CrockPot Roast Beef Recipe


Day 354.

I can't say Roast Beef without wanting to say "roast beast"----and then my mind wanders to Maggie and the Ferocious Beast and that's just wrong. I like that beast.

We had roast beef for dinner last night, and it was good. I cooked it for 4 hours on high, and there was still a touch of pink in the middle, but you can cook it for a shorter amount of time if you prefer pinker meat. Make sure your meat is thawed, and use a meat thermometer.

The Ingredients.

5 lbs bone-in rib eye (this is the max that will fit in a 6.5 qt crockpot)
1 large yellow onion, sliced in rings
6 cloves garlic, peeled
2 T cornstarch
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup beef stock/broth


The Directions.

Slice the onion, and spread around the bottom of your crockpot. Trim excess fat off of meat. Make little slits in the meat with a serrated knife, and insert a garlic clove into each one. Try to space them out equally, if you can.

Add dry ingredients to a plastic zipper bag, and shake and bake the meat. Put it in the crockpot on top of the onion slices. Add Worcestershire sauce and broth. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, on low for 6-8, or until meat has reached desired temperature with a meat thermometer.

Let the meat stand for 15 minutes before slicing. If you'd like, you can use the juice at the bottom of the crockpot to make a gravy with some more cornstarch. Elise has a tutorial on Simply Recipes---do not put your crockpot on the stove. Pour the drippings into a pot.

The Verdict.

This was great; the meat was tender and had a nice, mild garlicy flavor. You can use a less-expensive cut of meat, but you'll need to cook it longer to get it tender, and you won't be able to slice as nicely. There is nothing wrong with that at all----just a heads up. My kids ate their meat in a cardboard box. Just like Hamilton.



If you are planning a Holiday meal---here is a list that might be of help.

Do you love this article?

Please share it with your friends!


Posted by: Stephanie O'Dea | A Year of Slow Cooking at December 19, 2008

Sign up for the A Year of Slow Cooking newsletter and get the Top Ten Reader Favorite Recipes sent directly to your inbox!

What they say about this article

  1. I say "roast beast" too!!! I'm so glad I'm not the only one. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12/19/2008

    How does this compare with the 3 packet roast? I was just going to make that this weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Debbi,
    it's completely different. The 3-packet roast has a thick(ish) peppery gravy, and this is a thin, tender roast beef with a delicate flavor you'd eat with horseradish.

    --steph

    ReplyDelete
  4. MMM, this sounds so good!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous12/19/2008

    Ha ha love the "Maggie" reference. My daughter loves that show. And I love this recipe. Definitly trying this one!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hmm...I am not familiar with Maggie, but didn't the Who's have roast beast in "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?" I think they did! : )

    Love your blog! I visit every day and have really started using my crockpot a lot more! Thank you! : )

    ReplyDelete
  7. ah, Laura, you're right! That's where it's from originally. Maggie and the Ferocious Beast is a cute show on the Noggin channel.

    xox
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mmm. I make roast beef in the crock pot all the time. Delicious!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Is the Worcestershire sauce gluten free? my husband says he can't have it...

    ReplyDelete
  10. roast beast...that's Dr. Seuss too, right? Grinch? I love that guy.

    oh yes, now that I look ahead to your comments I see that now. But I'm too lazy to erase and start over. So this is what you get.

    I bet that smelled really good all day long.

    Admit it, you're starting to feel sad about only having a 2 weeks left aren't you?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Tara, yes! Lea and Perrins is gluten free.

    xxo
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the picture of Hamilton! My boy loves "Mag and the beast" as I call it.

    The roast beast looks yummy, btw..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous12/19/2008

    Steph~ I loved watching Maggie and Ferocious Beast more than my kids did I think (tee hee); that Hamilton!?
    We are enjoying your recipes and your diligence in sticking with your commitment to provide the blogosphere with a crockpot meal every day this. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
    I've learned so much.
    Are you starting to get tired of posting, ready for a break or sad that it's all going to end?
    Peace,
    Lynne

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous12/19/2008

    I love, love, love your blog!!!

    I make roast beef all the time in my crockpot, but I always put it in frozen. Seems like putting them in frozen guarantees a bit of pink in the middle too. I tend to ignore my crockpot all day, and am not very good at the "cook for 4 hour" rule, so frozen works great for me. Am definitely going to try this sauce.

