This classic roast beef is made with a simple rump roast recipe.
Roast beef sounds like it’s complicated to cook, but it’s really simple! All you need is a high quality rump roast and some simple herbs to make a rump roast recipe that’s tender and flavorful. Roast beef is pretty inexpensive, compared to other beef cuts, plus you get yummy leftovers for lunch and roast beef sandwiches! I’m sharing the simple ingredients and instructions you need to make this easy dinner yourself.
The Rump Roast
I’m using one of my favorite cuts, a RUMP roast! The rump roast, don’t confuse with the bottom round, is from the beef’s hindquarters. Hindquarters are muscles that the cow uses all the time, so these are naturally tough cuts with connective tissue. However, that roasted rump is more tender than the chuck roast…. Especially when slow cooking methods are used with a longer cook time!
I live in farm country… That means we have cattle ranches, cornfields, alfalfa fields, and butcher shops all over the valley… And I get the privilege of buying fresh, high-quality natural beef straight from the rancher! The local ranchers I buy from are Y1 Farms. They send my beef straight to the butcher, and he calls me to get my instructions for butchering! There are a lot of cuts of meat you get when you buy an entire cow…. So I’ve learned a thing or two about cooking beef, the cuts, and the best way to prepare them!
Where Rump Roast Comes From
Most people buy roasts at grocery stores, but I love to get mine straight from the source! Where ever you buy your roast from, look for one with fat on the outside and fat marbling in the meat to get the best flavor. If you’re interested in fresh, high quality beef, find a local butcher in your area! You can also have your butcher tie your roast for a more uniform shape, if needed, and more even roasting.
I love the rump roast when I’m making roast beef, but this recipe for tender and tasty roast beef can also be used with a round or sirloin roast.
How To Make Perfect Rump Roast Beef on Video
Seasoning
You can get creative with seasoning roast beef. I like to keep it simple. In this recipe, I use salt, black pepper, powder, and garlic powder. Feel free to swap in any of your favorite fresh or dry herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley, oregano, etc. Use your favorite herbs, and do what tastes best to you, but be generous! The rump roast is a large piece of meat, so the more flavor on the outside the better! I suggest using about one teaspoon of salt per pound.
You can’t be shy here… You’ll have to get your hands dirty (you can wash them after), or wear gloves. Make a paste with your herbs, spices, and a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, and spread the seasoning paste evenly all-around your entire roast!
At this point, you can put the seasoned roast in the refrigerator overnight to marinate or cook right away.
How to Make Tender Roast Beef – Slow & Low
After letting your roast come up to room temperature, start by searing it on the stove top! Sear your seasoned rump roast in hot oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet, or cast iron pan, to get the exterior browned for flavor, and to seal in moisture!
Then place your rump roast, fatty side up, in a roasting pan. After you’ve got a good seared crust, set your oven to a low temperature so that the meat will start cooking from inside to out. Place pan on the middle oven rack in a lower oven temp and cook roast beef “slow and low” for hours.
Slow roasting on low heat all turns tougher cuts of beef into fall-apart tender beef delights!
Rump Roast Recipe Meat Temperatures
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Roasts always seem to turn out best when you bring it to room temperature before cooking—especially big pieces of meat like a rump roast!
If you put a roast in your oven straight out of the refrigerator, it will cook faster on the outside than it will in the center. However, a room-temperature roast cooks a lot more evenly throughout. I recommend setting your roast out for an hour or two before cooking so it can come up to temperature.
If you enjoy a medium roast with a little pink in the middle, you can stop roasting sooner! For a medium-rare pot roast, aim for an internal temperature of about 135 degrees F which will come to 145°F after resting.
For the most accurate cooking time, use your meat thermometer. Internal temp for rare cook to 125 degrees F, which comes to 135 degrees F while resting. For medium-rare cook to 135 which comes us to 145°F after resting\. For for medium well done rump roast cook to 145 which comes up to 155°F internal temp after resting.
