How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (2024)

by Lauren

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Roast beef is the ultimate comfort food. If you’re looking for a great way to make your holiday dinner stand out or just want to serve a delicious Sunday roast that will knock your family’s socks off, you’ll love this melt-in-your-mouth rump roast recipe.

How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (1)

How to Cook a Rump Roast Just Like Grandma’s

There’s nothing better than a juicy roast beef dinner on a cold winter day.

Today, I’m sharing my favorite way to make roast beef in the oven. It’s perfect when you want something easy and delicious to serve for the holidays or to make a Sunday dinner a little more special.

There’s a reason roast beef is such a classic for family gatherings. You don’t need to be a professional chef or even have much experience cooking at all to make it. All you need is a rump roast, some common seasonings, and a baking pan. Once you have those things in place, it’s time to get cooking!

So how do you cook a rump roast? That’s what I’m here for! I’ve got all your answers—including what do to with those leftovers.

What you’ll love about this recipe:

  • Hands off method. Searing the roast in a hot oven and then turning the heat down to let it roast slowly means you don’t have to dirty a second pan.
  • Classic seasonings. We’re keeping things simple here with classic seasonings that let the flavor of the beef shine. That means the leftovers have maximum versatility!
  • Melt-in-your-mouth tender. No tough, chewy beef here!

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How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (2)

Ingredients You’ll Need

Rump roast. For this classic recipe, I like to use rump roast, which is an affordable cut of beef that’s very tender. You can also use a bottom round, sirloin tip, or go all out and splurge on a boneless prime rib roast. Whichever you choose, look for a cut that’s labelled choice or prime and has some visible marbling for the best quality.

Garlic. I use a few cloves of fresh garlic for the best flavor.

Rosemary and Thyme. Using fresh herbs in your rub gives this rump roast recipe a fresh, modern vibe. You can substitute dried herbs if they’re all you have, but you will sacrifice some flavor.

Salt and Pepper.

Olive Oil.

You’ll also need a roasting pan that’s large enough to fit your roast. A meat thermometer is also helpful for ensuring your roast is cooked perfectly.

How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (3)
How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (4)

How to make a tender beef roast in the oven

Mix the oil and herbs in a small bowl to create your rub. Let this mixture sit a few minutes to allow the herbs to soften and infuse the oil with flavor.

Rub the herb rub all over the beef, making sure it’s completely covered. In addition to adding flavor, this will ensure the roast gets a beautiful brown crust on the outside.

Sear in a hot oven to brown the roast

Reduce the heat and cook the beef rump roast low and slow for the most tender roast beef of your life

Rest the beef before slicing to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.

Pro tips for the best oven beef roast

  • Allow the roast to come to room temperature before cooking it. This requires a little pre planning but will ensure the meat cooks evenly throughout. That way you won’t have to overcook the outside in order to get the center up to temp.
  • Timing will vary depending on your oven as well as on the size and shape of your beef. Using a meat thermometer will give you the most accurate results. The internal temperature of your roast should reach 135ºF for medium rare, 145º for medium, and 150º for medium well. Remember that the temperature will rise another 5-10º as the meat rests!
  • Plan to cook your rump roast for 30 minutes, plus and additional 30 minutes per pound.
How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (5)

Commonly asked questions

How to store leftover roast beef

Leftovers will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also slice the beef and freeze it for up to 6 months.

What to serve with beef rump roast?

There are so many options!

I love serving roast beef with au jus, roasted or mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables (especially Brussels Sprouts) and Yorkshire pudding. And I always make sure I have prepared horseradish to serve on the side! You can also never go wrong with a big, leafy green salad.

For a stress-free side, toss baby potatoes, sliced carrots, and other root vegetables in a little bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper, then add them to the pan for the last hour of the cooking time. They’ll cook right along with the roast beef!

How to use leftover rump roast?

My absolute favorite way to use leftover roast beef it to make beef on weck sandwiches! You can also make delicious roast beef sandwiches with cherry pepper aioli. I also adore an Italian beef sandwich piled high with giardiniera.

For a more substantial meal, add the leftover roast beef to a salad, make hash and eggs, or add thinly sliced roast beef to pho broth to make a warm and delicious soup.

