Air Fryer Pot Roast - Fork-tender beef roast, marinated, then air fried to perfection. Cook time is only 30 minutes!
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It's crazy how quickly the temperatures are changing here in Wisconsin. Summer was here and then all of a sudden. . .it was gone. Why am I shocked by this? I shouldn't be.
It's basically the story of our lives here in the Midwest. All of the seasons seem to be fleeting except our all time favorite season of all. . .winter.? If you couldn't tell, there was a TON of sarcasm in that last sentence.
It seems like it's a bit too early to be sharing a pot roast recipe, but after seeing all of the casserole, Halloween and pumpkin recipes surfacing already, I was pretty sure all would be okay.?
I ALWAYS used to use my crock pot to make this pot roast recipe. I'd put the roast in the crock pot early in the morning and set it on low for 8-10 hours while I was at work. The pot roast I'm sharing today is marinated and then made in the air fryer in 30 MINUTES!!
Ready to get dinner on the table in record time?
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER POT ROAST
To a make beef roast in the air fryer, you'll obviously need an air fryer and the following:
- Orange juice
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Beef chuck roast
- Salt and pepper
You'll begin by making the marinade first. The marinade is super simple but very flavorful. All you need to do is combine the first four ingredients from the list above.
HOW DO YOU MARINADE A BEEF ROAST?
To marinade a roast, you can either pour the marinade over the meat in a baking dish/container or you can also place the meat in a resealable plastic gallon bag, pour the marinade in and seal it up tight before placing into the fridge.
At home, I often use a baking dish, but if I'm marinating meat to take up north to our lake cabin, I'll use a gallon bag because they're so much easier to transport and travel with.
If you're wondering how long you should marinade the roast, in my opinion, if you're working with any kind of beef, you should try and marinade it overnight. You need to give it ample time to soak up all that flavor.
When the meat is finished marinating, salt and pepper the roast and place it in the air fryer basket.
Now, let the air fryer do its magic. Set the air fryer to 400º Fahrenheit and cook the roast for 30 minutes, flipping the roast halfway through cook time.
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A ROAST IS DONE?
The USDA suggests roasts be cooked to 145º Fahrenheit (that's medium well) and allowed to rest for 3 minutes. If you're looking for a printable meat and seafood temperature chart, you can grab one here!
This roast is ready to go!
When I'm making a pot roast in the air fryer, I normally prepare carrots and potatoes either in the oven or in my Ninja Foodi.
This is probably one of the only drawbacks I run into when using my air fryer. In a slow cooker or electric pressure cooker like the Ninja Foodi, you can throw the potatoes and carrots right in with the roast.
Cooking multiple things in an air fryer, isn't always as easy, unfortunately.
If you're looking for a good recipe for roasted carrots, try this one. If you're a mashed potato fan, then you need to check out this recipe.
These are both wonderful sides to serve and they would go well with your main course.
But sides aside, just look at that meat. It's perfectly prepared.
Remember that the ends of the roast will most likely be a bit more done than the middle of the roast.
Always take your temperature from the middle. If you're looking for a good digital thermometer, this one is a favorite of mine.
Roasts are one of my favorite comfort foods. Once I made my first roast in my air fryer, I was sold!
DO I NEED TO BROWN THE ROAST BEFORE AIR FRYING?
Often times when you make a roast in a crock pot you'll want to brown the outsides of the meat in some hot oil or butter. It just makes the meat look a bit more appetizing when you lift it out of the slow cooker.
Roasts require no browning, however, when you prepare them in an air fryer. After 30 minutes, the meat is tender on the inside and browned and a little crispy on the outside.
A slow cooker would never be able to produce the browning that you get with an air fryer.
If you're new to air frying, this recipe would be a great one to try. As with any air fryer recipe, make sure you check on your food while cooking. Some air fryers cook hotter than others.
At around 25 minutes, go ahead and check the temperature of the meat. Keep an eye on it as it cooks.
After I air fry something for the first time (and it turns out well) I'll make sure to record the instructions so preparation is even easier the next time.
I hope you enjoy the recipe. Happy fall y'all.
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Air Fryer Pot Roast
Ingredients
- ½ cup orange juice
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3-4 pound beef chuck roast (thawed)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Pour over roast and marinade for 8-24 hours.
- Place roast in air fryer basket.
- Sprinkle salt and pepper over top.
- Air fry for 30 minutes at 400º Fahrenheit, flipping roast halfway through.
- Allow to rest for at least three minutes.
- Slice into thick cuts and serve.
Notes
- Marinating Time: For optimal flavor, marinate the beef chuck roast in the orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce mixture for at least 8 hours, or preferably up to 24 hours. Marinating allows the flavors to penetrate the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender pot roast. Ensure the roast is fully coated in the marinade and refrigerate it while marinating to prevent spoilage.
- Even Seasoning: Before air frying, sprinkle salt and pepper evenly over the roast to enhance its flavor. Ensure both sides of the roast are seasoned adequately for balanced seasoning throughout. Even seasoning contributes to a well-seasoned and delicious pot roast.
