I love to celebrate Christmas like the Whos in Whoville with a grand roast beast. However, my budget’s tight and I can’t afford to go all out on a standing rib roast. Luckily, there’s a much cheaper cut of meat that, if prepared properly, can be a striking centerpiece to your holiday meal. I’m talking about the Eye of Round Roast and you can find it in most grocery cases, or by chatting up your butcher (which is always a good idea anyway, in case they have an angle on a special offering). Click on the video to see me make this recipe along with a crazy sauce made with Coca-Cola. You can also find the printable recipe below.
This recipe has also been recently updated with a different gravy recipe. You can find the new Christmas Beef Roast on a Budget at my other blog, The Dinner Bell!
Here are the price comparisons I referenced in the video:
Meat Price Comparison
Standing Rib Roast: $12 – $15/lb
Rack of Lamb: $13 – $15/lb
Eye of Round Roast: $5/lb
Print
Christmas Roast (on a budget)
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 mins
- Yield: 6 - 8 servings 1x
Description
A peppercorn and rosemary crusted beef eye of round roast perfect for any holiday table.
Ingredients
- Rub:
- 1T paprika
- 2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
- 1T brown sugar
- 1T coarse ground peppercorns
- 1 T rosemary minced
- 2 lb eye of round beef roast
- 1 Tbs oil
- Sauce:
- 1/2 white onion chopped
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbs cranberry sauce
- 1 cup Coca-Cola
Instructions
- Combine the rub ingredients and then rub them all into a 2lb eye of round beef roast.
- Let the roast sit out for 30 minutes to become room temperature and allow the rub to seep in.
- Heat your oven to 500F (or as high as it will go).
- Heat a cast iron pot or skillet over medium high heat with 1 Tbs oil and once it’s to temp, sear the meat 2 minutes per side until all sides are seared.
- Place the roast in the oven uncovered and turn off the heat, leaving the roast in there with the oven door closed until the meat comes to 125F. This might take an hour or up to three, depending on the size of roast you select.
- Remove the roast and allow it to rest at least 20 minutes up to 45.
- Heat the skillet that roasted the beef over a medium high heat and add in 1/2 chopped onion, stirring to scrape up the beef drippings.
- Once the onions are soft, add in 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbs cranberry sauce and 1 cup Coca-Cola (if you don’t like using sodas, sub 1/2 cup beef stock and 1/2 cup prune juice) and bring to a simmer, allowing it to bubble away, reducing over 20 to 30 minutes while your meat finishes resting. To complete the sauce, using a blender, blend the sauce until smooth and season with salt to taste. Let that keep simmering on low until you’r ready to serve it. The more it sits, the richer it gets.
- Finally, slice up your roast into 1/2 in thick slices and serve with the sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 90 mins
- Category: Entree
- Cuisine: American
*This post was first published on JoanieSimon.com
December 29, 2015, 4:12 pm
I’m trying this recipe for the first time , I doubled the pounds in the beat so I could eat it for the rest of the week I hope it comes out as good as it looks!
December 29, 2015, 4:35 pm
Awesome! Should work just fine, just know that it will take a good bit longer to get to 125F 🙂 Let me know if you have any questions!
December 29, 2015, 5:11 pm
Why not?
December 29, 2015, 5:16 pm
Sorry didn’t see your reply , but had to put it back in the oven at 500 is that to high because it was not even close to being done and I had it on 550 and turned it off like you said and it wasn’t done!
December 29, 2015, 5:42 pm
Sorry if you’re running into troubles! If you’ve got a roast double the size of the one I made in this recipe, you would sear it off on the stovetop, put the oven at 500F then turn off the oven and put the roast in so that it cooks as the temperature of the oven decreases. I left mine in for an hour, so yours being bigger might take up to two hours or more.
December 29, 2015, 8:04 pm
I’m good now ,thanks for getting back quickly I just cooked it a little longer and it came of fine. But the only thing I did was use jar Rosemary instead because I didn’t have fresh and I think it gave it a different flavor and in. Your recipe it says paprika and you used salt1 thank you it looks good though !
December 29, 2015, 9:24 pm
Glad it all worked out! I’ll double check the salt detail. Thanks so much for the feedback and for cookin’ up the roast! You’re awesome!
