Traditional Beef Rouladen Recipe

Have you made or heard of Rouladen before? This is a traditional German dish and one that I have made many times but not for years! This Traditional Beef Rouladen Recipe is pure comfort food and until the really warm weather hits, we are still wanting dishes like this.

Served up with some creamy mashed potatoes, creamy polenta, potato dumplings, or spaetzle and steamed veggies or red cabbage this is a great dinner for any weeknight (but you do need time for it to cook) or this recipe would be perfect for a Sunday supper. Another great beef meal is our Perfect Beef Wellington, a real show stopper. 

This dish can be served with a dollop of sour cream and is fantastic all year round as it is a beloved dish for special occasions that will be welcomed at the supper table.   

Ingredients 

Rouladen

Large inside round rouladen
Dijon mustard
Onion, finely chopped
Chopped parsley and more for garnish
Bacon
Salt and pepper to taste
Flour
Butter
Low-sodium soy sauce
Worcestershire
Mushrooms, sliced

Gravy

Flour
Butter

How Do You Make Beef Rouladen?

Your beef slices should be no more than 1/2 an inch thick. Lay your beef out flat on a butcher block or large cutting board and brush on the mustard. Place a bacon strip in the middle and sprinkle with onions and parsley, salt, and pepper. This is also where you would add the pickle if using.

Roll up the steak and secure with toothpicks, repeat with the other steaks. Dredge the rolls in flour and fry the rolls with butter on medium-high heat until they are browned on all sides but not cooked through. 

Place them in a casserole dish or dutch oven, leaving a little space in between each beef roll. Add water or beef broth to the frypan and scrape up the drippings, pour over the rouladen. Then add in the soy sauce (not traditional but delicious), Worcestershire sauce, and additional water or beef broth to come halfway up the rouladen.  

Add the mushrooms and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bake it in the oven for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 

The gravy is simple and just needs a little thickening at the end, you could also add some red wine to the gravy for some additional depth of flavor. The meat is so flavorful being slowly cooked and with the wonderful ingredients stuffed inside and out.

Expert Tips

You can use cooking twine to hold the rolls together if you are having an issue keeping them rolled up but I have never needed that.

You can use beef stock instead of water in the recipe but make sure it is low sodium.

Recipe Pro Tips!

What Cut of Beef Is Used for Rouladen?

In Canada, we can buy meat that is actually called inside round rouladen, which is thinly sliced and meant for this dish. You could also use round steak, which may also be known as a rump steak. 

The dish consists of slices of beef, bacon strip, onions, mustard, and sometimes a pickle rolled up inside. 

This time I omitted the dill pickle, but in discussion with my girlfriend, Cheryl, she now chops hers up finely and adds it to the middle of the beef roll. What a great idea! Let’s dive into this recipe!!

What Is Rouladen?

Rouladen is a German entree that is made by rolling up a thin slice of beef around filling ingredients and then braising in a rich brown gravy.

Can I Use A Different Type Of Meat For Rouladen?

Yes, you can use different types of beef such as top round, bottom round, eye of round, flank steak, or sirloin. All need to be very thinly cut.

Some people prefer to use pork or chicken and this can be done in the very same way.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions

Can I make rouladen ahead of time? The short answer here is yes, of course, you can. In fact, making it a day ahead will not only free up your time before serving the rouladen for dinner, but it will also enhance the flavors. Make the rouladen as you normally would and after it is done simply allow it to cool, cover and refrigerate for the next day. Make sure you take it out of the refrigerator a half-hour to an hour before reheating it, to allow it to come to room temperature.

Reheat it low and slow in your oven. You and your family or guests will love it!

Because this dish has German origins it is often served during Oktoberfest, a fall celebration featuring great food, singing, dancing and of course beer… a lot of beer! Spending time with family and friends eating great food and drinking beer shouldn’t only happen during Oktoberfest! You should plan events and gatherings throughout the year, and of course, serving up a fantastic dish like this will always be popular with everyone!!

Rich gravy, scrumptious bacon, onions and pickle, mustard, and topped with mushrooms, that is cooked on a slow braise! What is not to love about this traditional dish that has been around for ages. 

Here is a sneak peek inside the rolls, they are so juicy, tender, and gorgeously flavored. I know you will be making this meal again and again. 

Beef Rouladen

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Beef Rouladen Recipe

Tara Noland

A Traditional Beef Rouladen Recipe is pure comfort food and very easy to make. This is a dish that can be served any night of the week or splendid for Sunday Supper also.

4.47 from 80 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine German

Servings 4 servings

Calories 188 kcal

Video

Ingredients

 

• 6 large inside round rouladen
• Dijon mustard
• 1/2 small onion finely chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley and more for garnish
• 6 slices bacon
• 6 – 1/4 dill pickle optional
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup flour
• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 3 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce not traditional but adds so much flavor
• 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire
• 8 mushrooms sliced

Gravy

• 2 Tbsp. flour
• 2 Tbsp. butter

Instructions

 

• Lay out the 6 slices of meat and brush with Dijon mustard. Lay on a slice of bacon on each, cutting if needed for size. Add the 1/4 pickle spear if using. Sprinkle on the onions and fresh parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Roll up and fasten with a toothpick. Dredge in the flour.
• Heat a large saute pan and add the 3 Tbsp. butter. Fry the rouladen until nicely browned on all sides. Cook in batches if needed.
• Place in a casserole dish big enough for a single layer. Add water to the saute pan to get the drippings and scrape up, and pour over the rouladen. Add in the low sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire, and additional water to come about halfway up the rouladen. Sprinkle on the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Bake covered in a 325F oven for 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours.
• When finished cream the butter and flour together. Remove the rouladen and keep warm. Pour the gravy in a saucepan and heat. Add the flour/butter mixture and whisk to thicken. Adjust seasoning if needed. Let simmer and pour over the rouladen. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Notes

See the post for more information, photos and tips. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 188kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 639mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Nutrition calculation is an estimation only. If you need nutritional calculations for medical reasons, please use a source that you trust.

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