Do you love the comforting taste of roast beef?
Growing up, nothing compared to the joy of Sunday roasts—especially the savory roast beef paired with golden Yorkshire puddings.
Today, I’ll be answering some common roast beef questions and sharing the best side dishes to complete your meal!
Table of Contents
Roast Beef
Roast beef is a dish of beef that has been roasted in an oven. Roast beef is usually served with gravy, roast potatoes, green beans, and sometimes Yorkshire pudding.
How Do You Cook Roast Beef?
There are many different ways to make roast beef. The most popular method to cook your pot roast is in the oven, you can also cook a pot roast in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.
Oven Cooked Roast Beef
Oven-roasted beef is one of the most common ways to cook roast. I like to sear the beef in a pan on the stovetop before adding it to the oven. This helps to seal in the flavor and juices. I then cook my traditional roast beef at a high temperature for a short amount of time.
Oven cooking gives the beef a nice crust on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside. The beef fat can be used to baste the beef as it cooks, this adds flavor and helps to keep the meat moist
After my beef has been cooked I like to let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing it up. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat so that they don’t all pour out when you cut into it.
Instant Pot Roast Beef
Instant Pot Pot Roast is another great way to cook beef if you’re short on time. The Instant Pot cooks the beef very quickly while still maintaining all of the flavor and juiciness.
Slow Cooker Roast Beef
If you’re looking for an easy way to cook roast beef, then the slow cooker or crock pot is the way to go. Simply add all of your ingredients to the slow cooker and let it cook slowly for 6-8 hours on low.
What Temperature Should Roast Beef Be Cooked At?
The ideal temperature for cooking your beef is 145 degrees F. This will result in a juicy and delicious piece of meat.
What Are Some of the Best Cuts of Beef to Use for Roast Beef?
To make the perfect roast dinner you want to choose the right cut of beef. The best cuts for a pot roast are chuck roast, bottom round roast, or eye of round roast.
Best Roast Beef Recipes?
There are lots of recipes online. My favorite happens to be Instant Pot Roast Beef. This savory roast beef recipe has a delicious flavor and with just a few ingredients it is a clear winner every time!
What Is Served With a Roast?
There are so many side dishes for roast beef and these can vary depending on what country you come from. If you want to know what goes with pot roast then look no further, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite roasted beef sides. I’m sure you’ll love these delicious recipes.
Best Sides Dish for Roast Beef Dinner
My number one side to go with a roast beef meal has to be gravy, followed by an array of vegetable side dishes. I’m also a fan of roasted potatoes and I just love Yorkshire pudding!
I’ll begin by sharing some great potato side dishes that pair well with a roast beef dinner.
Potato Sides for Roast Beef
When it comes to potatoes with pot roast, there are a few options. You can either cook one or if you love variety, try serving two different potato sides.
Mashed Potatoes
Creamy Mashed Potatoes are a great option to serve with roasted beef. They are smooth, creamy, and full of flavor. I like to add a little bit of garlic and cheddar cheese to the recipe for the perfect mashed potatoes every time.
These perfect mashed potatoes are one of the most popular side dishes to serve with roast beef!
Roasted Potatoes
Another delicious potato option is roasted potatoes. These are super easy to make and can be cooked in the oven at the same time as your roast beef.
Simply toss some potatoes in olive oil, add your favorite seasonings, and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes. Your crispy roast potatoes will taste amazing and complement your dish perfectly.
Boiled Baby Potatoes
If you’re looking for a more traditional potato side, then boiled baby potatoes are a great option.
These small potatoes are the perfect size for pairing with a pot roast. Garnish this potato dish with fresh herbs for a fantastic pot roast side dish.
Crispy Hasselback Potatoes
Crispy Hasselback potatoes are a fun and unique way to serve baked potatoes with your Sunday roast.
Hasselback Potatoes are thinly sliced and then baked in the oven until they are crispy. They make a great side dish or even a delicious appetizer. I like to use russet potatoes when making this potato dish. This kind of potato also pairs well with sour cream.
