Description
A cozy, comforting one-pot meal featuring fork-tender beef chuck roast braised in a tangy balsamic-cranberry sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast (well-marbled for the best braise)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for browning)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 2 cups beef broth
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh thyme for garnish
- 1–2 carrots, cut into large chunks (optional)
- 1 celery stalk, chopped (optional)
- 1–2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup (optional)
- A bay leaf or two (optional)
- A small parsnip or turnip, cubed (optional)
Instructions
- Remove the beef from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before cooking to reach room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C) and line a baking sheet with foil.
- Pat the chuck roast dry, then season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil, and brown the roast on all sides for 3–4 minutes per side.
- Transfer the browned roast to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté the chopped onion in the same skillet for 4–6 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook an additional 30–60 seconds.
- Pour in balsamic vinegar, cranberries and beef broth, scraping up browned bits from the pan. Optionally add brown sugar or maple syrup.
- Return the roast to the skillet, partially submerged in the liquid, and add any optional vegetables if using. Season the top with more pepper and add thyme and bay leaf if desired.
- Cover tightly and braise in the oven for 2.5 to 3 hours, checking at 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Remove roast from oven, let rest for 10–15 minutes under foil.
- Simmer the braising liquid on the stovetop for 5–10 minutes to thicken. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
- Slice or shred the beef against the grain, serve topped with cranberry-balsamic sauce and garnish with fresh thyme.
Notes
This recipe can also be adapted for a stovetop or pressure cooker for quicker cooking times. For the best results, avoid rushing the browning and resting steps.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 37g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: braised beef, cranberry sauce, comfort food, easy recipe, one-pot meal