Dinner is ready to be leveled up with this smoke-kissed, tender, and juicy beef roast on a grill. This simple recipe is so much more delicious than oven-roasted beef and is perfect for any skill level. You won't need any bbq sauce! 

Sliced grilled roast beef showing tender medium pink slices on a cutting board
In this article:

When you think of roast beef, you probably think of low and slow cooking in a roasting pan filled with veggies on a crisp fall afternoon. You probably don't think of an open flame, charcoal, and a barbecue. Grill-roasted beef? Who woulda thought?

Until now.

A roast holds masses of flavor at a less expensive price. It also comes in a manageable size for dinner, with loads of room for a few inventive meals from the leftovers. 

Classic oven-cooked roast beef is hard to top in the down-home comfort food category, but after making grill-roasted beef, you may never go back.

So if you haven’t tried cooking on the grill yet, this is the perfect opportunity for you to do so.

What is a Roast on the Grill?

It's exactly what it sounds like. Instead of cooking your roast in the slow cooker for hours on end, you char it up on the grill. You get tons of great flavor, just like a pot roast. This type of roast requires some slow cooking on the grill, both in direct heat and indirect heat. They usually take about 20 minutes per pound to cook, so have your meat thermometer ready for checking!

What you'll need

First of all, start with good beef. This doesn't mean the most expensive cut. 

You can find a great cut that is affordable, overlooked, and loaded with flavor!

A sirloin tip roast is a classic. It’s a lean cut from the round (which is a great muscle for flavor).

Because it’s a well-used muscle, it isn’t as tender as others, so it’s ideal for a slower cook. It is one of the best for grilling, especially when it’s all said and done and sliced thin for sandwiches or… just for nibbling.

Grilling roast beef is easier than you think. And, duh, you can do it outdoors. Double win, right? You'll get a seasoned roast, and you can enjoy the outdoors all at the same time.

How to Grill a Roast Beef

Grilling a roast can be intimidating but don’t let that deter you!  Most people love grilling for thin cuts, like steaks and burgers, where some heat and a few fancy spatula flips can make magic happen. But grilling a whole roast can be an idea that many never even take on.

When it comes to grilling cuts of beef roast, there really isn’t too much of a distinction between turning the oven on and letting things get preheated. It really is simple!

In this recipe, we are using a charcoal grill.

We will be creating a charcoal heat source that is able to withstand the continuance of the cooking and grilling while the lid is closed so that we can have that convection heat for even cooking that is so crucial. You'll place the roast on the hot side of the grill to start and move it to the cooler side after some time. The high temperatures will create a little heat oven to cook the meat.

grill-roasted beef on a wooden cutting board

Expert Recipe Tips

Cut thick slices

Once the roast is done, cut the meat at an angle making thick cuts across the meat. The tender roast should be cut very easily! Place roast on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to make your cuts. 

Cook on indirect heat

After getting the roast going, move the pan to the cooler side of the grill to cook slowly. You will get tender meat this way from your top sirloin roast. This is the best way to get a good sear on the meat before it cooks thoroughly.

Leftovers and Reheating

When you are done eating, store your meat in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 days. Reheating is as simple as popping it in the microwave or warming the slices on the grill for a few minutes. You can also use a conventional oven to warm the pieces of rump roast. 

Looking for fun ways to flare up your leftovers? Try making Roast Beef Wrap with Dill Slaw, Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches,  or Beef Pho Unfiltered

What to Serve with Grilled Roast

This roast made on the grill is an amazing main dish. Grab some of your favorite sides to pair with them, including slow cooker baked beans. Don't forget home-style mashed potatoes or crispy baked french fries. Carrots and potatoes are always a great addition when we're talking about a larger cut of meat like this.

Slices of roast beef thats been grilled showing pink center for medium internal temp on a wooden cutting board.

FAQs

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK A ROAST ON THE GRILL?

