A Great Roast Beef–Perfect Comfort Food
I’m not sure if it’s cold where you are right now…but, the temperatures here are brutal. With a bit of snowy and icy weather in the forecast…it’s time for a great roast beef…perfect comfort food!
This recipe is one that is hard to change. It was one that began with my mother in law and then got tweaked through the years.
One thing that I have learned about a great roast is that low and slow is what makes a huge difference.
My mother made our “pot beef roast” in the electric skillet when I was growing up…crisco added and the roast seared on both sides and topped with potatoes, onions and carrots. The crispy bits of each of those were a delight. There really wasn’t gravy made from the drippings, but it was an entirely different dish than what I have come to know and love.
Which brings me to comfort food…
What does that mean to you? A great soup? A recipe that perhaps is more hearty and “comforting”? I’m with you!
I love a comforting soup, like the winter tortellini soup, a great sweet potato chili, chicken noodle soup, chicken enchilada soup, chicken and rice soup, or loaded potato soup…those are some of my favorite comfort food recipes.
So, as the forecast began to scream more cold weather, I thought it would be a perfect time to share this recipe with you all.
You know what I LOVE about this recipe, too, now that we are empty nesters? I begin with this “pot roast beef” of sorts for one meal…and then the leftovers become the BEST beef stew ever in the days that follow.
Now, you can use the “drippings” to make the best gravy…but, our favorite is to make the stew later!
First things first! Here’s where I begin. Gather the size and cut of chuck roast that suits you. The other ingredients that I begin with are Lipton beefy onion soup mix, beefy mushroom soup and an onion-sweet or whatever you have on hand works.
This recipe is SOOO very easy…you just have to plan to give it enough time to cook and really make it really tender.
Again, low and slow is key to this comfort food roast recipe!
I am NOT kidding about the LOW and SLOW!. I tried to rush a roast over Christmas and it just didn’t come out being “fork” tender.
Begin with a large 9 x 13 pan or your favorite lodge dutch oven…feel free to add sliced onions to caramelize in the bottom. This is an optional step since you add a package of beefy onion soup mix later, but something about caramelized onions appeals to me. Your choice!
Lay your roast beef in the center of the dish on top of those sliced onions.
Surround the roast with peeled and quartered potatoes and peeled carrots. Feel free to add as many carrots and potatoes as you’d like. That allows me to stretch the leftovers into a beef stew later.
Next, season with a bit of salt and pepper.
Pour a can of beefy mushroom soup over the top.
Sprinkle with one package of beefy onion soup mix.
Cover tightly with foil or a lid if using a dutch oven and place into a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. (I prepare mine in a ceramic lined Dutch oven and it turns out perfectly.)
Then turn down the oven to 275 degrees and continue to cook for several hours…depending on the size of your roast.
Usually this last step for me is about 5 hours to get the tenderest roast ever.
Seriously the best roast beef recipe and comfort food ever!
Serve with your favorite salad and bread for the most comforting meal when this cold weather hits!
I love this recipe so much better than a “crock pot” version that seems to be floating in liquid. This retains its juices and just makes the loveliest version of “gravy” without adding any other liquid than the can of soup. The flavor is heavenly.
The Best Comfort Food Roast Beef
Equipment
- Dutch oven or 9 x 13 dish
- cover for dutch oven or foil for dish
- paring knife
- can opener
Ingredients
- 1 beef roast your choice on size and cut of chuck roast
- potatoes, peeled and quartered
- carrots, peeled
- 1 can beefy mushroom soup
- 1 package beefy onion dry soup mix
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 onion, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place sliced onions, if desired in bottom of dutch oven or baking dish.
- Add roast on top of onions.
- Surround roast with peeled/quartered potatoes and carrots.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Spread one can of beefy mushroom soup over roast.
- Sprinkle one package of beefy onion soup over the top of the roast and vegetables.
