Do you cover a chuck roast in the oven

Q: Do you cover a roast when baking in the oven?

If you dont have a lid, you can cover it with foil. An oven roast is cooked dry and uncovered. The more tender cuts are better for an oven roast (aka more expensive). A pot roast is a tougher cut of meat (aka cheaper) and is cooked in broth and wine, basically steamed.

Q: Should chuck roast be covered in liquid?

It doesnt matter if it is covered or not. The inside of the slow cooker will be warm enough to cook the meat. Braising (not submerged) and simmering (submerged) are two methods which both can lead to good results.

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Table of Contents Show

What is Pot Roast?
The Best Roasts for Tender Pot Roast
How to Cook a Pot Roast
How Long to Cook a Pot Roast
How to Make Pot Roast Gravy
Tips for the Perfect Roast
Favorite Cozy Beef Meals
Recipes you'll love
latest & greatest
Does a chuck roast need to be covered?
Do you cover a roast when baking in the oven?
Should chuck roast be covered in liquid?
How do you keep a roast moist in the oven?

Level: Easy
Total: 4 hr 30 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 4 hr 15 min

Yield: 6 servings
Nutrition Info Nutritional AnalysisPer ServingServing Size1 of 6 servings Calories531 Total Fat21 gSaturated Fat 7 gCarbohydrates15 gDietary Fiber4 gSugar6 gProtein64 gCholesterol182 mgSodium1361 mg

Level: Easy
Total: 4 hr 30 min

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 4 hr 15 min

Yield: 6 servings
Nutrition Info Nutritional AnalysisPer ServingServing Size1 of 6 servings Calories531 Total Fat21 gSaturated Fat7 gCarbohydrates15 gDietary Fiber4 gSugar6 gProtein64 gCholesterol182 mgSodium1361 mg

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Salt and freshly ground black pepper

One 3- to 5-pound chuck roast

2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil

2 whole onions, peeled and halved

6 to 8 whole carrots, unpeeled, cut into 2-inch pieces

1 cup red wine, optional

3 cups beef broth

2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary

2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.
Heat the olive oil in large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the halved onions to the pot, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions to a plate.
Throw the carrots into the same very hot pot and toss them around a bit until slightly browned, about a minute or so. Reserve the carrots with the onions.
If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate.
With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a whisk. Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway.
Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs.
Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. The roast is ready when it's fall-apart tender.

Melt in your mouth tender, full of rich beefy flavor, and all cooked in just one pot, the ultimate comfort food.

Every home cook needs to have a classic pot roast recipe served with carrots, potatoes, and rich brown gravy!

This easy recipe is great for beginners and delivers incredible results every time! Chuck roasts are inexpensive cuts of beef that cook in the oven at a low temperature for a few hours. Add in a handful of veggies and some savory herbs for the perfect meal.

What is Pot Roast?

This is a classic recipe and for good reason! A pot roast is a beef roast that generally starts with a tougher cut of beef. Cooking at a low temperature for a long time breaks down the tough connective tissues resulting in deliciously tender beef with a flavorful gravy. The meat is seared, surrounded by carrots, onions, and a savory combination of herbs and spices and baked or oven-roasted until melt in your mouth tender.

This is one of the best pot roast recipes because it isn’t overly salty with additions like packets of onion soup or canned soups.

The Best Roasts for Tender Pot Roast

The best pot roast is made with the right cut of beef. For pot roast choose meat with nice marbling throughout and cook it low and slow. Tougher cuts will become fork tender.

boneless beef chuck roast (my favorite choice)
round roast
rump roast

How to Cook a Pot Roast

Similar to Mississippi roast this can be made in a slow cooker (this recipe is made in the oven), but pot roast can also be made in an instant pot (or pressure cooker) too! While this oven version is our favorite an instant pot pot roast is great when you’re short on time!
Here’s how to make pot roast:

SEAR BEEF Add oil to the pan and sear chuck roast in oil (bacon grease is better if you have it!) until browned on all sides.
ADD BROTH Place the onions around the roast and add wine, broth, rosemary, and thyme. Bring to a simmer and then bake two hours in the oven.
ADD VEGGIES Add potatoes and carrots and bake until the potatoes are tender, about two more hours. Remove the bay leaf.
SERVE Cut the roast into smaller pieces or shred with two forks and serve.

