How Long To Cook Chuck Roast In The Oven At 350?

Chuck roast is for those days when you have some time at home, and can enjoy the wonderful fragrance of a beef roast cooking in the oven – how divine does that sound?!

As with other roasts, you can put potatoes, carrots, and onions around the roast part way through the cooking, and voila, you have a marvelous, nutritious meal.

Although chuck roast cooks a while, the actual hands-on time is not long. The key to great chuck roast is to give it time to become tender. A little prep, and then pop it in the oven to get tender and mouthwatering.

Chuck roast comes from the shoulder of the animal. It’s muscular because that’s a part of the anatomy that gets a lot of exercise.

But that exercise also means it’s one of the toughest cuts of beef, hence the need for hours in the oven to break down the muscle and make the roast tender. 

Being one of the toughest cuts of beef also means that it is relatively inexpensive, and that’s good anytime, but especially now when food prices are very high.

If you cook it properly, chuck roast is super tasty, and it will become so tender that the meat can easily be shredded.

You get all that delicious flavor for a fraction of the cost of other roasts, and you’ll have leftovers for stew, sandwiches, wraps, and whatever else you can think of. 

RELATED: What To Serve With Pot Roast

How Long To Cook Chuck Roast In The Oven At 350 In A Roasting Pan?

Have you ever been in the meat department of your grocery store and seen large roasts labeled shoulder roast or blade roast? Have you wondered just what exactly that is and how you would prepare it?

Blade, shoulder, pot and chuck roast are all kinda sorta the same thing. There are technically differences among them, but they are essentially the same and benefit from the same approach to cooking. 

The chuck roast is an economical cut of beef, and with a little planning, you can have a marvelous dinner for a fraction of the price of other beef roasts.

Let me show you how simple it is to prepare and cook a chuck roast in the oven, and you’ll be running to the grocery store to toss one of these into your cart.

The temperature of the oven is key. You cannot cook a chuck roast in a 375 or 400 F oven and expect a tender, juicy result. It won’t happen.

350 really gives you the result you want, so set aside a day when you have some cleaning to do, or some binge-watching of your favorite show, and let the chuck roast do its thing.

Planning and patience will pay off in the end. Think low and slow.

Not only do you want your chuck roast to be tender and juicy, you also want it to be flavorful. One of the keys to getting a lot of flavor from the chuck roast is searing it before you put it in the roasting pan.

Make sure you sear all surfaces of the roast.

What exactly is searing you ask?

Searing browns the outside of meat, and gives it a crispness by frying it on relatively high heat in a small amount of oil for a short period of time. The browning lends flavor to meat.

You can use butter or vegetable oil, but use just enough to nicely cover the surface when the oil or butter is heated on medium-high.

Once the fat source melts, the meat is placed in the skillet, and each surface is browned for 2-3 minutes. You can use tongs or a large, sturdy fork with a long handle, to turn the meat easily and safely. 

When you sear meat, it means you won’t have to cook it quite as long, and you’ll get additional flavor. It also gives a beautiful brown appearance to the meat which is very pleasing.

Meat is not the only thing that can be seared. Fish, pork, and poultry are commonly seared as well.

In this recipe, we use a boneless 4 pound chuck roast. 

When my mother cooked roasts, she would add some water to the bottom of the roasting pan. The water would keep the roast from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning.

I like to use beef broth as it gives the roast more flavor, and it is a tasty base for gravy.

RELATED: How To Properly Thaw Your Prime Rib Roast

Gravy can easily be made with the broth and juices in the roasting pan after removing the chuck roast from the pan. Follow these steps for a delicious gravy to pour over slices of meat and potatoes:

1. Lift the chuck roast out of the roasting pan, set it on a cutting board and cover it loosely with aluminum foil.
2. Pour the juices from the roasting pan, and a cup of water into a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp. cornstarch and 2 tbsp. water.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan, whisking constantly.
5. Return the saucepan to low heat, and stir constantly until the mixture thickens and boils. Turn the heat down to medium-low, and allow to cook gently.

 To cook chuck roast in the oven, I like to use a roasting pan, as the oval shape allows me to spread out the carrots and potatoes, however, a large Dutch oven works equally as well.

In fact, many people prefer to use a Dutch oven. Feel free to use whichever you prefer.

Chuck roasts come in a variety of weights, and the length of time you cook the roast will differ for a lighter weight roast, or for one that is heavier than the 4 pound roast I used in the example in the table above.

To put it all together in one easy place that you may quickly refer to, I have compiled a chart with different sizes of chuck roast and the corresponding time required to cook it in a 350 F oven.