- Cover dish- either with lid or tightly with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350 and then reduce the heat to 275 degrees for about 5 hours…until the meat is tender and falls apart.
- Serve with a salad and your favorite bread for a perfect comfort food meal!
- Place the leftovers–if there are any–in a container in the refrigerator to make the best beef stew or hearty soup later!
Notes
I can’t wait for you to give this recipe a try and then let me know what you think.
In the meanwhile, be watching, because that beef stew will be happening next!!
I LOVE this Lodge ceramic Dutch Oven! I have a round one and an oval one and they are in constant use.
30 Comments
Vickie Ramey
Absolutely divine. Sounds like my next guest meal!
Leslie J Watkins
I’m ready when you are!
Cindy
Wow this sounds delicious. Ready to gasp, I have never made this because I never find a recipe that appeals yo me.
I hope you share your stew recipe. I have been looking for that too.
I have tried several from the Food network of all places. Wasn’t a fan.
Thanks for sharing
Pinned
Leslie J Watkins
Cindy- This is truly the tried and true recipe. You just can’t rush it…low and slow for hours is the key. AND…the beef stew is scheduled for this week! Finished that post today. Be watching for it! Thanks so much for pinning it, too!
Tracey Buchanan
I make my roast almost exactly the same! The BEST comfort food meal ever!
Leslie J Watkins
Yes! This is one that just doesn’t get changed…
Susan Howell
Ready for beef stew recipe
Leslie J Watkins
We are, too! Enjoyed the roast last night and will make the stew for tonight. Bring on fall!
Linda Johnston
As I am sitting in our living room that’s a bit cool I can’t imaging anything better that pot roast or beef stew for this very cold day! Your recipe is a little different from mine but that is what I love about these tradtional dishes. I’m going to try it next time I make it!
Leslie J Watkins
Hope you will love it, Linda. This one just requires long and slow and then produces the BEST every time! Can’t wait for you to try it..then, let me know!
Renae
This sounds amazing! This was my mother in laws go to recipe . Such a great classic. Hugs to you, my friend.
Leslie J Watkins
It is just the best version…tried and true! Have a great weekend, sweet friend!
Jayne @ Chalking Up Success
This roast really does sound heavenly! It’s cold here too, we just got more snow! Comfort food here I Come! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Leslie J Watkins
I hope you love it. It is truly our absolute favorite. Just remember to cook it low and slow! Be watching for the stew recipe coming this week with the leftovers. Happy Sunday!
Paula@SweetPea
I just picked up my yearly quarter of beef and will make this coming week. It looks so good!
Leslie J Watkins
Oh, I love buying beef that way. We haven’t done it in a few years. I hope that you love this recipe! Just give it low and slow to get to an amazing tenderness. Enjoy!
Kim Waldorf
This looks delicious, Leslie! I have never tried using the can of soup. Definitely making this recipe! I also shared this week in my Mitten Moments! xo
Leslie J Watkins
thank you! and thank you for sharing me on your Mitten moments! I hope you love this. It is our absolute favorite.
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Jennifer Howard
Leslie, I’m cold…can you bring me some!! This looks amazing!
Leslie J Watkins
I’ll be right over!!! Until I get there…I hope you give it a try.
Rachel - Tea and Forget-me-nots
That looks delicious, must add it to the list!
Leslie J Watkins
Hope you love it! I would love to know if you do!
Rosemary Palmer
Mine is very much like this, but I like mashed potatoes because I make gravy. And mine is done in the crock pot. We had it this week.
Leslie J Watkins
I am a fan of mashed potatoes and a great roast, too. This version doesn’t produce all the extra liquid that my crock pot version does so this has become our all time favorite. Hope you will give it a try!
Tammy
Leslie, pot roast is a family favorite. Your recipe looks really good. I need to try your recipe and change things up. It looks so delicious.
Leslie J Watkins
Thank you. Hope you love it! this is truly our favorite.
Anna
I LOVE pot roast! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
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