How to Grill Roast Beef

Print This Recipe

Sliced Grilled Roast BeefSliced Grilled Roast Beef

Hello!

Welcome to How to Grill Roast Beef 101.

In this course, I will show you the essentials to making a moist, delicious roast beef right on your grill.

In this course, we will discuss:

  • How to Select the Best Cut for Grilled Roast Beef
  • How to Set up Your Grill
  • How to Grill Roast Beef

How to Select the Best Cut for Grilled Roast Beef

One of the most critical aspects of grilling a roast beef is meat selection. Why do you think prime rib has such a high reputation?

Choose the right cut, and you'll be in roasted meat heaven

Choose the wrong cut, and you'll be eating a dry, rigid piece of meat.

Not what you want!

You want a roast that's tender, juicy, and full of flavor.

That's why you want a top sirloin roast.

Why?

A top sirloin roast is very flavorful. It has a great beefy flavor. 

It doesn't have a strong or livery flavor like other inexpensive cuts.

It's also very tender. 

If you close your eyes, you'll think you're eating prime rib, but you won't break the bank to do it.

A top sirloin roast is the best of both worlds; great taste at a reasonable price.

Uncooked Top Sirloin RoastUncooked Top Sirloin Roast

How to Set up Your Grill

The other aspect of how to grill roast beef is your cooking technique.

You want to grill your roast beef using the indirect method. This ensures you have a nice crust on the outside, while still cooking the roast to perfection.

If you tried to grill a big hunk of meat directly, meaning right over the fire, it would burn to a crisp before it got anywhere close to being done.

If you're using a kettle grill like the Weber, pile all your coals on one side of the grill. Then place a drip pan next to the coals on the charcoal grate.

See the picture below.

Indirect Grilling Setup for a Charcoal GrillIndirect Grilling Setup for a Weber Kettle Grill

Next, place the roast on the cooking grate above the drip pan. The lid should go on the grill with the vents over the meat. This draws the heat and smoke towards your roast.

For a gas grill, set your primary burner or burners at medium to medium-high.  Cook the roast over the side where the burners are not on. A drip pan is not required for gas grills.

You want to grill your roast beef at a temperature of 325°F - 375°F—the perfect temperature for roasting meats.

Why?

Grilling a roast at this temperature ensures that the meat will have a nice crust and still be tender and juicy.

When cooked at higher temps, the meat cooks too fast; the proteins seize up quickly and squeeze out the meat's moisture. Once this happens, your beautiful roast becomes dry and grainy.

Grilled Roast BeefGrilled Roast Beef

Print This Recipe

How to Grill Roast Beef

  • 1 4 to 5 lb. top sirloin roast

Roast Beef Rub 

  • 1 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 tsp Morton kosher salt
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika

Creamy Horseradish Sauce (Courtesy of natashaskitchen.com)

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 Tbsps. prepared horseradish, drained
  • 2 Tbsps. mayonnaise
  • 1 Tbsp. finely chopped chives
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp Morton kosher salt
  • 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

  1. Unwrap your top sirloin roast and place it on a piece of plastic wrap that is large enough to wrap the roast in.
  2. Place the rub ingredients in a small bowl and mix to combine.
  3. Sprinkle the rub evenly all over the roast.
  4. Wrap the roast with a double layer of plastic wrap.
  5. Place the roast on a plate to catch any leaks and refrigerate overnight.
  6. The next day; Combine ingredients for the creamy horseradish sauce and place it in the refrigerator while your roast cooks.
  7. To grill the roast in a kettle grill with charcoal; If you're using a 22" kettle grill, the most popular size, place 50 charcoal briquettes in the grill and light. When the coals are ready, push them to one side of the grill. Place a drip pan on the charcoal grate next to the coals. I do this after I clean the grate. Add 16 more briquettes every hour. 
  8. To grill the roast in a gas grill, turn all the burners on high for ten minutes to heat the grill. Turn off all the burners except the primary burner(s). 
  9. Your target temperature for either grill is 325°F-375°F. The lower the temp, the more evenly the roast will cook.
  10. Remove your roast from the fridge and unwrap.
  11. For a charcoal grill, place your roast over the drip pan. For a gas grill, place the roast over the side with the burners turned off.
  12. Rotate the roast while cooking to ensure it cooks evenly. Face the roast's broadside towards the heat source for the first third of the cooking time. Then turn the opposite side of the roast towards the fire for the second third of the cooking time. Turn the roast broadside again for the final third of the cooking time.
  13. Grill for 15 minutes per pound until the roast reaches 120°F for rare, 130°F for medium-rare. The roast will rise in temperature about 5 degrees with a ten-minute rest. Don't let it rest too long, or it will overcook itself with the residual heat.
  14. Slice and serve with the creamy horseradish sauce if desired. Enjoy!
Grilled Roast Beef DinnerGrilled Roast Beef Dinner

I hope you've enjoyed this course on How to Grill Roast Beef and found it helpful.

If you have any questions or comments about how to grill roast beef, please use the Recipe Talk Form below or contact me here.

Print This Recipe

Recipe Talk.

Be a Barbecue Know-Hower!

Do you have a question or comment about this recipe? Enter it below.

Have you've tried this recipe? Give us your review on it.

You'll be helping everyone who reads this page. And who knows, you may become famous!

Write your comments about this page in the box below.