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    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Holiday Roast Beef with Cranberry Balsamic Sauce

    Published: Aug 24, 2021 · Modified: Jun 1, 2025 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    Holiday Roast Beef is tender beef roast that's easy to prepare and oh so tender. This roast beef makes for a delicious meal.

    Easy holiday beef roast Roast beef makes a special meal. Follow our step-by-step instructions for great results. You'll love the tender, juicy slices of beef. Serve it with balsamic cranberry sauce over each slice or on the side.

    Add a winter vegetable like glazed carrots. Or create a classic roast beef sandwich. No matter how you decide to eat it, this tender roast beef is sure to be a hit with your family.

    Do you love to serve a holiday meal? Or even a homemade and delicious Sunday night dinner? Then this Holiday Beef Roast recipe is for you.

    Holiday Beef Roast recipe is an easy one to follow, with simple ingredients that can be found at your local store. Get ready for the holiday season by trying this delicious Holiday Beef Roast recipe.

    Use our homemade balsamic cranberry sauce and it's sure to be a hit on each plate! A guest favorite during the holidays.

    How to make carving easy

    For easier slicing of the beef after cooking, remove it from the oven and let stand for about 10 minutes before carving.

    Can I use a different cut of beef

    Yes. Just make sure to use a lean cut and remove any excess fat before cooking in the oven. The beef will be so tender it will just fall apart when you try to slice it! If I am not using an eye of round roast, I like to use a chuck roast or a beef tenderloin. You could even use a standing rib roast with this recipe.

    How to pick a fresh roast beef

    There are a few things you want to look at when you buy beef. First, the roast should have clean flesh and no discoloration. Look at the edges of the roast; they should be bright red and fresh looking, not dried out or brown.

    Closeup photo of Holiday Roast Beef sliced and placed on white dish with cranberry balsamic sauce, whole cranberries and rosemary.

    Can I use a frozen roast beef

    No, you will need to make sure that your roast is thawed before cooking. You can use a previously frozen roast, but you want to make sure that the roast is completely thawed first.

    How do tell if my roast is done

    Remember first, do not open your oven for two hours after turn it off.  Once that two hours has past you can open the oven and use a meat thermometer to ensure the temperature of the roast is at least 145 degrees.

    When checking the temperature of your roast, make sure that you check the temperature in the thickest part of the beef roast.

    Best way to reheat roast beef

    You can reheat your roast beef in a couple of different ways. The easiest is to place the roasted meats, cut side down, on a cooking sheet and put them under the broiler for 5 minutes. Then, turn it over and continue to cook until all of the meat is warmed through.

    You could also wrap the roast beef cut side down, in aluminum foil with some water or stock added to the pan and then back at 350 degrees until warmed through. This is a great way to use up any of that pan drippings that you have leftover from the roast.

    How should I store my leftover holiday roast beef

    This beef reheats beautifully for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it and keep it for up to a month. (I usually use individual portions and then put them in a freezer bag, so that when I want one I just take out how many I need.)

    What should I serve with this holiday roast beef

    This beef is perfectly tender and delicious on its own. You could also try serving it with some homemade mashed potatoes or with a side of Creamed Corn. I even like to serve with a side salad and homemade rolls.

    How can add more flavor to this holiday beef roast

    There are many different ways to add flavor to this dish. You can rub the meat with a garlic and herb seasoning mix before roasting it or you could use some au jus packets later on in the process.

    Another way to add more flavor to this roast beef is too sprinkle some freshly chopped herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley on top before roasting for a delicious flavor. You can even try adding some dried or fresh herbs during the last 15 minutes of cooking time for a richer flavoring.

    How to make tender roast beef in the oven

    The best way to make tender roast beef in the oven is by using a good quality roast, and cooking your roast low and slow. I love a tender roast beef in the oven, it makes dinner so easy but yet feels elegant. 

    This is an easy recipe and I just love the way beef comes out, tender and juicy.  I am not a professional cook by any means but my family always comments on how good this turns out every time I make it!

    How to make tender roast beef in slow cooker

    You can also make this recipe in the slow cooker too! Add roast to your crockpot and cook on high for 3 hours. Then, turn it down to low for 4 hours or until the meat is tender.

    But try it in the oven at least once, it is so delicious and tender.

    Overhead photo of Holiday Roast Beef sliced and placed on white dish with cranberry balsamic sauce, whole cranberries and rosemary.

    Ingredients for Holiday Roast Beef

    •  Eye of round beef roast - around 3 lbs
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 cloves, chopped garlic
    • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary
    • 1⁄2 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper

    How to make Holiday Beef Roast

    1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
    2. Rub the roast generously with olive oil.
    3. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, minced garlic and chopped rosemary. Rub on top of roast.
    4. Place seasoned roast in a roasting pan in a preheated oven. Make sure the dish or pan is meant for high temperatures.
    5. Roast the roast for 5 minutes per pound. Then turn off the oven. Do NOT open the oven for 2 hours! (For example, a 3-lb. roast would take 15 minutes to cook and then sit in the turned-off oven for 2 hours.).
    6. Remove the roast from the oven, and check the internal temperature to make sure it is set to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Carve into thin slices for serving.

    How to serve and garnish this roast beef recipe

    • Spoon a little cranberry balsamic sauce on each plate.
    • Drape slices of the beef roast over the sauce, with the rosemary twigs scattered around.
    • Garnish with more rosemary twigs and cranberries.

    The holidays are a time for celebrating and spending quality time with loved ones. When we think of the holiday season, most people imagine festive colors, music, and delicious food. One popular dish is roast beef because it's easy to make but tastes so good!

    In this article you'll learn how to prepare tender roast beef in the oven or slow cooker that will be perfect for your family dinner table. We hope these recipes help bring about some new ideas on what to cook up this year for Christmas dinner!

    Two slices of roast beef served with cranberry sauce, whole cranberries and rosemary on a white. A fork on the side.

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    Holiday Roast Beef with Cranberry Balsamic Sauce.

    Holiday Roast Beef with Cranberry Balsamic Sauce

    Karin and Ken
    Holiday Roast Beef is delicious and tender roast beef that is excellent for a holiday dinner. Though you can serve this roast any day!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 2 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 65 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 3 pound eye of round beef roast
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
    • ½ teaspoon sea or kosher salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 500 degrees.
    • Rub the roast generously with olive oil.
    • In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, minced garlic and chopped rosemary.
    • Rub on top of roast.
    • Place seasoned roast in a roasting pan in a preheated oven. Make sure the dish or pan is meant for high temperatures.
    • Roast the roast for 5 minutes per pound. Then turn off the oven. Do NOT open the oven for 2 hours! (For example, a 3-lb. roast would take 15 minutes to cook and then sit in the turned-off oven for 2 hours.).
    • Remove the roast from the oven, and check the internal temperature to make sure it is set to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Carve into thin slices for serving.
    • Garnish with rosemary twigs and cranberries.
    • Serve with cranberry balsamic sauce. Enjoy every bite!

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 65kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 1mgPotassium: 11mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 11IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword cranberry balsamic sauce, cranberry sauce
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Two slices of roast beef served with cranberry sauce, whole cranberries and rosemary on a white. A fork on the side and a jar of cranberry sauce in the background.
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    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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