How to Cook a Top Sirloin Beef Roast

A simple no-fail recipe for cooking a top sirloin beef roast in the oven. It is tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned.

A sliced top sirloin beef roast on a cutting board.

I love a good roast beef. Top sirloin is one of the medium to higher priced roasts. There are definitely some cheaper roasts (eye of round and chuck roasts) and more expensive roasts (tenderloin and prime rib), but the top sirloin is a great middle of the road choice. It does not break the bank and it is still a nice and tender cut of beef.

But, like any roast, it is important to know how to cook it properly. An overcooked top sirloin roast is one majorly depressing meal. It can be tough and dry. But, it does not need to be that way and the top sirloin prepared and cooked properly is juicy, tender and delicious.

Medium rare roast beef sliced on a cutting board.

Top sirloin roasts come in various sizes and I find that I prefer the roast to be 5-6 pounds in size. The following recipe is based on 5-6 pound roast, but you could definitely use either larger or smaller cuts. But, be aware that the cooking times will vary if a different sized roast is prepared.

Sprinkling the seasoning on the roast.

Ingredients That You Need

It is very simple to cook a top sirloin roast. The seasoning used is a simple blend of salt, pepper, herbs and garlic. Feel free to mix it up with different spices.

  • Top sirloin beef roastthis recipe is based on a 5-6 pound roast
  • 5-7 garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp sea salt
  • 1 tbsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp oregano

Sticking garlic into the roast.

Garlic Cloves Add Flavour To The Roast!

I love to stick a few garlic cloves in the roast. It adds a nice flavour right through all the meat. Simply, use a paring knife to spear into the roast about 1 1/2 to 2 inches. You can use whole cloves, or cut them in halves or slivers. Press the garlic clove or sliver into each of the slots in the meat. For a 5-6 pound top sirloin roast, I use 5-7 garlic cloves.

Seasoned raw beef roast resting on a cutting board.

How To Season A Top Sirloin Roast Beef?

Sprinkle the seasoning all over the roast. Sea salt, cracked black pepper, thyme and oregano, all blend to give the perfect seasoning for the roast.

Once seasoned all over, the roast is ready to go in the oven.

A raw beef roast on a roaster rack.

If the roast is not tied up, using some butcher twine helps to hold the roast together during the cooking.

Make sure to lay the beef roast in the roasting pan with the fat side up. Keeping the fat on the top helps to ensure a moist and juicy roast.

Cooking The Roast At Two Stage Temperatures

Cooking the top sirloin roast is simple. First, put the roast in a 450F preheated oven. Cook it, uncovered for 15 minutes at 450F.

Then, without opening the oven door, turn the heat down to 325F. Now, cook the roast until the internal temperature of the meat is 135F. This results in a medium rare roast. I actually pull it out just before it reaches 135F – usually once it hits 133F.

Cooked roast on a roaster rack.

How Long To Cook A Top Sirloin Roast?

For a 5-6 pound roast I find the total cooking time is around 3 hours. But, every oven is different and roasts vary in weight and shape, so instead of cooking for a certain length of time, it is much better to use a food thermometer to monitor what the actual temperature is inside the roast.

Cover the roast with aluminum foil and let it rest on the counter for 10-15 minutes.

Gravy being stirred in a roaster rack.

How To Make Beef Gravy?

At the bottom of the roasting pan there is a lot of beef grease and buildup. This is perfect for making gravy. If your roasting pan can go on stovetop, this is the perfect way to make gravy.

Place the roasting pan on the stovetop element and turn on to medium heat. Add 1 1/2 cups of water and use a whisk to deglaze the bottom of the pan. Once it is boiling, whisk in 1 1/2 tbsp corn starch.

Continue to whisk the gravy until it is thickened. Remove from the heat and strain it into a gravy boat.

A sliced beef roast with mashed potatoes and corn in the background.

Letting the roast rest for 10-15 minutes, pulls the juices back into the roast and results in juicy tender meat. Use a nice long craving knife to slice up the roast.

There are many different cuts of beef and the top sirloin roast is one of my favourites. It is not the most expensive, but it is still very tender and juicy.

Not only is a top sirloin an excellent roast to cook in the oven, but it is also awesome to smoke. I have detailed instructions for smoking a top sirloin roast that can be found here Smoked Top Sirloin Roast Beef.

