Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (2024)

Delicious Beef Rouladen is rolls of tender, braised beef wrapped around bacon and match-sticked carrots, onions and pickles, smothered in delicious gravy. It is traditional German comfort food perfect for a cozy meal on a cold, gray day!

Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (1)

I’m so excited to add this simple Rouladen recipe to compliation of my favorite International foods. I can thank my Dad (who lived in Germany as a young adult), and some good German friends of ours from growing up, for my love of good German food!

In Germany, Rouladen are often served as Sunday dinner, the way the Brits do a post roast. Both the mustard and the slower, longer cook time with moist heat (braising) make for fall-apart tenderness in the meat. Getting the right meat cut to the right thickness 1/8″-1/4″ and dimensions 8-10″ long and 4-5″ wide is important so it’s best to have your butcher do it for you. Particularly in Pennsylvania and other parts of the Northeast and Midwest traditionally settled by Germans, this dish is popular and butchers know exactly what you need.

As a point of interest, “roulade” is actually French for something that is rolled up and this dish is also popular in neighboring areas that share a culinary history, particularly Poland and Hungary. If you like this kind of cooking you should definitely check out our Porkolt (Hungarian Stew) recipe.

Ingredients for German Rouladen:

  • 2-3 lb. Round Roast (sliced length-wise to an 1/8″ thickness)
  • Bacon, if desired.
  • 1 onion (thinly sliced).
  • 2 carrots (match sticked).
  • 2 dill pickles (match sticked).
  • Mustard: German style if available, or Dijon.
  • Salt and Pepper.
  • Toothpicks.

How to make German Rouladen:

Lay out each slice of beef, pound lightly with a meat tenderizer (optional), schmear generously with mustard and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (2)

Add fillings: Place a slice of bacon (optional) on each slice of beef and distribute the match-sticked veggies (pickles, carrots and onions).

Roll up tightly and secure with a toothpick or two.

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Brown the rouladen on each side in a hot Dutch oven. Add a little water or broth and simmer for 2 hours.

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Make gravy from the juices. Remove Rouladen and bring juices to a boil.Thicken with cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water.

Serve covered in gravy. Reserve some gravy for the Spaetzle or potatoes.

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Alternate Slow Cooker method:

To have dinner almost ready when you get home and for rouladen that are particularly tender, place the browned rouladen in the slow cooker on low and allow to cook while you are at work!

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Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead:

Raw rouladen can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for the next day. Cooked rouladen can be stored in the fridge for several days. Ideally, leave out for half an hour to an hour prior to reheating at 250 degrees for 25 minutes, covered.

To Freeze:

Rouladen can be frozen raw or cooked. Freeze on a cookie sheet or in a roasting pan, then transfer to a freezer bag or other freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge overnight.

What to serve with Rouladen:

Treat your family to an authentic German meal by serving Beef rouladen with Spaetzle and Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)! Germans also serve Rouladen with peeled, halved, boiled yellow potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice. All are exquisite when drenched in the from scratch beef gravy that is a side product of the recipe.

Recipe

Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (7)

4.99 from 50 votes

Rouladen

Delicious Rouladen is rolls of tender, braised beef wrapped around bacon and match-sticked carrots, onions and pickles, smothered in delicious gravy.

Author Lauren Allen

Course Main Course

Cuisine German

Servings 8

Calories 273

Cost 7

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Total 2 hours hrs 35 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs Round Roast* (have butcher slice thinly- length wise @ ⅛ “ thick)
  • 8-12 slices bacon , optional
  • 1 onion very thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots very thinly sliced, julienne
  • 2 whole dill pickles thinly sliced,
  • 1/2 cup German mustard* or dijon
  • Salt and Pepper
  • toothpicks
  • 2 Tablespoons butter or oil , or a combination
  • 1 cup water or beef broth

Instructions

  • Cut the onion, carrot and pickle in match-stick style pieces.

  • Lay out the thin slices of meat and each spread generously with mustard and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

    Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (8)

  • Place bacon on top (if using) and then pickle, carrot and onion along the meat. Roll up tightly and secure with toothpicks.

    Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (9)

  • Heat a large dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add butter or oil. Add cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides.

    Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (10)

  • Add 1 cup water or beef broth to the pot and scape up any browned bits from the pan. Cover pot and simmer on low for 2 hours.

    Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (11)

  • Remove Rouladen to a plate and bring juices in the pot to a boil. Thicken with cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tablespoon of water. Taste gravy and add additional salt, pepper, or beef bouillon granules, if desired.

    Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (12)

  • Remove toothpicks from the Rouladen and serve with gravy spooned on top.

    Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (13)

Notes

Beef for Rouladen: Use top round roast (sometimes called topside or beef round roast) beef for Rouladen, and more importantly, ask your butcher to cut it for you! You want long thin slices about ¼ inches thick and 6-10 inches long and 4-5 inches wide.

Mustard: I’ve found really great German Mustard at Wold Market.

Mushrooms: Could be sautéed and added to (or cooked with) the gravy, if desired.

Serve Rouladen with: Spaetzle and Red Cabbage (Rotkohl) or peeled, halved, boiled yellow potatoes, mashed potatoes or rice.

