By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments
Stretch your meals further by using one roast for three dinner recipes.
One of the biggest expenses in most households is groceries. Because of this, I am always looking for new ways to spend less on food and lower our grocery budget. One of the easiest ways I have found to save money on food is to stretch meat through multiple meals. Another plus to stretching your meat is it makes meal prepping even easier! Yay! Today I want to share three easy beef roast recipes.
Each of these easy beef roast recipes are super simple, easy dinner ideas. As a busy mom, I love meals that do not require a lot of effort and time. 🙂
Meal #1: Pot Roast
The first meal I use the roast for is a simple Pot Roast cooked in the crock pot. I make this meal for our Sunday Dinner and serve it with mashed potatoes, gravy and a salad. My sister shared this recipe with me a few years ago and I still can’t believe how easy and delicious it is to make. I always receive compliments whenever I make this for someone!
For the Pot Roast you will need a packet of brown gravy mix, a packet of ranch dressing, a packet of Italian dressing, a 1/4 cup of water and a 3 1/2 lb. roast. The size of your roast will vary depending on how many are in your family and how many left overs you want to have.
First, mix the three packets and water together in your crock pot.
Next, you will need to brown your roast. Heat a couple of TBSP of oil in a large sauce pan on the stove top over medium heat . When oil is hot add the roast and cook it on each side until each side is lightly browned. This only takes a few minutes to get it all browned.
Once the roast is browned, place it into the sauce in the crock pot. Spoon the sauce as much as you can over the roast. Turn the crock pot to low and let the roast cook for 6-8 hours.
After the roast is done cooking set it on a cutting board, cover, and let rest while you prepare the gravy.
For the gravy you will need to dump the excess sauce from the crock pot into a sauce pan. Heat this over medium-high heat. In a small bowl mix about a 1/4 cup of cornstarch with approximately a 1/2 cup water. Slowly add this to the gravy in sauce pan.
Continue heating until it comes to just a boil. I do not always use all of the cornstarch/water mix. I slowly add it and stir until the gravy becomes thick. When it achieves the right amount of thickness I quit adding the cornstarch mixture. Remove from heat.
Slice the roast into thin pieces and it should be ready to serve! If you want to use this roast for two more meals make sure to set aside 2/3 of the roast slices.
Easy Beef Roast Recipe
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 6 hours hrs
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 lb Beef Chuck Roast
- 2 Tbsp Vegetable oil
- 1 packet Brown gravy mix
- 1 packet Ranch dressing mix
- 1 packet Italian dressing mix
- 1/4 cup Water
To Make Gravy
- 1/4 cup Cornstarch
- 1/2 cup Water
Instructions
Heat oil in large pot over medium heat.
Brown roast in hot oil until brown on each side.
Mix three packets together in slow cooker with water.
Add browned roast to slow cooker.
Cook roast for 6-8 hours on low heat.
Once down set aside to rest until ready to slice and serve.
To Make Gravy
Pour sauce from slow cooker into a small sauce pan.
Heat over medium heat.
In a small bowl mix water and cornstarch.
Slowly add cornstarch mixture to sauce in pan. (you might not need to use it all)
Continue heating and stirring until it comes just to a boil.
Remove from heat and serve over roast.
- Related: 10 Quick Ways to Lower Your Grocery Bill
Meal #2: French Dip Sandwiches
For dinner the next day I used 1/2 of the Pot Roast leftovers to make French Dip Sandwiches. I always just wing this meal without a recipe. It’s really easy!
Butter the insides of hoagie rolls and lay them face up on a cookie sheet.
Stick the hoagie buns under the broiler for a few minutes to get them slightly toasted.
Then, just layer cheese (provolone tastes best) and the roast beef slices on the rolls, and cook them for a few more minutes until the cheese is melted.
While they are cooking follow the directions on the Au Jus packet to make the dipping sauce.
This dinner is SO easy! I usually serve it with some carrots or celery on the side.
- Related: Easy Pasta Bake Recipe
Meal #3: Beef Stew
A friend gave me this delicious beef stew recipe a few years ago, and it quickly became our family favorite! There really isn’t anything better than a warm beef stew on a cold winter day….especially when the crock pot does all of the work! 😉
This beef stew requires a small amount of prep work to chop all the veggies, but once that is done it is such an easy recipe.
I like to make this recipe using leftover roast meat. I simply cut it into chunks and add it to the stew.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 6 hours hrs
Ingredients
- 2 lb Stew Meat (cut into chunks)
- 1/4 cup Flour
- Salt and Pepper (to taste)
- 1 1/2 cup Beef Broth
- 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 3 Sliced carrots
- 3 Diced potatoes
- 1 Chopped onion
- 1 Celery stalk, chopped
- 1 Bay leaf
Instructions
Mix beef with flour and salt and pepper in the slow cooker.
Add the rest of the ingredients.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
In Conclusion
And that is how I use one roast for three dinners. It has helped our family save on groceries time and time again! I hope that it will help you too!
Here are a few other recipes my family loves!
- Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Mix Recipe
- Quick and Easy Overnight Oatmeal Recipe
Don’t forget to pin theses recipes for future use!
