5 Beef Arm Roast Recipes to Make Delicious Slow-Cooked Meals

Also known as a chuck arm roast or arm pot roast, the beef arm roast is an ideal candidate for slow cooking among all types of beef cuts. It combines the best of the shoulder section’s beefy flavor at an affordable price. So break out your crock pots, because it’s time to get roasting!

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What Does Beef Arm Roast Taste Like?

Beef arm roast comes from the chuck primal, the front shoulder area of the cow. This gives it an intensely beefy flavor, with cuts from this area most often used for slow cooking. Beef arm roasts are also known as “seven bone roast”, since your arm looks like a seven when bent.

If you’re having trouble finding this cut of meat at your local grocery store, ask the butcher if they can order it in for you. You can marinate the meat before cooking it, or you can season it with a dry rub. The lower and slower you cook a beef arm roast, the better it tastes. And since it’s such an economical cut (though not as tough as other roasts), you can afford to spend some extra time preparing it.

A beef arm roast, served with mashed potatoes and gravy, makes for an excellent Monday night dinner. After you’re done roasting it, think about shredding those slices of roast beef and making roast beef lunch sandwiches with great condiments for the rest of the week. Both bone-in and bone-out cuts of beef arm roast have a similar flavor. Bone-in cuts will add a slightly stronger texture and flavor to pot roast preparations, but bone-out cuts are easier to slice and trim before serving.

What Is a Beef Arm Roast Good For?

A beef arm roast is a great cut of meat for when you have lots of people around and want to feed them all in one shot. It can be made in a variety of ways, but our favorite way is by braising the roast in red wine for five hours so it’s tender and moist on the inside, while also giving it a delicious crispy crust on the outside.

This versatile cut has less fat than other cuts like brisket (notably a flat cut) or chuck, which makes it an ideal choice for dieters too. If you’re wondering what to do with your leftovers you can make pot pies or stroganoff later! This type of beef does need to be cooked low and slow (either cooked over low heat on the stovetop or baked in an oven for several hours), so it’s perfect for winter meals.

How to Cook Beef Arm Roast

Whether you go for a bone-in or bone-out beef arm roast, it’s key to cook it low and slow in plenty of liquid. Start with a base of sautéed vegetables, add salt, spices, and beef stock, and you’ve got all the basics of a perfect roast.

If you have a slow cooker like a Crock Pot, this will make the preparation quick and easy. But even if you only have an oven and a deep pan, I’ll teach you how to perfectly cook a beef arm roast. And after explaining those roasting methods, I’ll give you three different ways to add unique flavor and textures to your roast.

Slow Cooking an Arm Roast

Slow cookers are the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it method for weeknight cooking. Take half an hour in the morning, and you can have a delicious pot roast waiting for you when you get home. Here’s how I cook beef arm roast in my slow cooker:

• Give your vegetables a quick saute on the stovetop, then add them to the bottom of your slow cooker.
• Rub your beef arm roast with a few teaspoons of salt and pepper, then add it to the slow cooker too.
• Cover the roast halfway with beef stock, set your slow cooker to low heat, and cover.
• Cook for 8 to 12 hours. You’re looking for a tender, fall-apart texture.

It is as simple as that! Once your roast is cooked, transfer it to a cutting board and trim off a few thick slices. Then pull a few vegetables out of the cooking liquid to serve alongside the roast beef. If you’d like, you can take an extra step and use some of the cooking juices to make a simple brown gravy, too. Just add plenty of butter to the reduced juices, and then whisk in a few tablespoons of flour to thicken.

Oven Cooking an Arm Roast

Though a slow cooker simplifies your prep for roast beef, an oven is a quicker way of preparing roasts on the weekend. Because your oven will always start at a higher temperature than a slow cooker, getting a truly tender roast requires a few adjustments. The main thing you can do to achieve a pleasant texture is add extra fat, usually in the form of a generous portion of olive oil.

Here’s how I cook beef arm roast in the oven:

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a large Dutch oven, sauté diced onion, carrot, and celery until browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and set aside.
• Add a little oil to your Dutch oven, then sear your beef arm roast on all sides.
• Return your veggies to the Dutch oven, and add stock to cover the roast about halfway.
• Cover your Dutch oven and transfer it to your preheated oven. Cook for 5 to 6 hours, until the liquid is reduced and the meat is fall-apart tender.

Pot roast cooked this way is especially good served over egg noodles. The shredded meat is excellent for making Shepherd’s Pie later in the week, too.

Three Ways to Spice Up Your Roast Beef

Now that you have a general idea of how to cook a beef arm roast, let’s get to the fun part: Adding tons of flavor to your pot roast. Here are my three favorite ways to turn an ordinary roast into a dinnertime show-stopper:

• Add Red Wine: Mix red wine like Merlot or Pinot Noir into your stock for tender meat and vibrant vegetables. Pair with crusty bread and the same wine used in the dish.
• Get Creative With Vegetables: Enhance the classic carrots and onions by adding celery, bell peppers, or baby potatoes for a richer, savory flavor.
• Add Bacon: Sauté bacon with your vegetables, then sear the roast in the leftover bacon grease for a smoky, savory twist.

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