First, you have to take the grill to a balanced temperature for 30 minutes. How long the roast will take to cook is dependent on the size and the heat on the grill. Obviously, the bigger the weight is, the longer it is to cook.

This is where an internal thermometer becomes super helpful. 

A 3-pound roast with a grill around 350-400 degrees will take about a one-hour cooking time to reach an inner temperature of 125 degrees and 20 minutes to rest before slicing. Use an instant-read thermometer to determine the internal temperature. 

SHOULD I USE A SIRLOIN OR A CHUCK ROAST?

What is the difference between sirloin and beef chuck roast? Is one better than the other? The obvious answer is they are cuts from different areas of the cow, but more importantly, this is why one is preferred over the other for grilling. The size of the roast also matters, of course, so take that into consideration.

The sirloin will be better for this recipe because it is more tender and doesn’t need extra moisture.  A chuck roast steak is more appropriate for the low and slow oven roasting method or for cooking to shred (a higher internal temperature).

Grill-roasted beef is a classic beef sirloin roast, cooked to perfection on a charcoal or gas grill. A bit healthier and so much more delicious than oven-roasted beef. \ PassTheSushi.com

More Recipes you will Love, including grilling recipes: 

Seriously. Want to level up your backyard barbecue? Take tailgating to the max? In less than 90 minutes, you are ready to serve your guests. 

Slice it up into thick slabs or thin slices for sandwiches dripping with flavor. This grill-roasted beef recipe is what you need the next time you pull out the charcoal. 

Don't worry; you can also use a gas grill to get the job done. Your rib roast will still have that smoky flavor, and the delicious roast will make for a tasty meal. It's enough to feed a small family and more! 

Also, if you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card to help out the next reader!

📖 Recipe

Grill-roasted beef is a classic beef sirloin roast, cooked to perfection on a charcoal or gas grill. A bit healthier and so much more delicious than oven-roasted beef.

Grill-Roasted Beef

Grill-roasted beef is a classic beef sirloin roast, cooked to perfection on a charcoal or gas grill. A bit healthier and so much more delicious than oven-roasted beef.
4.68 from 68 votes
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American
Author: Kita Roberts
1 hour 15 minutes
Serves: 1 Roast

Ingredients

  • 6 garlic cloves - minced
  • 2 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
  • 4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon pepper
  • 3 lbs top sirloin roast - trimmed of all visible fat
  • 1 13 x 9 inch disposable aluminum roasting pan

Instructions

  • Combine the garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper in a bowl.
  • Pat the roast dry with paper towels and sprinkle evenly with salt mixture.
  • Wrap the roast with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 18 to 24 hours.
  • Punch fifteen ¼-inch holes in the center of the roasting pan, which should be about the size of the roast, and set aside.

For a charcoal grill:

  • Open the bottom grill vents completely.
  • Light a large chimney starter half filled with charcoal briquettes (50 briquettes; 3 quarts).
  • When the coals are hot, spread them in an even layer over one-third of the grill.
  • Set the cooking grate in place, cover and open the lid vents halfway. Heat the grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

For a gas grill:

  • Turn all burners to high, cover and heat the grill until got, about 15 minutes.
  • Turn the primary burner to medium and turn off the other burners. (Adjust the primary burner as needed to maintain the grill temperature around 325 degrees F.)

Once Your Grill is Ready

  • Clean and oil the cooking grate.
  • Place the roast on the hotter part of the grill and cook (covered if using gas) until well browned on all sides, about 10 minutes, turning as needed.
  • Place the roast in the pan over the holes and transfer the pan to the cooler part of the grill.
  • Cover (positioning the lid vents over the meat if using charcoal) and cook until the roast registers 125 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer (for medium-rare), 40 to 60 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through.
  • Transfer the roast to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, tent loosely with foil, and let rest for 20 minutes. Transfer the roast to a carving board and cut across the grain into thin slices.

Notes

from America’s Test Kitchen Light & Healthy 2011

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 1114mg

Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.