    Hope you keep on posting in the new year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. i am so sad that i just now caught this wonderful blog.. what will you do next year? you aren't going to start over? that makes me kinda sad :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love love love your blog as well and am already sad contemplating 2009 without it. Would you consider crockpotting once a week?

    PS I have 3 crockpots myself (1.5, 3.5 and 5.5 quarts) and have been using them more thanks to you! My crockpot roast veggies were a hit at the last tailgate. :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thanks for your comment on my blog... I'm trying the rotisserie chicken in the crock today and can't wait until dinner! I did skin the chicken and yes it was a bit of a beating. My husband was waiting to go out and I made him stay so he could keep his eye on our 15 month-old daughter, lest she get into anything while I was mangling the chicken. I had visions of me chasing after her with salmonella-encrusted hands!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Haha I said roast beast when I saw the title! Maybe because I just read How the Grinch Stole Christmas today. Sounds yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12/19/2008

    "And he, himself- the Grinch, carved the roast beast." LOL

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love this blog! I found it while searching for a crab dip recipe (which I am making for the holiday party at work on Monday!). You have inspired me, today I put a whole cut up chicken in my crock pot ... I've never liked all the 'juice/grease' that I get when I cook a whole chicken, so I placed a layer of celery at the bottom of the pot as a 'rack' and skinned the chicken (gross at six am, but well worth it) ... I simply sprinkled salt, pepper and Mrs. Dash on and oooooh, did the house smell yummy when I came home (during a New England Blizzard) ... Thank you for your inspiration ...

    My mom always cooked a 'roast beast' in the crock w/ onions, potatoes, carrots and a cheap roast, all covered with a pot of coffee ... YUM!!!

    Lacey

    ReplyDelete
  21. I say roast beast, too. I once worked in a commercial kitchen and every Christmas we would make "Leg of Roast Beast" - a whole cow leg, actually. And my mind follows the same path yours does - Maggie and the Ferocious Beast!

    Absolutely hilarious to know others think the same way.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous12/19/2008

    Re Lea & Perrins G/F produced in U.S. From U.K. and in Canada has malt vinegar in it so not G/F.

    I am in Canada so it is on my shopping list when I travel to the U.S.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous12/19/2008

    I love your blog and use one of your recipes at least once a week, but that's not what prompted me to comment.

    No, it was Hamilton. That last line about killed me. Why *does* he live in a box? And are the double entendres intended or are they inadvertent, like the entire "Big Banana Day" episode of Oswald?

    ReplyDelete
  24. First, let me just say, I am amazed at all the stuff you can make in a crockpot and your blog is AWESOME!
    Is there any other way to cook a roast?!?? I am a little on the lazy side, so I always put mine in frozen and leave all day on low, which works great for a beef roast or less expensive pork roast and I cook potatoes, carrots, and onions with it, the broth gives them good flavor. We like it shreddable and use the leftovers to make BBQ sandwiches. I'll have to try your "beast juice", it sounds good. I am always trying new seasonings with mine and so far the best I've come up with is using Lipton onion soup seasoning.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hy husband is going to be so incredibly happy to hear that he can have Lean and Perrins. We've been making our own for the past 3 years, and I never could get it tweaked right. I think I'll put a bottle in his stocking (o:

    ReplyDelete
  26. I always say roast beast because around here you never know what the meat is going to be. Last weekend we had a venison roast. Sometimes they have beefalo roasts at the market (which is an awesome crossbreed!) Your formula for this one looks quite simmilar to what I usually do, except I use a roux to thicken up the pan (crockpot really) drippings.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous12/20/2008

    HI Steph...Long time follower, first time commenter....
    First of all, let me say, I visit you once every two weeks when I plan my meals before I go to the store. My husband loves it, and will ask what is going in the crock pot this week! I will do the roast this week...My fav's are the ribs, and the rosterie chicken. I plan on getting the meat for the roast today....He will get put on probably next week...as I already have a big meal planned for this week!! Thank you for taking the time to help busy busy busy mom's like me (who are married yet single parent due to work!) I feel better having a home cooked meal once in a while!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous12/20/2008