One thing you will really need is a meat thermometer! Meat thermometers are a good investment because they take the guesswork out of cooking big pieces of meat, like roasts… I promise it will come in handy in your kitchen!
TIP: Make sure you insert the instant-read thermometer far enough into the roast to hit the center for accurate reading!
Rump Roast Recipe Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make the perfect rump roast:
- 4 – 5 pound boneless beef rump roast.
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Avocado Oil for searing
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- One tablespoon ground Black Pepper
- 1 cup beef broth or water
- One tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder or 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 peeled and chopped bulb of fresh garlic.
- 1 chopped and caramelized onion.
Oven Roasted Rump Roast Recipe
Slow-cooking rump roast works like magic for tender roast beef everyone loves. This is a great recipe for any special occasion or sunday dinner!
Ingredients
- 4-5 pound boneless beef rump roast.
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Avocado Oil for searing
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- One TBS ground Black Pepper
- 1 cup beef broth or water
- One tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 peeled and chopped bulb of fresh garlic.
- 1 chopped and caramelized onion.
Instructions
- Remove Your Meat from the Fridge As mentioned above, make sure to remove your meat from the fridge before you start cooking it. Let your beef roast sit on the counter for at least 20 minutes to get closer to room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Remove however much fat you want from the meat. Use a sharp knife to achieve accurate cuts.
- Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder seasoning.
- Season your roast with salt and pepper, garlic and onion powder for flavor!
- Searing - After roast is closer to room temperature, Sear iit with oil in hot skillet or cast iron Frying Pan, or dutch oven... A Dutch oven will make this step easier. But a frying pan works just fine if you don’t have a cast iron pan or dutch oven. Make sure to sear all sides of the seasoned roast on high heat in butter or avocado oil, or both!
- Place Roast in Roasting Pan Fatty side up. If you used a frying pan to sear the roast, transfer your rump roast into your roasting pan.
- Pour in 1 cup beef broth or one cup water, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
- Add 1 coarsely chopped caramelized onion.
- Sprinkle chopped garlic over the top of the roast.
- Place seared and seasoned rump roast into a preheated 350°F oven. (If you used a Dutch Oven to sear, just put other ingredients on top and place it right into the hot oven!) UNCOVERED. (If you choose to cover your roast check the internal temp every 30 minutes)
- Roast 1 hour at 350°F, then take the internal temp. Turn the temperature down to 225°F and cook for 1 more hour and check the internal temp every 30 minutes till it reaches the wellness you want! Internal temp for rare cook to 125 degrees F, which comes to 135 degrees F while resting. For medium-rare cook to 135 which comes us to 145°F after resting\. For for medium well done rump roast cook to 145 which comes up to 155°F internal temp after resting.
Notes
Internal temp for rare cook to 125 degrees F, which comes to 135 degrees F while resting. For medium-rare cook to 135 which comes us to 145°F after resting\. For for medium well done rump roast cook to 145 which comes up to 155°F internal temp after resting.
How To Cook a Rump Roast Recipe Step-by-Step
A step-by-step guide to preparing the perfect rump roast:
How long you can expect to cook a large roast:
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 2-4 hours depending on how you like your meat.
- Total time: 2 hours, 20 minutes plus 30 minutes resting time after it cooks.
No roast is exactly the same and neither are ovens, so it’s best to check to the internal temperature of your roast after the first hour, then every 30 mins. Internal temp for rare cook to 125 degrees F, which comes to 135 degrees F while resting. For medium-rare cook to 135 which comes us to 145°F after resting\. For for medium well done rump roast cook to 145 which comes up to 155°F internal temp after resting.
Oven Baked Rump Roast Recipe Instructions
Remove Your Meat from the Fridge As mentioned above, make sure to remove your meat from the fridge before you start cooking it. Let your beef roast sit on the counter for at least 20 minutes to get closer to room temperature.