Pot roast is an instant favorite! Not only is it easy to put together, but it makes for great pot roast sandwiches as leftovers with gravy or in a crusty bun dipped in the leftover juices (like a French dip). Serve this hearty and heartwarming recipe over creamy mashed potatoes and with a side of homemade garlic bread.

How Long to Cook a Pot Roast

This recipe is based on a typical chuck roast, about 4lbs (give or take). Pot roast is best cooked at a low temperature for a long period of time to break down any tough tissue.

Cook a 3lb roast for 3-3.5 hrs
Cook a 4lb roast for 3.5-4 hrs
Cook a 5lb roast for 4.5-5 hrs

Cook times can vary based on the type of roast. Check the roast with a fork, if it is tough, the roast probably needs MORE time to cook. Cover it back up and let it keep on cooking.

How to Make Pot Roast Gravy

Turn the sauce into a great pot roast gravy in only 3 steps!

Whisk two tablespoons of corn starch in cold water until smooth (this is called a slurry).
Remove beef and veggies the broth and bring to a simmer. You should have about two cups, add more beef broth if needed.
Whisk the slurry into the simmering broth until thickened.

Tips for the Perfect Roast

Select a roast that has lots of marbling in it -which carries flavor and helps make the gravy absolutely mouth-watering!
Baby potatoes are a great choice. They don’t require peeling and hold their shape well (russet potatoes tend to fall apart, although they still taste great)
Cut the carrots and celery a bit bigger so they don’t overcook
After searing, add a little of the broth to the pan and scrape up any browned bits, they add lots of flavor.
Fresh herbs are best but dried ones can be used, just use them sparingly since dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor than fresh.
Add 2 tablespoons tomato paste to the broth if desired.

Favorite Cozy Beef Meals

Beef Stew Recipe
Beef Tips & Gravy
Easy Beef Stroganoff
Beef Rouladen
Slow Cooker Barbacoa Beef

Did you make this Pot Roast? Be sure to leave a comment and a rating below!

4.99 from 398 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

This Pot Roast is perfectly seasoned and served with tender vegetables!

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours 10 minutes

Total Time 4 hours 35 minutes

▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 3-4 pounds chuck roast or rump roast
▢ 1 large onion chopped, or two small onions
▢ 4 carrots cut into 2" pieces
▢ 2 stalks celery cut into 1 ½" pieces
▢ 1 pound baby potatoes
▢ 2 cups beef broth or as needed
▢ 1 cup red wine
▢ 4 cloves garlic coarsely chopped
▢ ½ teaspoon rosemary
▢ ½ teaspoon thyme
▢ 1 bay leaf

Preheat oven to 300°F.
Season roast with salt and pepper.
In a large dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Sear the roast on each side until browned, about 4 minutes per side adding more oil if needed.
Arrange onions around the roast. Combine broth, wine, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Pour over the roast. Add bay leaf.
Bring just to a simmer on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Once the broth is simmering, cover and place in the oven and bake 2 hours.
Add potatoes, carrots, and celery, and bake an additional 2 hours (for a 4lb roast) or until the roast and potatoes are fork-tender.
Discard bay leaf. Gently pull beef into large pieces with a fork or slice into thick pieces. Serve with juices (or make gravy below if desired).

To Make Gravy:

Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth.
Remove beef and vegetables from the pot and set on a plate to rest.
Bring broth to a boil and whisk in cornstarch mixture a little bit at a time until thickened. Add extra broth if needed.
Season with salt & pepper to taste.

4.99 from 398 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
Or to leave a comment, click here!

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Beef, Dinner, Entree, Main Course

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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latest & greatest

Does a chuck roast need to be covered?

Do not add water or liquid and do not cover the roast. Covering the roast would result in more steaming than roasting in the oven so we cook a beef roast uncovered.

Do you cover a roast when baking in the oven?

If you don't have a lid, you can cover it with foil. An oven roast is cooked dry and uncovered. The more tender cuts are better for an oven roast (aka more expensive). A pot roast is a tougher cut of meat (aka cheaper) and is cooked in broth and wine, basically steamed.

Should chuck roast be covered in liquid?

It doesn't matter if it is covered or not. The inside of the slow cooker will be warm enough to cook the meat. Braising (not submerged) and simmering (submerged) are two methods which both can lead to good results.

How do you keep a roast moist in the oven?

Baste meat every 30 minutes while it cooks to keep it moist. When meat gets hot in the oven, it starts to leak juices, fat, and oil—things that would normally keep it very moist. Use a large spoon or a bulb baster to carefully pour those juices back over the meat.