    I have been reading this blog for about a month and have really enjoyed it. I feel compelled to respond to the suggestion of cooking frozen roasts in the crock pot. Seriously ICK!!! I have taught food safety classes for years and the information I use from the USDA is that crock pots ( and ovens) don't heat the food fast enough to kill bacteria and the amount of time the meat is at an unsafe temperature(between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit) is long enough to make people very ill. Check out the USDA website for fact sheets about food safety. The crock pot is a great way to save time and money but like anything else it needs to be used properly. Making someone sick just because you are too lazy to thaw meat ahead of time is irresponsible. Please educate yourselves about safe food handling techniques, that stomach flu you and your family members get repeatedly is probably a food borne illness and can be prevented. Karen

    ReplyDelete
  29. We are big fans of Maggie at our house too. My 3 year-old son calls it "Maggie and the Roast Beef". Love your blog. I visit daily looking for new recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  30. wait, rib roast. Like PRIME RIB? In the crockpot? NO!! That is just wrong! Sorry, but prime ribs need to be at the most medium rare. Rare is best though. Something you would never be able to do in a crockpot.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous12/21/2008

    Love your blog and check it several times a year. My goal for next year is to use my crock pot twice weekly. I'm going to be looking at your recipes. Many of them have sounded so good.

    About this roast thing...I'm planning on making a boneless roast for dinner. I often do this and shred the meat for sandwhiches but I want it to have a more pot roast feel to it. Do you think this recipe will accomplish that and does it matter about the boneless roast? Thanks Susan

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous12/21/2008

    Shoot, my comment didn't post. I'll try again and hope it's not a repeat.

    I love your blog. My goal for the next year is to use my crockpot 2X a week. I'm going to use a lot of your recipes!

    I did have a question about the Roast Beast though. I am planning on making boneless roast for XMAS. Do you think the Roast Beast recipe will work for that? I use the crock pot all the time for roast beef but use the meat for sandwiches. I want this to have a more pot roast feel. Do you think it will work? Thanks for all you recipies. Susan

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Susan,
    if you wanted to have more of a shreddy pot roast, I'd go with a chuck roast instead of a ribeye---boneless is fine. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, then shred with forks. If the meat doesn't shred easily, cut in chunks, then cook for another few hours, then it should shred okay.

    xxo
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous12/21/2008

    Hey, Steph, I actually want it to have be less shreddy. More like a pot roast or a roast to slice like yours. I just checked and its a cross rib roast. Is it even possible to get a more "not overdone" texture? Would I still cook 8-10 or more like 4-5? Thanks Susan

    ReplyDelete
  35. oh, okay. I'd stick to 3-4 hours on high, and check with a meat thermometer after 3 if you want it to have some red in there, or check after 4 on low.

    low and high max out at the same temp, it's just that low takes a bit longer to get up to speed.

    xxo
    steph

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous12/21/2008

    Yea! Thank you so much! I'm hoping to make making XMAS dinner a lot less stressful. The mashed potatoes are already cooked and in the freezer. With the roasts happily cooking in the crockpot, all I have to do is manage the gravey, vegetable and biscuits. It's doable right? BTW -- when using themometer, what temp am I going for if I want some pink in the middle? Thank you so much for your help!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Another "beaster" here. I will be making this recipe tomorrow. I also wanted to chime in and say that I have enjoyed this blog and will be sad when the new year comes. Unless you are planning another resolution...

    ReplyDelete
  38. My favorite meal!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous1/11/2009

    I just cooked this in my "Bass Pro Shops Macho Camoflage Squirrel-Roastin' End Times Crockpot." My wife gave me the ultimate compliment of putting all of it into plastic containers to take it to work.

    Please add "remove garlic cloves with a spoon" to the recipe.

    I poured the crockpot drippings in a frying pan, made a butter/cornstarch/flour roux in a sauce pan and added buts of it to the drippings to make a thick gravy.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Anonymous1/20/2009

    This looks soo good! Can't wait to try it. BTW...I went thru subway and ordered "roast beast" one time....Im not sure what they thought about that! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  41. Anonymous1/26/2009

    I thought I was the only one who always called it "Roast Beast"!!! I'm thinking of the Whos in Whoville...my small children now refer to RB as Roast Beast regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Stephanie -- I made this roast a few weeks ago (and thought I left a comment! lol but obviously not!!) at any rate, this is THE Best roast I've ever made in the crock!! And I actually followed your directions exactly.. imagine that! hahaha!! It was fantastic and SO tasty!! Have a great Monday!! I can't wait to see Erin tomorrow! I've been emailing Rachael Ray too! I hope they will notice me!! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  43. This is so good! I've made it twice now (once for company)and we have loved it both times.

    ReplyDelete