If A Woodchuck Could Chuck Wood…Sorry, I couldn’t help it! I get triggered to do a mental tongue twister whenever I see the word “chuck”. Of course, this post is about a tried and tested oven-baked chuck roast recipe passed on for decades within our family – and has nothing to do with the tongue twister 😀
What Is A Chuck Roast, Anyway?
I first learned about chuck roast when I was a wee school kid. We would have it on special occasions, or for Sunday lunch. I went on learning how to cook it as a teen, and through this post I will be sharing this simple and wonderfully flavored dish.
So, what is a Chuck Roast? It is a beef cut that is also commonly known as the following: “Chuck Center Roast”, “Center Cut Chuck Roast”, “Pot Roast”, and “Chuck Pot Roast”. Carved out from the shoulder area, this cut yields a rich, truly beefy flavor, which is definitely suited for slow cooking.
Does Chuck Roast Get More Tender The Longer You Cook It?
A bit of warning: it can be tough if not properly prepared! Chuck Roast has a reputation for flavor, but like I mentioned earlier, it is best for slow cooking to bring out the tenderness and flavor.
Worry not! Just follow this simple recipe that I am about to share, and you are guaranteed to have a moist, delicious serving of Chuck Roast. It takes a good mix of red wine, broth, and spices to make your roast even more delicious.
How Long Do You Cook A Roast At 350 Degrees?
Now the waiting game begins!
Leave the chuck roast to slowly bake for around 2-½ up to 3 hours. Baste the Chuck Roast once in a while, for a total of 2 to 3 times during the entire cooking period, using the juices within the pan.
This will add more flavor to the Chuck Roast, as well as help tenderize the meat. If you are not that comfortable yet with your oven, you can definitely skip this step of basting the Chuck Roast. But I really recommend doing this to help enhance the dish ☺
Once the Chuck Roast is ready, serve to your excited diners along with a side of potatoes, some blanched broccoli, or a side of carbs, such as rice. You can also create a one-pot meal using this recipe.
Here’s how:
At about 30 to 40 minutes before you take the meat out of the oven, add marble or cubed potatoes and season with salt and pepper. Place the skillet back in the oven. After 15 minutes, put some broccoli florets and place it back in the oven for another 15 minutes, before finally serving your delicious Chuck Roast – now with an instant side of veggies!
How Long Does A 3-pound Roast Take To Cook?
The recipe that I shared is for a 2-pound Chuck Roast. If you are preparing a 3-pound roast, add another half equivalent of all the ingredients (for example, make a teaspoon of pepper into a teaspoon and a half, and so on.) For the cooking time, simmering will take 8-10 minutes, and baking it in the oven will take 3 to 3 ½ hours.
How To Make Sure That You End Up With The Most Flavorful Chuck Roast Yet
Here are some things that you might want to take note of, to make sure you take out a great-tasting serving of Chuck Roast out of the oven each time!
Heat settings: When we say “hot skillet”, we don’t mean up to a smoking point. Also, if the oil in the skillet starts to burn, then your skillet is too hot already!
Meat Juices: Using aromatic vegetables such as onions, shallots, fresh garlic, and spices, can help bring out the flavor of the meat. I incorporated red wine and chicken broth into this recipe to further develop the overall taste. Cooking, for me, is about experimentation, creativity, and leveraging available flavors to build any recipe for us to enjoy.
Tip: For an added flavor and tenderness of the meat, I recommend basting the roast using the juices that collect in the pan, for about 2 or 3 times during the entire baking process. I promise you it will be worth it! If you’re a bit scared of the heat, and would like to leave the baking up to your oven, that is also perfectly fine.
Searing The Meat: This is really crucial, because searing really doubles the flavor of your chuck roast, and creates that crusty texture on the meat’s exterior. As you sear each side, take note of the recommended times and don’t flip the meat over too quickly!
Seasoning: Just like any expensive cut of steak, salt and pepper alone can work wonders! With the right heat setting and cooking time, these two alone can help enhance the flavor of any meat that you are cooking. Make sure you season your meat cut well.
Throughout the years, we have discovered some great substitutes for some ingredients (either from a failed grocery run, or our pantry running out of some ingredients that we weren’t aware of):
- Use ¼ cup of white wine, in place of the usual red wine
- Substitute wine with ½ cup chicken broth (low sodium recommended)
- Use ½ cup of beef broth for your chicken broth
- You can also use ½ cup water to substitute portions of the broth and wine
Wrapping Up
We are often hesitant to tackle tough cuts of meat in the kitchen. But when we cook them correctly, we end up with dishes that are too good to not finish in one sitting! I hope you find this recipe easy to follow, and something that you can share with your loved ones.
Do you have tips on how to prepare a delectable chuck roast? Please share them in the comments below! We would love to hear from you!
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