Description
This Tender Balsamic Cranberry Beef Roast combines the richness of slow-roasted beef with a sweet-tart cranberry and balsamic glaze that caramelizes beautifully as it cooks.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Beef Roast
- 3–4 lb beef chuck roast or rump roast
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
For the Balsamic Cranberry Sauce
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- ½ cup beef broth
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar (or maple syrup)
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Beef
- Pat the roast dry with paper towels.
- Season generously on all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear the roast on all sides until deeply browned (about 3–4 minutes per side).
- Transfer the seared roast to a slow cooker or oven-safe Dutch oven.
2. Make the Cranberry Balsamic Sauce
- In a bowl, whisk together: cranberries, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, garlic, onion, thyme, and rosemary.
- Pour the mixture over the roast.
3. Cook the Roast
Slow Cooker Method:
- Cook on LOW 7–8 hours or HIGH 4–5 hours, until tender and shreddable.
Oven Method:
- Cover and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 3–3.5 hours, until fork-tender.
4. Finish the Sauce
- Remove the roast and set aside to rest.
- Transfer the cooking liquid to a saucepan.
- Simmer 5–7 minutes to thicken naturally.
- (Optional) Whisk cornstarch slurry into the sauce and cook until glossy.
5. Serve
- Slice or shred the beef.
- Spoon warm balsamic cranberry sauce over the top.
Notes
- Best cut: Chuck roast produces the most tenderness and flavor.
- Sweeter glaze: Add 1–2 extra tablespoons of brown sugar.
- More tart: Add a squeeze of lemon or extra cranberries.
- Prep Time: PT10M
- Cook Time: PT04H00M
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup shredded beef + sauce
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg