Do you love French Onion Soup? Then you’re going to love this French Onion Roast Beef recipe! It’s a simple, easy-to-follow recipe that will have your family and friends raving! The roast beef is cooked in a delicious onion soup broth until it’s perfectly tender, then sliced and served with your choice of sides. 

I have always been a big fan of onions. I’m pretty sure I get it from my mom! She puts onion in everything. And I’m ok with that! Saute, caramelized, raw – I’ll take them! I love using them in meals too. My French Onion Pork Chops have been a family favorite for awhile and for good reason! I’ve also done a French Onion chicken that is so, so good! This roast is just another way of getting more onions in our lives!

What is French Onion Roast

French Onion Roast is a classic comfort food dish that is perfect for chilly weather. The dish is made with beef roast, onions, and a variety of seasonings. 

The beef roast is cooked slowly in the slow cooker or Instant Pot, allowing the flavors of the onions and seasonings to infuse the meat. The result is a tender, flavorful roast that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. Serve French Onion Roast with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables for a complete meal.

French Onion Beef Roast Ingredients 

• Beef chuck roast– I use a beef chuck roast, but you could use prime rib roast, rump roast, or whole sirloin. 
• Olive oil– You will need oil for browning the roast. You can use any oil you prefer. 
• Beef stock– If you don’t have beef stock, you could use beef broth instead. Although stock gives a better flavor. 
• Onions– You can’t have onion roast beef without onions. I recommend using yellow onions because they become sweet and flavorful during the cooking process. 
• Onion soup mix– Onion soup mix is an easy way to add all the flavor to your meat without using individual spices. It’s a combination of paprika, minced onion, onion powder, celery seed, black pepper, bouillon, and parsley. 
• Red wine vinegar– If you don’t have red wine vinegar, you could also use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar. 

How to Make French Onion Beef Roast in the Instant Pot

If you want to make your french onion roast beef quickly, you can use your Instant Pot! Follow the simple steps below. 

Step 1: Season the Roast

First, season the roast with salt and black pepper on each side. 

Step 2: Saute the Meat

Next, hit the saute button on your Instant Pot. Add the oil to the pressure cooker, and brown the roast on both sides. 

Step 3: Deglaze the Pot

Deglaze the bottom of the pot by adding the beef stock and scraping with a wooden spoon.

Step 4: Add the Ingredients

Place your roast in the beef stock and top it with onions, onion soup mix, and red wine vinegar. 

Step 5: Pressure Cook

Put the lid on  the electric pressure cooker and set the valve to “sealing.” Then, hit the “pressure cook” or “manual” and set the time for 1 hour. 

Step 6: Quick Release

When the cook cycle is completed, quickly release the pressure by flipping the pressure valve to the venting position. 

Serve the beef roast with the au jus and onions. Enjoy!

How to Make Roast Beef in the Slow Cooker

If you prefer to have your roast ready when you get home from work, you can put it in the slow cooker before you leave. Follow the steps below!

Step 1: Season the Roast 

First, season the roast with salt and black pepper on each side.

Step 2: Sear the Meat

Heat a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil to the skillet and brown the roast on both sides.

Step 3: Deglaze & Transfer

Deglaze the bottom of the skillet by adding the beef stock and scraping with a wooden spoon. Then, transfer the roast and the beef broth to the slow cooker.

Step 4: Add the Ingredients

Top the roast with the onions, onion soup mix, and red wine vinegar.

Step 5: Slow Cook

Cover your slow cooker with the lid, and put it on low. Allow the roast to cook for 8 hours. 

Serve the beef roast with the au jux and onions. 

Enjoy!

Side Dish Recommendations 

I recommend serving French Onion Roast with mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables for a complete meal. Here are some great recipes:

• Best Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Bacon Roasted Brussel Sprouts
• Quick Honey Roasted Carrots
• Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes

What Cut of Beef Works Best for This Recipe?

French Onion Roast is a family favorite in my house. It’s easy to make and always comes out flavorful and moist. The key to a good French Onion Roast is to use the right cut of beef. I like to use a chuck roast for this recipe. Chuck roast is a flavorful, fatty cut of beef that gets more tender the longer it cooks. This makes it ideal for French Onion Roast, which is cooked slowly.

Additionally, rib roast or sirloin roast are good options as well. Rib roast has more fat, which means it will be more flavorful. However, it can also be tough if not cooked properly. Sirloin roast is slightly leaner, but it is also more tender. 

How Do You Keep Chuck Roast Moist? 

Chuck roast is a tough cut of meat that can be difficult to cook. If not cooked properly, it can be dry and tough. However, there are a few simple tips that can help to ensure a moist and tender chuck roast. 

First, it is important to choose the right cut of meat. Look for a roast that has marbling, which is fat interlaced with the muscle tissue. This will help to keep the roast juicy as it cooks. 

Second, make sure to sear the roast before cooking. This will help to lock in the juices and prevent the roast from drying out. 

Finally, cook the roast slowly, either in the Instant Pot or in a slow cooker. This will give the tough fibers time to break down, resulting in a tender and flavorful dish.

Do You Have to Brown a Roast Before Putting it in a Crock Pot? 

Generally speaking, you don’t need to brown meat before putting it in a crock pot. The slow cooking process will eventually break down the connective tissues and render the meat tender and juicy. That being said, browning does have some benefits. 

First of all, it helps to seal in the juices, which can make the final product more flavorful. Browning also gives the meat a nice color and texture that may be lacking if you skip this step. So, if you’re looking for optimal results, you may want to take the extra time to brown your meat before adding it to the crock pot.

Other Beef Recipes to Try

• Stove Top Beef Stew
• Crock Pot Corned Beef
• Beef and Rice Casserole
• Instant Pot Mongolian Beef