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roasted beef on cutting board

28 Comments

  1. Belinda @zomppa says:

    Tough to beat a good roast - especially on these upcoming cooler days!

  2. Laurie @SimplyScratch says:

    Umm hell yeah! This looks soooo good. I can't wait to see the leftovers!!

  3. Chris @ TheKeenanCookBook says:

    Love roast beef, though never made it on the grill. Gonna have to give it a shot before I pack the grill away for winter. Roast beef leftovers are probably the best leftovers in the world, imo btw 🙂

  4. Oh girl! I may have to start eating red meat more often now! This roast sounds incredible - and I bet the leftovers make wonderful sandwiches!

  5. Blog is the New Black says:

    Brilliant idea, friend!

  6. Eating Deliciously says:

    Great idea to use the grill! I'm not ready to put my grill away yet so I'll be making this very soon.

  7. Oh my this looks so good. It's cooked to perfection. Think I need to grill this week.

  8. Stephanie says:

    I love the idea of using the grill to make this roast beef!! It looks so juicy and delicious! And you can throw it together so quickly! Love it.

  9. Wow this looks amazing! i've only done the slow roasting but this looks fantastic!

  10. Parsley Sage says:

    BAM! That's one sexy ass chunk of beef. Color me stupid, I didn't even realize you could roast beef on a grill. Bet the leftovers are genius!

  11. Awesome!

    Always better on the grill. And even in the midst of the Wisconsin winters, my grill never gets put away.

  12. Isabelle @ Crumb says:

    Love this! Roast beef is one of my favourite comfort foods, but I never make it in the summer because I can't stand to run the oven for that long when it's hot outside. So using a grill instead of the oven? Genius!

  13. Right up my street, love it! I never put the barbeque away and have been known to use it when 25 deg F! (-3 C). We always do our Christmas turkey in the Weber. The beef looks stunningly tender and nice and grilled on the outside. I'm hungry now.

  14. Jamie @ the unseasoned wok says:

    Kita this meat looks like it's perfectly done. My husband would love you. Whenever it comes to beef, he handles it because no one can get it as perfect as he can.

  15. Liz @ Southern Charm says:

    Yum ... talk about mouth watering!

  16. Lisa @ The Cooking Bride says:

    Just saw this on Tastespotting and I had to click over because this looks SOOOO good!

  17. Cassie @ Bake Your Day says:

    That looks totally perfect and I love the simple seasoning. We usually stick to olive oil, salt and pepper to season red meat and it's always awesome. The garlic sounds like a great addition too!

  18. Stunning! It's cooked to perfection! (great pics as always)

  19. Nami | Just One Cookbook says:

    This roasted beef is perfectly done. I don't have a roasted beef recipe, so I'm keeping this recipe to try one day.

  20. Great idea--it looks mouth watering. Rosemary? I am there!

  21. Kimberly (Unrivaledkitch) says:

    only you can make a huge chunk of meat look like a platter of beautiful love. MMmmmm beef!

  22. This looks like a perfect roast beef!

  23. I can't find any comment on here from someone who actually made this recipe (yes, we all know it looks amazing lol), so I'll give the first one...Beyond 5 stars! This roast turned out better than any other we've ever cooked in an oven or slow cooker, amazing flavour but also cooked perfectly at all places (this was always difficult for me before) easy too. Added a couple wood chips to the bbq too. After years of searching for perfect roast recipe, I've found it, thanks:D

  24. Mary-Jo Downie says:

    The BBQ roast beef was delicious

  25. Made this this evening, and even though we had a cheaper roast, this turned out perfect. I took the roast off the grill at 120F and let it sit for about 20 minutes. It looked like it came out of a food magazine 🙂 Will definitely do again!

    1. Thank you so much for leaving a comment, Robin! I am glad you enjoyed this one.

  26. Step 1: Turn all burgers to high??

    1. Yep, preheating the grill. Further down, there are instructions to reduce the heat before putting the roast in. Hope you guys have a great meal!

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