AU Gratin Potatoes
Have you tried thinly sliced potatoes aka scalloped potatoes? This is a popular side dish for many different meals and pairs perfectly with roasted beef.
Scalloped potatoes are made by layering thin slices of potato in a casserole dish and then topping with cheese and heavy cream. It’s then baked in the oven until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Baked Potatoes
Also known as jacket potatoes, these baked potatoes are a great option to serve with roast beef. Pop them in some tin foil and cook them alongside the roast or make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes and dust with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs.
What Salads Go With Sunday Roast?
Wondering what salad to go with your roast dinner? Here are a few popular options!
Sunday Roast Side Salad
This Sunday roast side salad is the perfect way to add some color and excitement to your pot roast meal. It’s made with a mix of greens, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and a simple balsamic vinegar vinaigrette.
Roasted Artichoke Hearts Salad
This salad is a bit more unique but so delicious! It’s made with roasted artichoke hearts, fresh greens, shaved Parmesan cheese, and a lemon vinaigrette.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
One of my favorite side dishes is a Brussels sprout salad. This particular salad is made with roasted Brussels sprouts, dried cranberries, goat cheese, and balsamic vinegar.
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Salad is a great way to add some extra vegetables to your pot roast dinner. It’s made with fresh broccoli, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a mayonnaise-based dressing.
Mediterreaen Quinoa Salad
This Mediterranean quinoa salad is a great option if you’re looking for a healthy side dish. It’s made with quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a simple olive oil and lemon juice dressing.
Bread, Rolls, and Yorkshire Pudding
Some of the best roast beef dinner sides have to be Yorkshire Pudding and bread. They both help to mop up the delicious rich gravy covering your roasted meat.
Yorkshire Pudding
Yorkshire Pudding is a traditional English side dish that is made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk. It’s then baked in the oven until it’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. This is a classic side dish recipe when it comes to Pot roast.
Best Bread for Pot Roast
From experience, the best bread for roast beef has to be soft dinner rolls, Hawaiian bread rolls, and Irish Soda bread.
Soft Dinner Rolls
Dinner rolls are soft, fluffy, and taste amazing! They are the perfect size for sopping up all that juicy pot roast gravy.
Hawaiian Bread Rolls
Hawaiian bread rolls are another great option when it comes to finding the best bread for pot roast. These Sweet And Fluffy Rolls go so well with the savory flavors of roast beef.
Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is a delicious and hearty bread that is perfect for dipping into the gravy. It’s made with flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. This bread has a slightly dense texture and a slightly sweet flavor.
Here is an Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe for you to try! Why not try one of these homemade bread recipes today?
Garlic Bread
Garlic bread is one of those side dishes that goes well with roasts. Crush some garlic cloves and make homemade garlic bread slices to soak up the juices from your pot roast. This is a great side dish recipe.
What Are Some of the Best Vegetables to Roast Alongside Beef?
Here are some of the best vegetables to go with roast beef dinner.
Roasted Vegetables
A classic dish to serve with a pot roast is Roasted Root Vegetables. This dish is usually made with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and onions. It’s a simple dish that is full of flavor and pairs perfectly with beef.
Mashed Parsnip and Carrots
Mashed parsnip and carrots are other great options when it comes to side dishes for roast beef. This dish is creamy, flavorful, and pairs well with the savory flavors of beef.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Air fryer butternut squash is a delicious and healthy side dish. It’s roasted in the air fryer until it’s tender and then tossed with a maple syrup glaze. This dish is perfect for a holiday season roast such as Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Gourmet Carrots
Gourmet carrots are a simple but elegant side dish. They are roasted in the oven with a bit of honey, thyme, and orange zest. This dish is sure to impress your guests!
You can also cook Instant Pot Gourmet Carrots.
If you fancy something different then try traditional roasted carrots, maple glazed carrots, honey garlic roasted carrots or air fryer carrots.