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Remove however much fat you want from the meat. Use a sharp knife to achieve accurate cuts.
Mix olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder seasoning.
Season your roast with salt and pepper, garlic and onion powder for flavor!
Searing – After the roast is closer to room temperature, Sear it with oil in hot skillet, cast iron Frying Pan, or dutch oven… A Dutch oven will make this step easier. But a frying pan works just fine if you don’t have a cast iron pan or dutch oven. Make sure to sear all sides of the seasoned roast on high heat in butter or avocado oil, or both! Sear all sides till nice and browned, about 3-4 minutes on each side. I like to throw in a chopped onion with my searing rump roast… I add these to the roasting pan for added moisture and flavor.
Place Roast in Roasting Pan Fatty side up. If you used a frying pan to sear roast, transfer your rump roast into your roasting pan.
Pour in 1 cup of beef broth or one cup water, and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce.
Add 1 coarsely chopped caramelized onion. (caramelized while searing roast)
Sprinkle chopped garlic over top of roast.
Time to Cook Rump Roast Recipe
Place seared and seasoned rump roast UNCOVERED into a preheated 350°F oven. (If you used a large Dutch Oven to sear, just put other ingredients on top and place it right into the hot oven!)
Roast 1 hour at 350°F, then check the internal temperature (it may be at 125-135 degrees F now if you like rare) and turn the temperature down to 225°F and cook for another hour or tow depending on how well done you like it. Check your roast every 30 minutes, (it should be well done after 2 hours). Remember, No roast is exactly the same and neither are ovens, so it’s best to check to the internal temperature of your roast at least every hour.
For best results, use your meat thermometer Instead of just using a timer!. For the most accurate cooking time, use your meat thermometer. Internal temp for rare cook to 125 degrees F, which comes to 135 degrees F while resting. For medium-rare cook to 135 which comes us to 145°F after resting\. For for medium well done rump roast cook to 145 which comes up to 155°F internal temp after resting.
Resting
The next step, before cutting into your perfect rump roast, is to let it rest! Place it on a cutting board and cover it with a piece of aluminum foil to rest for 15-20 minutes so he juices can redistribute. It may seem like a long time when you’re drooling over the aroma, but this resting period is the best thing to do to ensure a juicy roast!
How To Slice Rump Roast Beef
It is really tempting to cut right in as soon as your roast is done… DON’T DO IT! Transfer roast beef to a large cutting board, then let it REST for at least 30 minutes so all the tasty juices can redistribute throughout the entire roast first. If you don’t resist the urge and cut right into it after it’s done, all the yummy juices come out on the cutting board leaving you with dry meat!
After letting the roast rest for 30 minutes, use your sharpest carving or chef’s knife to cut thin slices against the grain.
Serve Rump Roast Recipe With
Rump roast is the perfect Roast Beef for Sunday family meals or special occasions like Christmas dinner. I like to serve it with:
- Mashed Potatoes and Homemade Gravy! (Learn how easy it is to make homemade gravy with the pan drippings left in your roasting pan. It’s super delicious made with the rump roast juices, and only takes about 10 minutes.
- Soft and buttery sourdough dinner rolls.
- Sparkling Cider
- A big casserole dish of Green Bean Casserole.
- Green Salad
- Easy Old Fashioned Cranberry Sauce (especially for Christmas)
- Pasta Salad
- Jello
- Potato Salad
- Fruit Salad
- Homemade Bread or Rolls (see video above for homemade bread recipe!)
What Is The Difference Between Beef Rump Roast & Chuck Roast?
Most people use the terms Rump Roast and Chuck Roast interchangeably. However, these cuts of beef come from totally different parts of a cow.
Rump roast comes from the hindquarters or RUMP, and chuck roast comes from the cow’s shoulder. Rump and shoulder muscles are both well-used muscles of any cow, so both of these cuts are naturally tougher. But I prefer a rump roast over a chuck roast because it has less fat in the middle and is more tender.
