How To Make a Roast

Roast beef is a classic choice for dinner, whether you’re serving it for a quiet night at home or as a part of your holiday meal plan. We have the perfect step-by-step guide to making the perfect roast beef.

If you don’t make it very often and feel intimidated by the idea of making it, don’t worry! It’s easy to learn how to make roast beef, and once you roast beef once, you’re going to want to roast beef again!

At first, preparing a roast beef dinner may seem a lot more difficult than it actually is. When you’re getting started on learning how to roast beef, you might have a lot of questions, like what cuts of meat are best for roasting? Or what are the serving suggestions for roast beef?

Don’t let those questions get in the way of making your roast beef dinner! You can learn how to roast beef like a pro!

What is roast beef?

Roast beef is a beef dish traditionally prepared in the oven on a rack in a roasting pan to produce a finished roast with a nicely caramelized crust on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.

Roasting is a process that uses dry heat to cook. When you roast beef, you use a rack set inside a roasting pan to lift the beef off the bottom of the pan where any liquid would accumulate. The roasting temperature can vary from low and slow to using a higher temperature depending upon the ingredient and desired outcome.

Roast beef is a wonderful choice for a holiday dinner and makes great leftovers that you can use for dishes like roast beef hash or roast beef sandwiches.

Standing Rib Roast sliced to see the perfectly mid-rare cook on the beef

The best roast beef dinners are perfectly browned on the outside with a well-seasoned crust, and deliciously juicy towards the center. Once you know how to roast beef, it’s simple to make an easy Sunday dinner roast beef!

What is the best cut for a roast?

Usually, the first question in learning how to roast beef is what cut of beef to choose!

What is the best beef roast? There are plenty of options to choose from, and they all have their place at the dinner table. Let’s find out what primary cuts of meat are best for roasting. Who doesn’t love delicious holiday roast beef recipes?

Holiday roasts: What cut should you choose for a holiday roast beef dinner?
- Boneless rib roast is a popular choice thanks to its rich flavor.
- Bone-in ribeye roast stands out on any table and is sure to be the star. Prime rib is the ultimate choice for a holiday roast!
- Strip roast is lean, easy to cut, and packed with flavor.
- Tenderloin roast is the most tender roast available and is a great choice for the holidays.
- Top sirloin roast is an adaptable choice that pairs well with glazes and rubs.
Family dinner roasts: What cut should you choose if you’re on a budget or cooking a delicious Sunday Beef Roast?
- Sirloin tip is lean, tender, and affordable. This cut marinates well.
- Eye of round roast is an affordable cut that can be roasted in the oven or slow cooker for a family meal.
- Tri-tip roast is also known as bottom sirloin roast or triangle roast. It’s tender and packed with flavor.
- Top round roasts are budget-friendly and ideal for thin slices. They make wonderful meat for sandwiches.
- Bottom round roasts offer big slices of thin beef with the perfect texture for roast beef sandwiches.

When in doubt, ask your butcher! They can recommend you the best beef roast and cut and tie it for you. We recommend using Certified Angus Beef® for maximum flavor and tenderness!

ingredients for Mississippi Pot Roast laid out on a table including a rump roast, dry ranch dressing, dry au jus gravy, a stick of butter, and a jar of pepperoncini peppers

Certified Angus Beef® brand is on an entirely different level from other beef brands: every cut of their beef is judged for quality on 10 factors, which is why no other brand of beef is as tender, juicy, or flavorful! For more Roast Perfect recipes, visit the Certified Angus Beef® brand website.

How to Roast Beef in the oven

Follow these easy step-by-step instructions courtesy of the free Roast Perfect App! This simple approach to the perfect roast beef will work well with any roast made in the oven:

Preheat your oven to 450°F.
Season the roast to your liking with salt and pepper.
Place your roast in a roasting pan fitted with a rack, with the fatty side facing up.
Cook your roast for 15 minutes.
Lower the oven temperature to 325°F. Continue roasting. Roasting time varies based on the type and size of your cut as well as desired doneness. You can find the general rules for doneness here.
Test your roast beef temperature with a thermometer. Remove your roast from the oven when it is 5 to 10 degrees below desired doneness.
Cover your roast with foil and allow it to rest before serving. For roasts weighing less than 4 lbs., rest for 10 minutes. Roasts heavier than 4 lbs. but less than 10 lbs. should rest for 15 minutes. For roasts heavier than 10 lbs., rest for 20 minutes.

How much Roast Beef per person?

Now that you know how to roast beef, what roast beef recipe will you prepare first? Here are our serving suggestions for roast beef!

This Standing Rib Roast is guaranteed to be the star of any table. Serve it for a holiday dinner and your guests will be blown away! As a delicious four-rib roast, you can expect this meal to feed a table of 8.
Boneless Prime Rib Roast is tender, flavorful, and so easy to make. This simple but impressive dish easily serves a table of 6.
This Whole Beef Tenderloin is a show-stopper! This flavorful dish feeds a table of 6, so you can serve it for an impressive holiday meal.
Our Slow Roasted Prime Rib recipe is slow roasted to perfection, sealing in all the juices and is reverse seared to ensure a crisp crust on the outside for maximum flavor!
Instant Pot Prime Rib

Hungry for more ideas on how to roast beef? Wondering what sides to make?

You are going to love the best side dish recipes for roast beef, including our Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and this recipe for the best pot roast recipe! Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a Roast Beef Sunday Dinner?