- Flipping for Even Cooking: To ensure even cooking and browning, flip the roast halfway through the air frying process. This helps to promote uniform cooking and caramelization on both sides of the roast. Use tongs to carefully flip the roast, taking care not to pierce the meat to retain its juices. By flipping the roast, you'll achieve a beautifully browned exterior and juicy, tender interior.
Jenny Holmes
The recipe states the cook time is 1 hour, but the the instructions say 30 min. Which is it?
Sara
Hi Jenny! The cook time is 30 minutes. I have adjusted the recipe card. Thank you!
Anonymous
I have mine in the fridge to marinate over night,can't wait to try it
Troy Gremillion
Hi Sara!
This recipe sounds wonderful, so I want to try it, but have a 1.5 lb. chuck roast I need to use. What adjustments do you suggest I make regarding the cooking temperature and time in the air fryer if I want a medium to a medium-well done roast? Thanks!
Sara
Hi Troy! I would start with 20 minutes and take the temperature regularly after the first 15 minutes of cook time. You may need to experiment a bit. A digital thermometer can be your best friend when it comes to air frying. If you don't have one yet, there are tons of affordable options on Amazon. Good luck with the roast and just remember to check the temp every so often - when it's perfect, write down the air fry temp and time to refer to in the future!
Patricia
I thought a Chuck roast should be cooked through like in a pot roast. You’re at 145 degrees does not seem done to me. Or it would be tough. Am I wrong? My pot roasts always took several hours in the oven. I understand you are using an air fryer but still looks undone to me.
Sara
Beef can absolutely have a pinkish hue - in fact, I would recommend it. 145 degrees Fahrenheit is medium rare. As you get closer to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, the meat will begin to get more tough and dried out.
Samantha Robertson
This recipe is a definite winner!!! I was so nervous and skeptical but the results were just as reported! Juicy, tender, and soooo flavorful!! Even the pieces that were well done were still tender!! I’m sold!! It really doesn’t matter what cut of meat you buy, it’s how you cook it!!
Sara
Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! People didn't believe you could make a roast in the air fryer, but you definitely can!
Sharina P.
Love Love Loved this air fryer roast! Was easy to make and easy to EAT!!! Thanks so much for this recipe!
Sara
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Sharina!
Geni
I prepared the chuck roast for dinner last night and it was so delicious. My husband said it was the best chuck roast I'd ever cooked. I discovered the recipe too late in the day for an 8-24 hour marinade so made do with only 2 hours. It was still amazing. We give it 5 stars😃
Sara
I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed it, Geni! Thanks so much for leaving the comment!
Carole
Just tried this with a 3lb piece of rump roast. It was so tasty! Had to cook about 10 minutes extra - that was the only alteration. I am not an experienced cook by any means. Thank you for such an amazing recipe!
Sara
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Carole!
Susan McCartney
Hi just bought a air fryer and it's the 6 quart instant vortex to make this recipe do I have to get a basket for it?
Sara
Hi Susan, I believe that the Vortex already has an air frying basket. You would just place the roast in there. Hope that answers your question?
Susan McCartney
Hi I sent you a photo of the inside
andy staff
Hello, what was the outcome? Did you use the Vortex? The basket is quite shallow, so I am wondering the same thing. I would call it a tray instead of a basket. Let me know if it worked or if anyone else tried it. This will be my second recipe cooked, so I want it to work since it worked so well with french fries!!!! Thanks.
Ashley
I have an air fryer that has a dry settting, bake, broil and toast. Do I use the fry setting or the bake setting?
Sara
Hi Ashley, hmmm. Do you have the Ninja Foodi? From what you listed, I would go with fry.
Sarah
So juicy tender and delicious!!!
Sara
So glad you enjoyed it!
Melissa
This recipe worked exactly as this post said it would! Thank you Sara!
Sara
I'm so glad to hear that, Melissa! You are very welcome!
Linda
Sorry, no. You should not cook a chuck roast in an air fryer. You need to use a higher quality meat that does not need braising, like a rib roast. This will be just one tough piece of meat.
Sara
Linda, I disagree. This chuck roast turned out moist and tender. Very good. Did you try the recipe?
CTLaurie
nicely said & I agree!
Mari
I second this. I actually find a lot of the meats I cook in an air fryer come out very tender and moist! I guess some people who don't have an air fryer you will judge all they want. It doesn't make it true. *shrug* Don't knock it tl you try it!
Laura
Do you cook the potatoes and carrots separately?
Sara
I made them separately when I shot the recipe but you could add carrots and potatoes to this recipe! To ensure they cook through, cut them into smaller chunks and toss them in a bit of the marinade for flavor. Place them around the roast in the air fryer basket, but keep in mind you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly or air fry them separately if the basket gets too crowded.
PJ
I used a chuck roast, turned out raw in places and very tough! I marinated it overnight. Had to cook it longer and I even had to cut it in pieces. Let it rest, but that didn,t help. I ended up grinding it for sandwiches. Next time I'll use my crock pot for my roasts!