How to Cook Perfect Roast Beef on a Weber BBQ

Cooking tender juicy roast beef on your Weber BBQ is easier than you think! With a few simple tips you can enjoy restaurant-quality roast beef right in your own backyard. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to cook perfect roast beef on your Weber charcoal or gas grill.

Selecting and Preparing the Roast

The Cut The best cuts of beef for roasting on the grill are the rib roast (also called prime rib) and top sirloin roast. The rib roast has beautiful marbling that keeps it tender and moist during cooking. Top sirloin is a leaner and more affordable option

The Weight For medium-rare roast beef, plan on cooking 1 pound of boneless roast per person For bone-in rib roasts, allow 15 pounds per person. A 3-4 pound roast is ideal for feeding 4-6 people.

**Trimming and Seasoning:**Trim off any excess hard fat from the roast. Next, pat the meat dry and coat all sides with a light layer of olive oil. This helps the seasoning stick to the meat. Create a spice rub by combining kosher salt, cracked black pepper, garlic powder, dried thyme, and other herbs/spices. Generously season the roast on all sides with the rub.

Marinating (Optional): For added flavor, you can marinate the roast for 1-2 hours before grilling. Try using a marinade made with red wine, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and rosemary.

Let It Come to Room Temp: Always let your roast sit out at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before cooking. This allows it to cook more evenly on the grill.

Setting Up Your Weber Grill

Cooking roast beef requires a simple 2-zone fire setup on your Weber. Here’s how:

On a Charcoal Grill: Mound the hot charcoal on one side of the grill and leave the other side empty. This gives you a hot zone for searing and a cooler zone for roasting the meat indirectly.

On a Gas Grill: Turn the burners on one side of the grill to high heat. Leave the burners on the other side off. Use the hot zone to sear and the cooler zone to cook the roast indirectly.

Add Smoke (Optional): Soaking wood chips in water for 30 minutes then adding them to the charcoal, or placing them in a smoker box on a gas grill, will add nice smoke flavor to the beef as it roasts. Cherry, oak and mesquite wood chips work well.

Use a Drip Pan: Place an aluminum foil pan on the empty side of the grill underneath where the roast will sit. This will catch the drippings for making gravy later.

Grilling Times for Roast Beef

1-2 lb roast: 30-40 minutes (medium-rare)
3-4 lb roast: 45-60 minutes
4-6 lb roast: 60-90 minutes

These grilling times are for roasts cooked over indirect medium heat (350-375°F) on a Weber grill. Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness, not the clock!

Grilling Step-by-Step

Follow these simple steps for perfect, juicy roast beef every time on your Weber:

Sear the Roast: First, place the roast directly over the hot zone of the grill and sear all sides until browned, about 2 minutes per side. This caramelizes the outside of the meat.
Roast Indirectly: Move the roast to the cooler side of the grill over the drip pan. Cover and roast over indirect medium heat (as noted above) until an instant read thermometer registers 125°F for medium-rare.
Make It Pretty (Optional): In the last 5 minutes of roasting, brush the roast with barbecue sauce or an herb-garlic butter to coat and make the outside crisp and flavorsome.
Rest and Slice: Remove roast and let rest on a cutting board for 10-15 minutes before slicing. The temperature will climb 5-10 degrees during this time.

And that’s it – simple steps for incredible roast beef done on your Weber grill!

Handy Tips for Roasting Success

Here are some additional tips to ensure your roast beef turns out juicy, tender and full of flavor when cooking it on your Weber BBQ:

Roasting whole beef tenderloin works great too. Follow the same method. Go for a 2-3 pound tenderloin to feed 4-6 people.
Use a meat thermometer! It’s the only way to nail perfect doneness. Shoot for 125°F for medium-rare.
Add smoked beef broth or beer to the drip pan for extra moisture and flavor.
Insert slivers of garlic into slits cut into the roast for added flavor.
For a show-stopping presentation, cook the roast on a vertical roaster, available as an accessory for Weber grills.
Leftover roast beef is delicious for sandwiches, salads, pizza topping, breakfast hash and more!

Weber’s Roast Beef Recipes

For step-by-step guidance, check out these outstanding roast beef recipes from Weber you can easily make on your charcoal or gas grill:

Standing Rib Roast Recipe – Classic prime rib roast with garlic, herbs and caramelized crispy outer layer.

Herb Crusted Beef Roast Recipe – Dry rubbed with herbs and cooked to juicy perfection.

Coffee and Chili Roast Beef Recipe – Ancho chili, coffee and cumin add incredible flavor.

Reverse Seared Roast Beef Recipe – Roast then sear for maximum tenderness.

The Takeaway on Roasting Beef on a Weber

How To Cook Roast Beef On The Grill | How to BBQ Roast Beef

FAQ

How to roast a beef roast on the barbecue?

Place beef in the centre of barbecue and turn burners directly under it off. Leave the remaining burners on to conduct and circulate heat around beef. Close lid and cook beef for 80 minutes for rare, 100 minutes for medium and 120 minutes for well done. For ease and accuracy use a meat thermometer.

What is the roast setting on Weber?

Indirect medium heat (190°C to 230°C) is the traditional roasting setting. This is the best method for roasting all of your favourite meats like whole chicken, legs of lamb, roast beef, root vegetables etc. Once your convection tray and trivet are in place.

How to slow cook meat on Weber BBQ?

The Low and Slow Cooking Method Low and slow cooking is another fantastic way to use your Weber® Kettle. For short low and slow cooks, (2 hours or less), simply use 10-12 lit briquettes in one char-basket™. For those longer low and slow cooks, we will show you how to use the ‘Snake Method’.

How to cook a roast on a Weber rotisserie?

Grill the roast over indirect low heat, with the lid closed, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the meat, not touching the metal spit, registers 125° to 130°F for medium rare, 1½ to 1¾ hours. About 25 minutes before the roast is ready to serve, prepare the mushrooms and onions.

How to cook roast beef on a Weber BBQ?

The first step in cooking roast beef on a Weber BBQ is to prepare the rub. In a mortar and pestle, combine all the ingredients for the rub and grind them together finely. Once the rub is ready, lightly coat the beef with sunflower oil and apply the dry rub evenly. After applying the rub, let the beef stand for 30 to 40 minutes before grilling.

How do you cook beef on a Weber grill?

At the barbecue: Prepare the barbecue for indirect heat, approx. 200°C. Roast the beef over an indirect medium heat in a Weber Premium Grill Rack using a Weber Drip Pan underneath to capture the fat and juices for approximately 1 ½ hours, or until the core temperature reaches 60°C (medium rare).

Can you cook a roast on a Weber grill?

The good news is that you can cook a roast on your Weber grill using indirect heat. Pat the roast dry with paper towels, then season it liberally with salt and pepper. If you wish to rub it with a dry spice rub or flavoring paste, this is the time to do so. Leave the roast at room temperature for one hour to warm up.

How long does a Weber BBQ roast take to cook?

For medium-rare, the temperature should read 125°F. The cooking time for roast beef on a Weber BBQ can vary depending on your desired level of doneness and the size of the roast. Generally, it takes about 1 hour for a medium-rare roast.