Braise a chuck roast in brewed coffee low and slow for a simple, flavorful Sunday night supper.
Sunday suppers when I was growing up often included roast beef. I have the old roasting pan (an old Mirro model) that Grandma’s beef roast and carrots went into. The vision of perfectly roasted and browned carrots remains vivid in my memory, and I can almost taste their sweet and savory perfection. I’ve never been able to replicate Bubba’s roasted carrots, and I miss their taste, almost as much as I miss Sunday dinners with her and Grandpa, Mom, and Dad.
Not surprisingly, a good roast beef ranks high for me on the list of favorite comfort foods. Rich gravy, tender and satisfying beef, and of course, mashed potatoes—it doesn’t get homier than this. Bubba remains the Queen of the Roast, but I think she’d love this Coffee-Braised Beef Roast because coffee was her beverage of choice.
A plus with this recipe is it’s made in your slow cooker! During this busy time of year, it’s great to have a meal in the making while you’re running errands, cleaning/decorating, or finishing up at the office. There’s very little prep, and cleanup is quick! The beef marinates overnight, so pop that into the refrigerator and the next morning, it’s ready for the slow cooker.
If you’re not a coffee drinker, rest assured the coffee flavor is very subtle here, almost to the point of not being recognizable. What the coffee does is add a depth to the beef’s flavor. For coffee drinkers, recipes such as this provide a way to use any leftover coffee from the morning brew! Let’s face it; coffee is not cheap, and if you’re like me, you’re often on the lookout for ways to use up the last drop. I think we often forget about coffee as an ingredient to our savory cooking, but it works very well here. I recently made Coffee-Braised Beef Roast to serve at the launch party for my new book about coffee and it was a big hit with everybody, so let’s get cooking!
To make Coffee-Braised Beef Roast, which yields 10 servings, you'll need these ingredients:
1 cup cider vinegar
4 garlic cloves, crushed, divided
1 boneless beef chuck roast (4 to 5 pounds), trimmed
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup strong brewed coffee
1 cup beef broth
1 medium onion, sliced
3 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup cold water
First, the chuck roast needs to marinate overnight. In a large shallow dish, combine vinegar and 2 garlic cloves. Add roast; turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning occasionally.
Drain roast, discarding marinade. Pat roast dry; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bring a large skillet up to medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and brown beef on each side. Place roast in a slow cooker; add coffee, broth, onion and remaining 2 cloves garlic. Cook, covered, on low until meat is tender, about 7 hours.
I used the beef to make sliders and served with horseradish sauce (delicious). If you want to serve with gravy, strain cooking juices, discarding onion and garlic. Skim fat. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth; gradually stir into slow cooker. Cook, covered, on high until gravy is thickened, about 30 minutes. Slice and serve.
I hope you’ll give this recipe a try. It’s a tasty alternative to the traditional pot roast. Leftovers freeze well or can be used the next day in sandwiches. (What about open-faced beef sandwiches on garlic bread with melted provolone? Oooh, baby!)
Looking for more easy, hearty slow-cooker meals? Here are three recipes for you!
A tasty yet simple meal for now is Bratwurst Braised with Sauerkraut. You can enjoy the best of summer barbecue anytime of the year with my Easy Barbecued Beef Sliders. What's a more satisfying cold-weather meal than short ribs? You have to try these Slow-Cooker Beef Short Ribs.
About the blog
Three Women in the Kitchen is an award-winning food blog offering today’s home cooks comforting, hearty recipes with a personal touch. The website also pays tribute to Deborah’s mother, Katie Reinhardt, and paternal grandmother, Dorothy Reinhardt (the “three women” in the kitchen). Whether you’re an experienced or a novice cook, you’ll find inspiration here to feed your families and warm your heart. Subscribe today so you won’t miss a single delicious detail.
