This easy roast beef recipe has slivers of garlic and fresh rosemary for amazing flavor. With only a handful of pantry ingredients, you’re just few steps away from whipping up this wonderful, mouth-watering roast beef dinner!
An Easy Roast Beef Recipe
We all need a more low maintenance dinners in our lives, would you agree? If you’re also in pursuit of this reality, you’ll want this roast beef recipe in your life. It’s juicy, it’s tender, it’s full of flavor – what more could you want? When finished cooking the meat becomes so tender it practically melts in your mouth.
One of the things I love most about this recipe is how versatile it is. You can make it ahead to serve on a busy weeknight, for a low-key Sunday dinner, or even for the holidays. Roast beef is a stellar addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner! And even better, this foolproof recipe is low-carb and keto-friendly.
What’s the Best Cut of Meat to Use?
If you’re wondering what kind of meat to use for the best roast beef, here are my top suggestions:
- Top Round Roast
- Bottom Round Roast
- Eye of Round
- Top Sirloin Roast
The eye of the round, top round and bottom round roasts all meet the guidelines for extra-lean beef.
How to Make Roast Beef
With a kick of garlic and a simple rub of rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper, this is a meal that practically makes itself.
- Let the meat come to room temp. First and foremost, let roast sit in room temperature at least 1 hour, and up to 2 hours, before cooking.
- Preheat your oven. Set the temperature to 450˚F.
- Prep the roast. Then, pat dry with paper towels and, using a sharp knife, pierce meat in several places; insert slivers of garlic in each hole.
- Add the flavorings. Combine olive oil, fresh chopped rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl; stir to combine and then rub all over roast.
- Add to your roasting pan. Place roast on top of a rack set over a roasting pan.
- Insert an ovenproof meat thermometer into the center of the roast. This will ensure a perfectly cooked roast.
- Cook. Place everything in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
- Lower the temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 325˚F and continue to cook your roast beef until the internal temperature reaches desired doneness: 130°F for rare, 140°F for medium rare, and 150°F to 155˚F for medium to well done.
- Rest. Remove from oven and let roast rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
What is the Done Temp for Roast Beef?
You want to take that roast out of the oven when it reaches a temperature between 130˚F and 145˚F, depending on your desired doneness. I like some pink in the center, but my husband doesn’t, so I took mine out at around 138˚F (happy medium? 🙄) and let it rest for 20 minutes before cutting. Meat continues to cook while it rests and internal temperature will rise 5˚F in the meantime.
The Secret to Tender, Juicy Roast Beef
Want to know how to cook roast beef without drying it out? The secret to tender, juicy, fall-apart roast beef is the resting time. After you remove the cooked roast beef from the oven, let it rest for 20-30 minutes. During this time the meat will absorb some of the juices, which will make the meat super tender. By contrast, if you carve your meat immediately then all the juices will drain out of the roast beef.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Roast Beef?
Cooking time depends on the size of the roast and desired doneness; anything between 3 and 4 pounds will take a minimum of 1 hour and 15 minutes. A 4-pound roast will take about 1 hour and 45 minutes to cook.
I like to start at high heat for 15 minutes to get that browning on the outside, but then I reduce the heat to 325˚F for the remainder of the time. However, all ovens are not created equal; thus, as stated above, it’s essential to use an ovenproof meat thermometer, especially for bigger cuts of meat.
Also, please resist cutting into the roast right away. Let it rest for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing. If you cut too soon, all that juice will just find itself on the cutting board and you will end up with a dry piece of meat.
What Goes with Roast Beef?
Wondering what to serve with this roast beef recipe? I love it with Creamy Mashed Cauliflower, Roasted Vegetables, or Roasted Baby Potatoes. These Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and these Air Fryer Balsamic Glazed Carrots are also stellar sides to serve with this dinner.
If you want a side of bread, these buttermilk biscuits or these easy popovers are an indulgent treat!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- Storage: Store completely cooled, sliced roast beef in airtight containers and keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.
- To reheat: Place the desired amount of meat on a microwave-safe plate and heat until warmed through. The amount of time needed will depend on how much you are trying to heat up. I recommend doing single-servings in the microwave, which usually need about 2 minutes.
And don’t forget to make at least some of your leftovers into roast beef sandwiches!
More Beef Recipes to Try
ENJOY!
Rosemary Garlic Roast Beef Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (3 to 4 pounds) round roast, fat trimmed off
- 4 cloves garlic, each clove cut in 3 slivers, longwise
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- ½ tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450˚F.
- Prepare a roasting pan with a rack set over it; set aside.
- Take the roast out of the fridge at least 1 hour before cooking, and up to 2 hours before cooking.
- Pat dry the meat with paper towels.
- Using a sharp knife, cut slits in the roast and insert the slivered garlic evenly around the whole roast.
- In a small bowl combine olive oil, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper; mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Rub the rosemary mixture all around the roast.
- Place roast on top of the rack that is set over the roasting pan.
- Stick an ovenproof meat thermometer into the center of the meat.
- Transfer it to the oven and roast for 15 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 325˚F and continue to roast until internal temperature reaches 130°F for rare, 140°F for medium rare, and 150°F to 155˚F for medium to well done. This can take anywhere from 1 hour and 20 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the size of the roast and desired doneness.
- Remove from oven and let roast rest for 20 to 30 minutes before cutting.
- Cut and serve.
Notes
NOTES:
- Two important steps to remember for the perfect roast: Use an ovenproof meat thermometer, and let the roast beef rest for 20 minutes before cutting.
- Temperature/Degree of Doneness: 130°F for rare, 140°F for medium rare, and 150°F to 155˚F for medium to well done.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