How Tender Is Rump Roast After It’s Cooked?
Rump roast comes from the round of a cow, but is isn’t a round roast, and is a tougher cut of meat. HOWEVER, rump roast becomes fall-apart tender when cooked this way… The payoff is melt in your mouth, savory, juicy, and full flavor. Follow these prep and roasting instructions, and you won’t have to gnaw your way through dinner!
How Much Fat Should I Cut Off?
I say only trim the top quarter of fat on your rump roast. Leave a quarter-inch of fat, so you still get a juicy cut of meat. Fat melts into the meat while roasting keeping it moist! If you cut off all the exterior fat, you will have a drier finished roast. Leave some fat on there so your rump roast doesn’t get too dry.
Cooking Methods
There are a lot of ways to cook a good rump roast slow and low…. After searing your roast, you can cook it in the oven, as I did, or use your slow cooker. The slow cooker, or crockpot, often takes longer but can work if you cook it all day.
What to Do with Leftover Rump Roast Beef?
Make sandwiches! Leftover roast beef sandwiches are so good. And, leftover roast beef is super versatile! You can use it to make meals the rest of the week! I love it in beef stroganoff, Beef Hash, in salads, in pasta or just cold straight out of the fridge… I won’t judge! The possibilities are endless.
How to Store Roasted Beef
Put leftover roast beef in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for about 3 to 5 days.
Roast Beef also freezes well. Slice it into smaller portions, and double wrap cold roast to preserve juices, before freezing for easy use. I like to double-wrap in plastic wrap them and place double-wrapped portions into a large zip-lock freezer bag. To serve leftover frozen roast beef, put frozen roast meat in the fridge to defrost overnight. The next day, reheat leftovers in preheated 350°F oven for 15 minutes.
Rump Roast Recipe Tips
- Every oven is different, so the timing will vary. The size and shape of your roast will also make a difference in cooking time. So check the internal temperature 30 minutes before it’s supposed to be done, just in case.
- Be sure to bring your rump roast to room temperature, before searing and roasting, for even cooking.
- AFTER COOKING, Let your roast rest for 30 minutes to let the juices redistribute before slicing. (or all the juices fall out on the cutting board and you have dry meat.)
Pressure Cooker
For a tender rump roast try this simple recipe in the Instant Pot rump roast:
Ingredients:
- 3-4 lb rump roast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp dried rosemary
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Season the rump roast generously with salt and black pepper.
- Set your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” function and heat the olive oil.
- Add the onion and garlic to the pot and cook until softened, stirring occasionally.
- Add the rump roast to the pot and sear it on all sides until browned.
- In a small bowl, mix together the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, thyme, and rosemary.
- Pour the mixture over the rump roast in the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 60 minutes.
- Once the cooking time is up, allow the pressure to release naturally for about 10 minutes, then use the quick release to release any remaining pressure.
- Remove the rump roast from the Instant Pot and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Optionally, you can strain the cooking liquid and serve it as a sauce over the sliced rump roast.
Get this printable recipe card here.
Rump Roast – Won’t Break The Bank
If you’re looking to make a delicious roast beef dinner that won’t break the bank, then you might wanna consider using a rump roast. It’s an economical and great cut of meat that’s not only budget-friendly, but also full of flavor and can be used in a variety of recipes.
A rump roast comes from the backside of the cow, and it’s a lean cut of meat with little marbling. While this may make it less tender than other cuts, it can be easily transformed into a tender and juicy roast beef dinner with a little bit of love and care.
In the oven, you can sear the rump roast first in a hot skillet to develop a crispy exterior, then roast it in the oven at a lower temperature until it’s cooked to your desired doneness.
One of the great things about a rump roast is that it’s versatile and can be used in a variety of recipes. You can slice it thin for sandwiches or roast it whole for a classic Sunday dinner.
