Healthy Pot Roast Recipes

For this classic roast beef recipe, cremini or white mushrooms are delicious in the sauce. But if you want to get fancy, mix in some wild mushrooms, such as oyster, maitake or porcini.

Tenderloin is the most luxurious cut of beef. Although it's a fantastic dinner-party dish, leftovers the next day are pure heaven. Trim off any visible silver skin, the translucent, tough membrane lying along the outside curve of the tenderloin.

Sauerbraten, a classic German recipe, is the ultimate make-ahead entree. First you brine it, then you braise it, then it marinates for a day before you serve it--sauerbraten literally means “pickled roast beef.” Serve this sauerbraten with the traditional German dumplings called spaetzle, or mashed potatoes or buttered noodles, and roasted green beans.

This roasted beef tenderloin recipe has the deep, delicious flavor of coffee and the light heat of chiles, making this an impressive main dish for your next special occasion. While the beef roasts, make the easy bittersweet ancho chile sauce. Serve with roasted potatoes or buttered noodles to soak up the extra sauce.

This healthy brisket recipe with roasted vegetables is unfussy and rustic. A long braise in a low oven coaxes the tenderness into this lean cut of beef and brings sweetness to the roasted peppers and potatoes. Leftover brisket reheats beautifully and is perfect for sandwiches the next day.

Zesty orange and fragrant bay leaves flavor this healthy, saucy slow-cooker pot roast recipe. Stir in the olives at the end so they don't lose their brininess as this slow-cooker pot roast recipe cooks. Serve with a green salad tossed with lemon vinaigrette.

A beef rib roast screams celebration. The meat is expensive, but rewards minimal effort with amazing, juicy flavor. All you need to do is poke pieces of sliced garlic into the meat, season it with salt and pepper and roast it. Serve with mashed potatoes and greens. Or make it brilliant with savory herb, Parmesan and horseradish breadcrumbs (see variation). Use leftovers in sandwiches or roast beef hash.

This braised brisket gets a decidedly wintery feel from the earthy-sweet flavors of carrots, parsnips and rutabaga.

This recipe is reminiscent of a pot roast made with onion-soup mix, but the flavors are true and pure--and nobody misses the excess sodium. (For a slow-cooker variation, see below.)