Roast Beef With Garlic and Thyme Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 05/22/22
Cooked roast beef on a white plate
NightAndDayImages / Getty Images
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 90 mins
Total: 105 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
537 Calories
34g Fat
2g Carbs
52g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 537
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 34g 44%
Saturated Fat 14g 69%
Cholesterol 208mg 69%
Sodium 165mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 52g
Vitamin C 4mg 20%
Calcium 38mg 3%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 485mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This lean roast beef is rubbed with a savory mixture of garlic, lemon zest, and herbs. The roast is cooked at a higher temperature for the first 10 minutes, and then it's slow-roasted to perfection.

For the beef roast, this recipe works well with eye of round, top round, or sirloin roast. This is an excellent roast beef for a Sunday dinner, and the leftovers can be used in sandwiches, on salads, or in casseroles, like this shepherd's pie.

See the tips and variations below the recipe for a basic pan gravy.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 clove garlic, cut in half

  • 3 pounds beef roast

  • 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced, for garnish

  • Tomato slices, for garnish

Steps to Make It

  1. Heat the oven to 450 F.

  2. In a small bowl combine butter, lemon peel, thyme, salt, and pepper.

  3. Rub garlic halves over the surface of beef roast.

  4. Spread butter and herb mixture over roast, coating the beef thoroughly on all sides.

  5. Place the meat on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Roast uncovered in the preheated 450 F oven for 10 minutes.

  6. Reduce temperature to 325 F; roast the beef about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes longer. A meat thermometer should register about 145 F for medium.*

  7. Remove roast from oven, cover loosely with foil, and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

  8. Place slices on a serving dish and place onion and tomato slices around the edge.

  9. Serve immediately.

*According to the USDA, the minimum safe temperature for beef is 145 F. Here's a chart of doneness temperatures:

Steak/Beef Temperature Chart

  • Rare: 120 F to 125 F (48.9 C to 51.6 C)
  • Medium-rare: 130 F to 135 F (54.4 C to 57.2 C)
  • Medium: 140 F to 145 F (60 C to 62.8 C)
  • Medium-well: 150 F to 155 F (65.5 C to 68.3 C)
  • Well-done: 160 F (71.1 C) and above

Tips and Variations

  • To make a pan gravy, pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the drippings left in the pan. Place the pan over medium heat. Combine 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and stir into the drippings. Add 2 cups of beef stock and cook, stirring, until thickened and bubbling.