Budget Holiday Chuck Roast

Featured in: Comfort Baking

This hearty chuck roast offers a flavorful and tender cut with minimal ingredients and preparation. Seasoned with dry onion soup mix and cooked slowly in beef broth, it becomes fork-tender after a few hours in the oven. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it pairs wonderfully with mashed potatoes or rice. Leftovers transform into delicious sandwiches, and the method also adapts well to slow cooking. Simple, budget-friendly, and satisfying.

Updated on Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:43:00 GMT
Tender Budget Holiday Chuck Roast, glistening from oven, served with savory pan juices and potatoes. Save
Tender Budget Holiday Chuck Roast, glistening from oven, served with savory pan juices and potatoes. | butterhearth.com

A simple, hearty, and flavorful chuck roast perfect for festive gatherings on a budget, requiring just three ingredients and minimal effort.

This recipe quickly became my go-to for holidays because it tastes gourmet but is so easy to prepare.

Ingredients

  • Beef: 3 lb (1.4 kg) boneless beef chuck roast
  • Seasoning: 1 packet (1 oz (28 g)) dry onion soup mix
  • Liquids: 1 cup (240 ml) beef broth (low sodium preferred)

Instructions

Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C).
Prepare Roast:
Pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels. Place it in a large Dutch oven or a roasting pan with a tight-fitting lid.
Add Seasoning:
Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the top of the roast.
Add Liquids:
Pour the beef broth around (not directly over) the roast to avoid washing off the seasoning.
Cover:
Cover tightly with the lid or aluminum foil.
Roast:
Roast in the preheated oven for 3 hours, or until the beef is fork-tender.
Rest and Serve:
Remove from the oven, let rest for 10 minutes, then slice or shred and serve with the pan juices.
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This meal always brings the family together, creating warm holiday memories around the table.

Required Tools

Dutch oven or roasting pan with lid, measuring cup, knife, and cutting board

Allergen Information

Contains onion in soup mix. May contain gluten, soy, or other allergens depending on the soup mix used—check labels if you have dietary restrictions.

Nutritional Information

Per serving: Calories 340, Total Fat 18 g, Carbohydrates 4 g, Protein 38 g.

Fork-tender Budget Holiday Chuck Roast, rich in flavor, seasoned with onion soup mix, ready for a feast. Save
Fork-tender Budget Holiday Chuck Roast, rich in flavor, seasoned with onion soup mix, ready for a feast. | butterhearth.com

This chuck roast is sure to become a holiday favorite with its perfect balance of flavor and simplicity.

Budget Holiday Chuck Roast

Hearty chuck roast with dry onion soup mix and beef broth, ideal for warm holiday meals.

Prep duration
10 min
Time to cook
180 min
Complete duration
190 min
Created by Grace Mitchell


Skill Level Easy

Heritage American

Output 6 Portions

Dietary considerations No Dairy, No Gluten, Low in Carbs

Components

Beef

01 3 lb boneless beef chuck roast

Seasoning

01 1 packet (1 oz) dry onion soup mix

Liquids

01 1 cup low-sodium beef broth

Directions

Stage 01

Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Stage 02

Prepare Roast: Pat the chuck roast dry using paper towels and place it in a Dutch oven or roasting pan with a tight-fitting lid.

Stage 03

Season Roast: Sprinkle the dry onion soup mix evenly over the top of the roast.

Stage 04

Add Broth: Pour the beef broth around the roast, avoiding pouring directly over to keep seasoning in place.

Stage 05

Cover and Roast: Cover tightly with the lid or aluminum foil and roast in the preheated oven for 3 hours, until fork-tender.

Stage 06

Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing or shredding to serve with pan juices.

Necessary tools

  • Dutch oven or roasting pan with lid
  • Measuring cup
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

Allergy details

Review each component for potential allergens and consider consulting with a healthcare provider if you're unsure about certain ingredients.
  • Contains onion from dry soup mix.
  • May contain gluten, soy, or other allergens depending on soup mix brand—check labels if sensitive.

Nutritional information (per portion)

These values are estimates only and shouldn't replace professional medical guidance.
  • Energy Value: 340
  • Fats: 18 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4 g
  • Protein Content: 38 g