How to reheat roast beef (without drying it out)

Roast beef can dry out as it sits in the fridge, so you’ll want to add some liquid while you reheat it. The easiest way to reheat the beef without overcooking it is the add it to a slow cooker or roasting pan with 1/4 cup of beef stock and cook covered on low heat (325º if using the oven) until it’s warmed through.

What’s the best way to slice beef rump roast?

For tender roast beef, use a sharp carving knife to cut the roast across the grain into very thin slices – try to keep them under 1/4 inch for that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

More delicious main course recipes for special occasions

  • Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
  • Baked Crab Cakes
  • Slow Cooker Red Wine Beef
  • Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
  • Baked Ham with Apricot-Mustard Glaze
How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (6)

How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (7)

Classic Oven Roast Beef Recipe

Whether you're hosting a big family gathering or having a quiet meal with your significant other, roast beef is a classic recipe that's a staple at holiday meals and for special occasions. This recipe will show you how to cook a rump roast perfectly so it comes out tender, juicy, and flavorful every time!

4.99 from 137 votes

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Course: Beef Recipes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: classic roast beef, how to cook a rump roast, oven roast beef, roast beef recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 4 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 301kcal

Author: Lauren Keating

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped finely (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme chopped finely (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 pound rump roast

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F

  • In a small bowl, combine the garlic, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Stir in the olive oil until well combined. Let sit for 5-10 minutes so the herbs soften and the oil takes on their flavor.

  • Rub the herb mixture all over roast, making sure it’s completely covered.

  • Place roast in roasting pan and cook for 30 minutes to brown the outside.

  • Reduce the oven temperature to 225°F and continue cooking for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until an internal temperature reads 135 – 150° F, depending on your desired level of doneness.

  • Remove the roast from the oven and cover with it aluminum foil. Let the roast rest for 15-30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Remove the rump roast from the refrigerator 1-2 hours before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature.

Nutrition Facts

Classic Oven Roast Beef Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 301Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 4g25%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Cholesterol 105mg35%

Sodium 677mg29%

Potassium 592mg17%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Fiber 0.2g1%

Sugar 0.01g0%

Protein 38g76%

Vitamin A 49IU1%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 39mg4%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @HealthyDelish or tag #HealthyDelish!

Related Posts:

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  • Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Crust
  • Healthy Broccoli Casserole

How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (11)

Hi, I'm Lauren!

I'm a certified plant-based cook and enthusiastic omnivore who loves looking for creative ways to make weeknight meals more nutritious. I'm the author of Heathy Eating One Pot Cookbook and Healthy Meal Prep Slow Cooker Cookbook. I also blog at The Busy Foodie. Read more...

23 thoughts on “Classic Roast Beef Recipe”

  1. Will a chuck roast work for this recipe?

    Reply

    • Yes!

  2. Hello, I’m really looking forward to cooking this for my family on Boxing Day! Are your oven temps for a fan assisted oven please? I need to cook my roast potatoes at 200c and the beef needs to cook at a much lower temp. I was going to use my top oven for the beef, but it’s not fan assisted – will this be ok? Thank you

    Reply

    • The temps are for a traditional (non-convection/fan) electric oven.

  3. How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (12)
    Can you use an electric roaster with this recipe? Should the roast be placed on a rack, or sitting directly on the bottom of the roaster?

    Reply

  4. How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (13)
    I’m 54 and this was the first time I was successful making a roast beef. Mind you, I still screwed up, but not terribly so.
    I seared it on all sides, then put it on a rack in my dutch oven with a cup or so of water under the rack. The screw up was with the roasting temp vs the reheating temp. I roasted for 1.5 hours at 325 instead of 225. It was much more well done than I normally eat beef, but it was still very good and not dry.

    I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

    Reply

  5. Oh my, I oopsed and use rosemary and sage by mistake not time. Did I ruin it? It smells good and just finished the browning portion of the recipe.

    Reply

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How To Cook A Rump Roast | Classic Roast Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does rump roast get more tender the longer you cook it? ›

The rump is a well-exercised muscle and cuts from this section are most tender when cooked for long periods of time to break down the connective tissues.