Number Of Hours To Cook Chuck Roast In The Oven At 350 F

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Choose A Good Chuck Roast?

Look for marbling. This is fat. You may be thinking that you don’t want a roast with lots of fat, but the tradeoff is great beefy flavor, so look for lots of marbling.

Always keep in mind that the bigger the chuck roast, the longer it’s going to take to cook. Get one that is the right size for your schedule.

Should I Marinate Chuck Roast Before Looking It?

Marinating chuck roast is beneficial as it will tenderize the meat. It will also give it added flavor. 

If you have time, put the roast in a marinade in your fridge overnight. There are a number of options for rich and flavorful marinades.

Some popular ingredients are: soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, orange or lemon juice, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, chopped garlic, olive oil, hot pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper!

To marinate the chuck roast, simply stir together in a mixing bowl your desired marinade ingredients. Put the chuck roast in a large zippered bag, and pour the marinade on top.

Set the marinating roast on a large plate and put it in your refrigerator overnight.

Is Pot Roast The Same Thing As Chuck Roast?

Pot roast is actually a dish that is made from chuck roast, however, people often use the two words interchangeably.

Pot roast is popular in North America, and there are variations in many countries around the world. Everybody likes a flavorful, inexpensive cut of beef, right?!

Pot roast typically consists of chuck roast, potatoes, carrots and onions with a rich- tasting gravy.

Can I Successfully Cook A Chuck Roast In My Slow Cooker?

If your crock pot has been spending too much time in the cupboard, it’s time to get it out and dust it off. The slow cooker and chuck roast are made for each other.

There are some details to keep in mind when cooking chuck roast in a slow cooker.

1. Sear the roast first, just as you would if you were cooking it in a conventional oven.
2. Add vegetables that can stand up to hours of cooking – you don’t want mushy potatoes and carrots.
3. Be sure to add seasonings such as herbes de provence, dried thyme, oregano, rosemary, salt and pepper.
4. Slice an onion and garlic to add as well.

Low and slow is your mantra for slow cooker chuck roast – think 8 hours on low heat.

Can I Cook Chuck Roast In An Air Fryer?

Cooking chuck roast in an air fryer is doable, however you may wish to slice the meat into small pieces for easier air frying.

You can also air fry a whole chuck roast, but keep it small so your air fryer can handle it. Cook a chuck roast in an air fryer in about 35 minutes.

What Wine Should I Serve With Chuck Roast?

Chuck roast is a very flavorful red meat, so it pairs well with a robust red wine. To accompany the rich, beefy flavor of this roast, choose a dry red wine that is full-bodied.

Good options are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Merlot.

If you are looking for a wine that is less well-known, but just as deserving of a place at your table, try a Malbec. This wine, mainly made in Argentina, usually comes at a greater value, but sacrifices none of the taste of a great full red.

What Are The Best Options For Chuck Roast Leftovers?

Here are four great ideas for your chuck roast leftovers:

1. Shredded chuck roast sandwiches with dipping sauce. Choose your favorite buns and toppings for these super-tasty, tender beef sandwiches. Toast the buns for extra crunch. Serve with coleslaw.
2. Shredded chuck roast stir fry with green and red peppers, garlic, and red onion. Season with soy sauce, and serve with wild rice.
3. Chuck roast stroganoff with gravy on a bed of egg noodles. Serve a tossed green salad on the side.
4. Shredded chuck roast wrap with red cabbage, sliced dill pickles, and Dijon mustard.

How Long To Cook Chuck Roast In The Oven At 350 In A Roasting Pan?

Active Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

After searing, the chuck roast is put in a large roasting pan along with seasonings, and beef broth. The roast is cooked for 3 hours at 350 F. Potatoes and carrots may be added partway through the cooking.

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Materials

• 4 lb. chuck roast
• Vegetable oil
• Large cooking onion
• 2 cloves of garlic

Tools

• Large skillet
• Large roasting pan with lid
• Tongs or large, long-handled fork

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. In a large skillet, preheat vegetable oil on medium-high.
3. Pat the chuck roast dry using a paper towel.
4. Salt and pepper the chuck roast, and sear on all sides, 2-3 minutes per side.
5. Transfer the chuck roast to the roasting pan, and add the sliced onion, garlic, and thyme and beef broth.
6. Put the lid on the roasting pan and place it in the oven.
7. After 1 hour, remove the roast from the oven, and add the potatoes and carrots.
8. Place the lid back on the pan, and put it back into the oven to cook for 2 more hours.
9. Remove from the oven and serve.

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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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