liquid instead of throwing it away. Skim off excess fat, then use the liquid for gravy or sauce, or spoon a little over sliced or shredded beef to help keep it moist.
What can you make with leftover roast beef?
Leftover roast beef can be used in sandwiches, tacos, quesadillas, salads, shepherd's pie, individual meat pies and quick beef-and-vegetable meals.
How can kids help make roast beef?
Kids can wash potatoes and vegetables, measure water and seasonings and help stir sauce ingredients. An adult should handle the raw beef, sharp knives, hot slow cooker and oven.
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