VIRAL 3 INGREDIENT CHUCK ROAST
on Apr 07, 2023, Updated Jul 18, 2026
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This Viral Chuck Roast is my most popular recipe to date! It’s one of the simplest meals you can whip up with literally only three ingredients.
This chuck roast recipe is incredibly versatile and SO low maintenance.
It’s literally only 3 ingredients: chuck roast, salt, and pepper.
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Pin ItSo many of you have fallen in love with this meal and I’ve received hundreds of messages and photos of how you enjoy it with your family and friends!
It’s become a weekly staple for so many people!
If you’re intimidated by cooking a roast, give this one a try! The technique couldn’t be easier and it requires zero prep. Can’t wait to see what you make out of it!
Ingredients for This Viral Easy Chuck Roast Recipe
- 1 boneless beef chuck roast, about 4 pounds
- Salt
- Pepper
That’s literally it.
How to Make BEEF CHUCK ROAST IN THE OVEN
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Season the chuck roast generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Be generous here!
Add the roast to a Dutch Oven or baking dish with a lid. (Alternatively, you can use aluminum foil if you don’t have a baking dish with a lid).
Bake for 1 hour per pound of meat, so a 4 pound chuck roast will bake for around 4 hours.
When the roast is done, remove it from the oven and shred into large chunks using two forks. If the roast isn’t literally falling apart, put it back in the oven for another 30 minutes or so.
Once the roast easily shreds, Increase the oven temperature to 425°F.
Toss the shredded pieces in the rendered fat and place back in the oven, uncovered for up to 25 minutes. This will crisp up the edges and make it truly irresistible.
Check it at the 10-15 minute mark to make sure it’s not getting too crispy.
Serve and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions For Making the Easiest Chuck Roast Recipe
Cooking a chuck roast is really forgiving so there really isn’t much that can go wrong! But I do get asked a lot of questions about this recipe:
Though I tend to prefer the oven so that it gets crispy at the end, others have found success making this in a crockpot. Just cook it on high heat for 6 hours or on low heat for 8 hours.
You also could cook it in the crockpot during the day, and then when you’re ready to serve, do the final roast at 425°F for up to 25 minutes to get those crispy edges.
If you have a Dutch Oven (I love my Le Creuset Heritage Rectangular Casserole), definitely use that. If not, you can absolutely use a baking dish with a lid. Or, use a baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.
You don’t have to take the extra step to brown the meat. That said, if you want to sear it ahead of time you certainly can.
Because a chuck roast is generally a nice fatty cut of meat, there’s no need to add any additional oil, broth, or water to the pan either. The meat will roast slowly in the oven and all those delicious juices will help keep the meat tender and moist.
A 4-pound roast will typically serve 6 to 7 people. I typically account for 1/2 pounds of meat per person. So even if you’re not hosting people, you’ll have plenty of leftovers throughout the week for easy lunches and dinners.
When picking a roast I like to look for a fatty cut with a lot of marbling. I don’t always have the best of luck with grass-fed roasts… most are just too lean and tough. The important thing is using a nice fatty roast or else it will never get to the point where it shreds easily. If you’re finding that it isn’t shredding as easily as you’d like, it’s likely a tougher cut of meat. Next time, just look for something that is more on the fattier side.
Try This Chuck Roast With:
- Viral Chuck Roast Tacos
- Honey Glazed Carrots
- Herb and Maple Roasted Cauliflower
- Crispy Baked Salt and Vinegar Potatoes
- Homemade Baked Beans (Refined Sugar-Free)
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VIRAL CHUCK ROAST
Ingredients
- 1 boneless beef chuck roast, about 4 pounds (see note 1)
- Salt and pepper, to generously season
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Season your roast generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Add to a baking dish, cover, and bake for 1 hour per pound of meat.
- Remove the roast from the oven and shred it into large chunks using two forks. If the roast is not pulling apart easily, put it back in the oven for 30 min.
- Raise the oven heat to 425° F.
- Toss the shredded pieces of roast around in the rendered fat and place it back in the oven, uncovered, for 25 minutes until you see some nice crispy caramelized ends.
- Serve and ENJOY!!
Notes
- Pick a nice fatty roast otherwise it won’t shred easily.
- While this recipe only requires salt and pepper, I make different versions depending on what else I’m serving. Taco seasoning, for example, is a great addition especially if you’re planning to make my Viral Chuck Roast Tacos. Season however you like — the important thing here is the cooking technique.
- I like to cook my roast in an enameled cast iron that has a fitted lid but you are welcome to use a glass baking dish and can cover with aluminum foil. Others have had success with a crock pot on high for 4-6 hours, or low for 8 hours.
- I like to serve this with roasted potatoes and carrots. Just cube them up, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper and roast at 425°F for 45 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’ve never tried to make a chuck roast, but i was convinced to try it when i saw this recipe and i am so excited with how it turned out!! my husband was so stoked and loved it. this is such an easy low effort high reward meal, it will be a new staple in our household now. thanks so much for sharing, i love your recipes!
So glad you loved it, Cosi! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and a review.
How do I adjust the time/temp for two smaller chuck roasts (about 1 lb each)?
I would still start with an hour (1 hour per pound of meat) as long as your pan isn’t overcrowded! Then check it every 15-30 minutes after that if it’s not easily shredding. Let me know how it turns out.
Out of ALL the chuck roast recipes ive tried, this is the best one. My family loves it & its the easiest thing to make.
Thank you so much, Shanon! That makes me so happy to hear you and the family love it!