December 20, 2017, 3:05 pm
Wow I am so excited to try this so I wanted to ask you a question I have a Gas oven can I still cook this roast in my oven???
December 22, 2017, 9:26 pm
Hi Kelly! I own an electric oven, so I did some research and it looks like other folks using this method with gas ovens don’t turn the oven completely off, but to the lowest temperature setting after the initial high temp cooking period. I can’t vouch for certain since I haven’t tried it, but it definitely makes sense. Hope that helps!
December 24, 2018, 5:42 pm
Made this and turned out great was a little under done for my wife….should of had it in another 20 30 mins my roast was a little bigger. Awesome meal!!!!!! Made mashed garlic potatoes with it and corn. If it was a little under done for them i threw the piece on cast iron skillet for a few. Loved the meal i have some experience in a kitchen and this meal made me look like a pro! Would love to see more recipes please let me know how i can see more.
December 30, 2015, 1:17 pm
Thank you ! I’ll be lookin for more of your recipes in 2016!!! Happy new year!!
November 17, 2016, 9:43 am
Looks great! Your eye of round recipe said 2 pounds meat fed 6-8? I thought half pound per person. No? I am feeding 15. How much meat? Thanks.
Virginia
November 17, 2016, 9:53 am
Thank you! I suppose it depends on the size of the appetites of your crowd, how many other dishes you’re serving, etc…When I make it, 2 lb makes 6 to 8 servings, but that means the whole thing is gone, plus I always go overboard on apps and sides :). So, I’d say bump it up to 1/2 lb per person to ensure you have more than enough and perhaps a bit for leftovers. Too, I’d make it two 3.5lb roasts…trying to cook a 7lb roast this way might take forever. Hope you enjoy!
November 17, 2016, 9:21 pm
How to Make Chicken Tortilla Soup – YouTube
December 4, 2016, 4:51 pm
Would it ruin it if I wanted it not so pink inside? Idk why but when it’s that pink I have trouble trying to eat it…? it looks delicious though and I want to make it for Christmas dinner!
December 5, 2016, 10:14 pm
I totally understand! I’ve got plenty of friends who prefer their meat well done. You definitely could cook it longer, but this kind of cut tends to get dry and less tender the further past medium that you take it. But, some folks like that, so it’s all a matter of taste 🙂 But, if you’d rather go for something that’s cooked throughout and still melt in your mouth, I swear by Ina Garten’s pot roast: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/company-pot-roast-recipe.html. All that said, happy holidays and happy cooking!
December 23, 2016, 3:17 pm
Hi, have a question: Should I make any adjustments if using an electric roaster? Thank you.
December 23, 2016, 11:44 pm
I’ve never tried it in an electric roaster, so I can’t guarantee, but it should work similarly. Just make sure you can get a read on the internal temp of the meat while keeping the roaster closed. You want a final internal temp of 125F on the beef. Cheers and happy hoidays!
December 23, 2016, 3:20 pm
Sauce lookes gorgeous!
November 29, 2017, 7:53 pm
I have a gas oven…it tends to cool quicker than an electric oven…will this still cook properly with these directions?
December 2, 2017, 5:33 pm
Hi Kathryn! I own an electric oven, so I did some research and it looks like other folks using this method with gas ovens don’t turn the oven completely off, but to the lowest temperature setting after the initial high temp cooking period. I can’t vouch for certain since I haven’t tried it, but it definitely makes sense. Hope that helps!
December 2, 2017, 10:46 am
Same question as above, what if we have a gas oven?
December 2, 2017, 5:33 pm
Hi Paige! I own an electric oven, so I did some research and it looks like other folks using this method with gas ovens don’t turn the oven completely off, but to the lowest temperature setting after the initial high temp cooking period. I can’t vouch for certain since I haven’t tried it, but it definitely makes sense. Hope that helps!
December 11, 2017, 7:36 am
I just tuned into your blog and I love your style. Especially the part where you said this “you tube video isn’t paying well yet”. LOL I hope your videos have taken off since last year and I can’t wait to make the roast!
December 11, 2017, 7:44 am
Thank you so much! Enjoy the roast!
December 17, 2017, 6:59 am
Do you think you could cook this the day before? If so, what would be best way to reheat it next day?