Should rump roast be covered or uncovered? ›

It takes time, but it's worth it. Here, a garlic-studded rump roast cooks uncovered in a roasting pan that's filled with water and even more garlic (1 pound of garlic total!). The resulting roast is tender on the inside and crisp on the outside.

Is rump of beef good for roasting? ›

“This meal is such a fantastic reimagining of steak and chips. It allows us to truly enjoy and celebrate the rump cut as a bigger joint, and as the oven does the hard work for you, all the last-minute smoke and stress is removed from the process.

Why is my rump roast not falling apart? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

How do I make my rump more tender? ›

Cook for three minutes on each side then transfer to a baking tray and finish in a hot oven for 10–15 minutes. Of course you can finish cooking your rump steak in the pan – give a 5cm piece of meat five minutes on each side for medium rare – but you'll get a more even and tender result by using the oven.

Is it better to cook a roast at 325 or 350? ›

When roasting meat and poultry, set the oven temperature to 325°F (163°C) or higher. Explore the charts below to learn how to get great results every time you cook.

Do you cook a rump roast fat side up or down? ›

5. Place roast fat side up / bone side down on the rack. Placing your roast fat side up lets the fat melt and flow down, moistening the meat as it cooks. There are debates on whether the fat would be enough to baste the lean meat as it melts down, but it makes the surface crispier.

Why is my rump roast tough? ›

Since rump roast comes from an area a cow uses regularly, the surrounding muscles add to its tough connective tissue. Less marbling, or fat within the muscle, means you want to slowly cook this cut to soften the meat.

Is rump roast the same as chuck roast? ›

Rump roast and chuck roast are separate lean cuts of meat that come from different parts of the cow. Both stand up well to a “low and slow” style of cooking—that is, roasting or stewing the meat at a low temperature over several hours until it becomes tender.

What is another name for a rump roast? ›

Bottom Round Roast

Best for roasting or slow-cooking and slicing thin.

How do you keep a roast juicy? ›

When cooking a roast in the oven, keep it uncovered until roasted to the desired doneness. After removing from the oven, tent with foil and let stand 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, preventing them from draining out during carving—and preventing dry, disappointing meat.

What cut of beef for Sunday roast? ›

For roasts, the best cuts include rib (on the bone or boned and rolled), sirloin, top rump and fillet. For quick cooking, try fillet, entrecôte, rib eye, sirloin or rump steaks. Brisket, topside and silverside are good for pot roasts, and stewing and braising steak are good for stews and casseroles.

Should you cover beef with foil when roasting? ›

Just be sure not to wrap the foil too tightly, otherwise it will steam your joint. But loosely covering a hefty cut of beef halfway through as it roasts in the oven will keep it succulent. What's more, there are other things you can do to ensure a tender and flavorful roast.

Should you salt a beef joint before roasting? ›

Here are the steps to cooking a perfect Sunday roast beef: Preheat the oven to 220°C. Season the beef generously with salt and pepper, and any other herbs or spices you like. Place the beef in a roasting pan, and cook for 15 minutes at 220°C to sear the outside of the beef.

How long does rump roast take to get tender? ›

Roast the beef low and slow

This should take about 12 to 15 minutes per pound, so anywhere from 48 minutes to one hour for a 4-pound roast. If you are roasting a smaller piece of meat, you should reduce the cooking time accordingly, and Hondrum advises you to cut back on the salt and pepper as well.

Why is my rump roast always tough? ›

Since rump roast comes from an area a cow uses regularly, the surrounding muscles add to its tough connective tissue. Less marbling, or fat within the muscle, means you want to slowly cook this cut to soften the meat.

Is it better to cook roast longer? ›

It is only the temperature that counts. This in combination with the fact that the longer it roasts the more tender it will become. So you should roast at as low a temperature as you have the time for, and make sure that the internal temperature of the meat never gets above 60°C (140°F).

Does cooking longer make beef more tender? ›

Your meat will be juicier and more tender

The longer cooking time and the low heat complement each other perfectly. As a result, even though the meat is cooked for far longer, it doesn't dry out because the temperature is low. As a result, this is the best way to retain all the natural juices of the meat.

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