Make Ahead Instructions: Raw rouladen can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for the next day. Cooked rouladen can be stored in the fridge for several days. Ideally, leave out for half an hour to an hour prior to reheating at 250 degrees for 25 minutes, covered.

Freezing Instructions: Rouladen can be frozen raw or cooked. Freeze on a cookie sheet or in a roasting pan, then transfer to a freezer bag or other freezer-friendly container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw in the fridge overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 29gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 399mgPotassium: 521mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 2568IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 3mg

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Published

Categories

  • Beef Recipes
  • Freezer Friendly
  • High Protein Recipes
  • Main Dish

About The Author

Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (18)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Easy Rouladen Recipe - Tastes Better from Scratch (2024)

FAQs

What cut of meat is rouladen made from? ›

Beef for Rouladen: Use top round roast (sometimes called topside or beef round roast) beef for Rouladen, and more importantly, ask your butcher to cut it for you! You want long thin slices about ¼ inches thick and 6-10 inches long and 4-5 inches wide.

Can you bake rouladen in the oven? ›

Pour in the beef stock, season well with salt and pepper, and then add the beef rouladen back into the pan. Bake in the oven at 325 for about 90 minutes or until the beef is very tender. Remove the cooked beef set aside and strain the braising liquid into a medium-size saucepot.

What part of Germany does rouladen come from? ›

Region: all over Germany, apparently French origins.

As so often in German cooking, Rouladen are a simple dish. Combined with sides like dumplings and cabbage they make up a true Germany classic.

How to reheat rouladen? ›

You can prepare the rouladen the day before up to the point of making the gravy. Store everything in an airtight container in the fridge. The next day re-heat over medium low heat, either in the oven or stove top until the meat is warmed through. Then remove the rouladen and make the gravy as described above.

Why is my Rouladen tough? ›

Cooking and finish temps for rouladen

As we need some collagen breakdown in the top round (and the bacon), we want to get these rolls up to 203°F (95°C). If we don't make it that far, they're likely to be tough and chewy, not tender and yielding.

How to cut roast for Rouladen? ›

Open the roast up like a book and cut one side to 'unroll' the roast to be about ¾-inch thick piece of meat. Do the same with the other side so that you end up with a rectangular piece of meat that is about 3/4 inch thick. Using a meat mallet (tenderizer), pound the roast to about 1/2-inch thickness.

What's the difference between roulade and Rouladen? ›

The meat is usually a very thinly cut beef that has been rolled around a filling, seared, and simmered for a long time in a gravy. In French it is referred to as a Roulade which is also the German name for a singular roll. We call them Rouladen, like the German plural, as we never make just one.

How long to bake meat? ›

Oven Roasting Guidelines
beef cutoven temperature (preheated)Approximate Total Cooking TIme
Sirloin Tip Center Roast325°FMedium Rare: 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours
Rump Roast, Bottom Round Roast325°FMedium Rare: 1-1/4 to 1-3/4 hours
Eye of Round Roast325°FMedium Rare: 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours
8 more rows

What to serve with roulade? ›

Serve the sliced roulade with the mushroom sauce spooned over the top, and the Italian couscous on the side. You could also serve it along with a simple green salad or maybe some crusty Italian bread. Whatever you do, don't forget about the wine.

What does Rouladen mean in English? ›

A roulade (/ruːˈlɑːd/) is a dish of filled rolled meat or pastry. Roulade can be savory or sweet. Swiss roll is an example of a sweet roulade. Traditionally found in various European cuisines, the term roulade originates from the French word rouler, meaning "to roll".

What is the national dish of Germany a roast is also called? ›

Sauerbraten is a German roast of marinated meat, traditionally beef. Since it's generally made with tougher cuts (usually the rump roast), the meat is marinated for days at a time. The roast is sliced and served with a gravy.

What wine to serve with rouladen? ›

Pairing wines with Beef Rouladen involves balancing its rich, layered flavors. Recommended choices include German Pinot Noir, Margaux, Amarone, and Corbieres.

What are other names for rouladen? ›

Interesting Rouladen Facts

Some of the interesting names are beef birds, olive birds, steak birds, bacon rolls, and stuffed rolls.

How to keep meat moist while reheating? ›

Instead, reheat food on a lower heat (around 200-250 degrees) and add a dash of oil or butter to keep the meat moist. This method normally takes 10-15 minutes.

What is the best cut of beef for schnitzel? ›

The best beef cuts for making schnitzels are thin beef escalopes or thinly sliced boneless shoulder steak or topside. If you are slicing the meat yourself, you will need to use a meat tenderiser to ensure the meat is extra tender.

What is roulade made of? ›

A meat-based roulade typically consists of a slice of steak rolled around a filling such as cheese, vegetables, or other meats. A roulade, like a braised dish, is often browned then covered with wine or stock and cooked. Such a roulade is commonly secured with a toothpick, metal skewer or a piece of string.

What kind of meat is beef flap meat? ›

Beef flap meat is a very thin cut from the bottom sirloin. It has a texture and flavor somewhat similar to skirt steak, but is less prized (and thus less expensive). It's frequently used in tacos, carne asada, stir fry & other sliced or chopped applications.

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