December 17, 2017, 11:52 am
Hi Colleen! Unfortunately, this roast doesn’t re-heat well. If you’ve got leftovers, it’s great thin sliced and served on a sandwich. If you’re looking for a beef that’s a main course that you can re-heat, you’ll want something more like a pot roast or something that’s braised and fork-tender. I always love this recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/company-pot-roast-recipe-1946134
December 23, 2017, 5:30 pm
I did this but I set the oven to 325 and baked for 90 minutes so that is between medium well to well done, that is how my family likes it.
December 24, 2017, 9:43 am
Was it still tender enough cooking it at this temperature?
December 24, 2017, 10:14 pm
Yep, the trick with a roast like this is to not over-cook it.
December 24, 2017, 8:48 pm
Making this tomorrow for Christmas dinner. Don’t know if you’ll read this before then but, I don’t have a meat thermometer. Any tips on how to tell when it’s done?
December 24, 2017, 10:12 pm
Hi Becky! Unfortunately there’s not a surfire way with a roast of this size to check for doneness without a thermometer. You can try this test by feeling the meat, but that’s typically more for steaks than roasts, but definitely worth a try if you don’t have a thermometer. Sorry about that!
Test: https://www.stupideasypaleo.com/2013/04/11/test-doneness-without-meat-thermometer/
December 25, 2017, 11:29 am
I have a 3.71 lb I like it medium rare how long would you suggest
December 30, 2017, 10:05 am
So I did this roast for Christmas, and made 2 that were a little over 2lbs each(we like leftovers) and I think it took about 2 hours I wanna say. I was a little nervous because when I took it out the thermometer was reading it weird so I was thinking it hadn’t cooked enough in the oven but when I cut in to it, it was perfect. And I wasn’t really sure how I was gonna like the gravy but it was amazing!! We had dinner for two more days after Christmas. Thanks for the recipe!!
December 30, 2017, 11:35 am
That’s wonderful news!! So glad you enjoyed it and so appreciate you letting me know. Hope you had a merry Christmas!!
December 16, 2018, 9:02 pm
Can you please provide a link to your handy dandy meat thermometer?
December 18, 2018, 6:03 am
The one I mentioned has been discontinued, but this one is comparable.
December 20, 2019, 11:56 pm
Hello! I am going to make this recipe for Christmas Eve. Do you think Diet Coca-Cola would work for the sauce? (My son has Type 1 diabetes and I’m trying to make low-carb/almost sugar free recipes. 🙂
Thank you in advance!
December 22, 2019, 10:21 pm
Hi! I have never tried this with Diet Coke, but given that it doesn’t have sugar I don’t think it will work as a substitute. I would, instead, suggest making a simple au jus instead. Here’s an example of an au jus recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/221957/beef-au-jus/. Happy holidays!
December 24, 2019, 12:07 pm
Thank you for your response Joanie! We are going to do your sauce with the regular Coke and the au jus. 🙂
One last question if you have time…We are worried about meat only cooking to 125 degrees as not everyone likes rare. Do you think 140 would be too much or just right?
December 26, 2019, 10:03 am
Hi! Sorry I didn’t check my e-mail over the holiday. Hope it all turned out okay! I haven’t cooked it to 140F and only concern is that this cut gets tougher the higher the temp goes, but 140 should have still been fine.
December 28, 2019, 7:40 pm
Wonderful center piece to our Christmas dinner! I wish I could post a picture!
December 26, 2022, 9:28 am
I made this for Christmas lunch yesterday, the result was fantastic. Best roast beef I’ve ever done and the cheap cut of French Roast was sumptuous. Nice work, thanks !
December 12, 2023, 8:08 pm
I’m trying to grill the first piece, but I can’t figure out how to grill it medium rare
February 8, 2024, 10:41 pm
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March 6, 2024, 10:49 pm
“Ready to whip up a delicious Christmas roast without breaking the bank! 🎄🍽️ Time to get inspired with some budget-friendly recipes on Redbox TV!
May 7, 2024, 8:40 pm
Yesterday, I prepared this for Christmas lunch, and it turned out well. It was the best roast beef I’ve ever had, and the inexpensive French roast cut was delicious. Excellent effort; many thanks!
July 25, 2024, 12:19 am
Yesterday, I cooked this dish for our Christmas lunch, and it turned out wonderfully. The roast beef was exceptional, especially considering the affordable French cut I used. I’m thrilled with how it came out—thank you for your efforts!