So if you’re looking to make a budget-friendly and tasty roast beef dinner, don’t forget about the trusty rump roast. With a little bit of TLC and some tasty seasonings, it’s transformed into a mouth-watering meal that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
How We Eat Rump Roast
We have a family tradition of making a Rump Roast for Christmas and family dinners on Sundays! The kids get upset if I try doing anything different. I always do mashed potatoes and gravy, a green salad, and a cooked vegetable on the sides. Then I make a chocolate sheet cake for dessert, and everyone is totally satisfied!
I hope this helps you put together a nice Roast Beef dinner for your family or friends! Let me know if you have any questions below and I will be sure to answer them!
What To Do With Leftover Roast Beef
I love having leftover roast beef… I use it to make an entire other meal! Use leftover roast beef in a homemade Beef STEW! Beef stew is perfect on a cold winter night and goes great with homemade rolls and salad! It’s super healthy and filling and pleases the pickiest eaters.
Do Rump Roasts Have Another Name?
Yes, rump roasts are also called beef ROUND roasts. These are cuts of beef taken from a cow’s hindquarters close to the loin!
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Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
So many helpful tips and cooking advice! We are definitely a meat and potatoes kind of family, but sometimes I get hung up on how to cook the meat! Your directions are easy to follow and aren’t super complicated which I appreciate. Going to save this post for fall and winter cooking so I can come back and reread the tips to make sure I’m doing it correctly!
Very thorough from what to serve and how to use leftovers! Thank you!
Do you put the lid on your dutch oven to raost ?
Going to save this to use when it starts getting cold here in Illinois! Thanks!
I need to try this! There are a lot of meat eaters in my house, and this sounds so good. I’ve never done this, so I appreciate all the tips!
Great recipe! I’m not much of a cook and my husband loves it! Very juicy and tender. This will be definitely be the recipe I use from now on for roast and will recommend it to others.
Hi Michelle! Thanks for stopping by the blog and trying my rump roast recipe… So glad you love it! – Juliea
This recipe has all the good feels of fall. Will be saving for a pre-thanksgiving meal. 🙂
Covered or uncovered in the oven
I Cover mine for the last 30 minutes because I like it well done.
Thank You for that info!!
We love roast beef and rump roast is one of my favorite… Always did it in the crock pot. Definitely going to try it this way roasted in the oven!
Roats seem to turn out best when you bring it to room temperature before cooking Great webpage thanks for making it!
Oh! I am going to have to make this before the summertime comes! Thanks for the post!
Oh, yum! Today’s a rainy day. Perfect type of day for a warm meal like this. 🙂
How long should I roast a 3 1/2 lbs roast. Unable to get a 4-5 roast.
Hello Marie! Thanks for stopping by and asking! Roasting time will probably be cut by 1/4th but always go by internal temperature for perfect results!
My rump roast is tied. Do I cook it tied?
Yes you would keep it tied through the roasting process;)
Question – when you seated the roast on your griddle, what temp was the griddle? Also it looked like no oil was used for that, correct? Thank you!
Hi Tammy! I did use avocado oil to sear the roast. I used 350-degree setting.
Hurrah, just what I was looking for, great rump roast recipe!
thanks
I am confused about the temp of the roast. You say after two hours it will be 145 degrees, which is rare. So if I want to serve it rare, is it done and I just forgo cooking it at 225 degrees for another hour or two? Will it still be super tender?
Hello Joe! The USDA says a roast should be cooked to 145 internal temp…. However during the resting period, if you tent it with foil, the temp will continue to rise about 5-10 degrees. If you like beef pink in the middle you may take the roast out after the internal temp reaches 135, then tent it with foil and let it rest for 15 minutes, and the temp will rise to 145. If you cook it longer it will be well done. Which will not be tender with this roasting method.
Julia, you have the best recipe posts. Your pictures always make my mouth water. Just beautiful and can’t wait to try another one of your amazing recipes. Thank you!