Creamed Spinach
Have you served creamed spinach with your roast dinner? It’s a delicious and creamy side dish that is packed with nutrients. Plus, it will pair well with the savory flavors of your meat. This is one of my favorite side dish recipes.
Steamed Broccoli
Steamed broccoli is a healthy and flavorful side dish. It’s simple to make and only requires a few minutes to cook. This dish is perfect for those who are looking for a quick and easy side dish.
Southern Green Beans
Green beans are a classic side dish that goes with just about anything. They can be cooked in a variety of ways. This Green Beans Recipe makes a great addition to any holiday meal.
Mashed Cauliflower
Mashed Cauliflower is one of my favorite side dishes. Pop some cooked cauliflower into a baking dish, add cheese sauce and crispy bacon and you have a delicious side dish to pair with your meat.
Roasted Sweet Potato
If you don’t fancy mashed sweet potatoes then why not try them roasted? You can serve roast beef alongside Roasted Diced Sweet Potatoes. All of these dishes are delicious and easy to make!
Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels sprouts can taste super crunchy and delicious especially when covered in a sweet glaze. You can also pressure cook brussels sprouts with this fantastic instant pot Brussels Sprouts Recipe. It makes a delicious side dish.
Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions
Sauteed Mushrooms and green onions are great fresh veggies to serve up with your roast meal.
Air Fryer Asparagus
Why not cook asparagus to go with your pot roast meal? Spray with olive oil and pop the asparagus into the air fryer for 8 minutes. This is one of my favorite healthy recipes for asparagus.
I also like to drizzle a little soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce onto my air-fried asparagus for added flavor.
Buttery Corn on the Cob
Corn on the cob is a great side dish to go alongside a family roast. Try this Buttery Corn On The Cob Recipe and you’ll never want to cook it another way again!
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole is a must when it comes to serving up a holiday roast. This dish is usually made with mashed sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, and pecans. It’s the perfect side dish to balance out the savory flavors of the meat juices. Learn How To Make Sweet Potato Casserole Here!
Roasted Beets
Beets are a great option for those looking for a healthy side dish. They can be roasted in the oven or cooked in the Instant Pot.
More Roasted Beef F&Q
Here are a few more roast beef facts and questions
What Are Some of the Best Tips for Serving Roast Beef?
-Serve the beef with a variety of side dishes to please everyone’s taste.
-When carving the roast, be sure to slice it against the grain for tender results.
-For extra flavor, try basting the roast with a bit of beef broth or red wine before cooking.
What Are Some of the Best Sauces to Serve With Roast Beef?
The best sauces to serve with your beef pot roast are:
- Horseradish sauce
- Gravy
- Green peppercorn sauce
- Dijon mustard
- Béarnaise sauce
For something different, try serving a fruit chutney or relish.
What Are Some of the Best Herbs to Use When Cooking Roast Beef?
Some of the best herbs to serve with roast beef are
- Rosemary
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Garlic
What to Make With Roast Beef Leftovers?
If you have any leftovers then save your sliced beef and make some delicious roast Beef Sandwiches.
You could also add any leftover beef to a salad or soup. Chopped up beef would also be great in a pasta dish or rice bowl.
What Goes Well With a Roast Beef Sandwich?
There are lots of things that will make your beef sandwich taste amazing. Try one of these options:
- Cheese
- Barbecue sauce
- Horseradish sauce
- Onions
- Pickles
Can I Add Jalapenos to a Hot Beef Sandwich?
For a little bit of heat, you can add sliced jalapenos to your sandwich. If you don’t like things too spicy then just remove the seeds from the peppers before slicing them.
Enjoy Your Roast Beef Dinner
I hope this guide helped you find the perfect sides to complement your roast beef dinner!
Whether you’re a fan of creamy mashed potatoes, crispy roasted veggies, or soft dinner rolls, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Now that you know how to prepare your roast and serve it with delicious sides, it’s time to bring that Sunday roast tradition back to your table.
Have fun cooking and enjoy every savory bite!
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments below—happy roasting!