How to Cook a Top Sirloin Roast

A sliced beef roast with mashed potatoes and corn in the background.
5 out of 5
36 reviews
Print
Simple instructions to make the perfect roast from a beef top sirloin roast. No fail recipe and detailed directions.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 5 pound top sirloin roast
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp salt , table or sea salt
  • 1 tbsp black pepper , freshly cracked
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • 1 tsp oregano

Instructions

  • Trim meat of any excess fat.
  • If the top sirloin roast did not come tied up, use kitchen twine to tie the roast up nice and tight.
  • The garlic cloves can be cut in half, in slivers or left whole. Use a paring knife to poke a one inch slot in the roast. Stick in a piece of garlic. Do this all around the roast with the remaining garlic.
  • Sprinkle the roast with the salt, pepper, thyme and oregano.
  • Place the roast in a roasting pan with a rack.
  • Preheat the oven to 450F. Place the roast in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.
  • Turn the heat down to 325F and cook to desired doneness. The internal temperature of a medium rare roast beef is 135F and should take around 3 hours of total cooking time.

Nutrition

Per serving:

Calories: 351kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 61gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 156mgSodium: 1909mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.03g

Nutrition Disclaimer

Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2014 but updated in 2022 with new information

Categories

A sliced top sirloin beef roast on a cutting board.

Did you try this recipe?

Leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. Or, take a picture to share on Instagram and tag me @theblackpeppercorn.

Leave a comment

Recipe Rating




211 comments

  • I made this today for New Year’s Day and it came great. I never have good luck with cooking a roast beef and this came wonderful. The only thing I did different was marinate it in red wine, woshtishire sauce overnight , did dry roast off before cooking and cooked according to your directions, tasty and tender thank you

    • Reply
  • Thanks for the recipe. I am doing a roast now and wasn’t sure how to do it without it over cooking. Your suggestions are great and the feed back from others is helpful also.

    • Reply
  • Thanks for the recipe. I am doing a roast now and wasn’t sure how to do it without it over cooking. Your suggestions are great and the feed back from others is helpful also.

    • Reply
  • tried this recipe and its the best tasting roast i tasted.no lie…..cooked 7 pound sirlointip roast 325 degrees for 2.5 hours and pulled it out at 323 degrees and simply amazing..medium rare and the best tasting. i added 6 small cloves of garlic by jabbing a knife into the roast and shoving the garlic in different spots..thanks for sharing the recipe as i cooked roast before but not with dry rub.. so much flavour…

    • Reply
  • I got a beautiful 8 lb Top Sirloin Roast at Sam’s Club. Since I bought the whole roast I got a discount $3.97/lb. what a deal about to put it in the oven!

    • Reply
    • So how long did you cook the 8 lb roast? Sure, I will use a thermometer but I need to plan when to start cooking it so it will be done at the right time.

      • Reply
  • 1st time cooking sirloin roast for christmas, this recipe seems easy, I’m going to try it! Thanks!!

    • Reply
  • I have an 11 pound top sirloin roast I want to cook for Christmas. How many minutes do I cook it or should I cut it in half?

    • Reply
    • Not sure, as it would be necessary to see the shape. I would use a digital thermometer as that is the ideal way to ensure that it is cooked to the right temperature.

      • Reply
  • I have two 7.5 lb roast for xmas eve. I was going to make them came as I would prime rib. What do you think?

    • Reply
  • Has anyone ever cooked this in a pressure cooker? If so, how long for 8 pound roast and how did it turn out?

    • Reply
    • I never have. I would use a roast that is tougher and better for braising in the pressure cooker.

      • Reply
  • Went by the directions and have it in the oven now …it smells so good. Thanks!

    • Reply
  • Hi Steve ,
    Could you cook this the day before ?
    I’m needing my oven for other dishes.
    So you use the convection for the whole process?

    • Reply
    • You could, but it would impact the moistness of the meat. Yes, I do use convection for the whole time.

      • Reply
  • Wonderful! THank you

    • Reply
  • How long would you cook a 2 pound roast and is convection roast your preferred method.

    • Reply
    • I would check after the first hour and see what the temp is. I would judge the cooking based on temperature and not based on time.

      • Reply
  • Hi Steve
    I’m making this today and I just noticed there’s hardly any liquid on the bottom of the pan should I add water or just leave it ? Please help there wasn’t much fat on my top sirloin roast

    • Reply
  • Might I suggest using a small jar/lid and mixing in the cornstarch with cold milk and then pouring into the pan while whisking, this alleviates any lumps.

    • Reply
    • great idea!

      • Reply
  • Do you use convection bake or convection roast?

    • Reply
    • convection roast

      • Reply
  • What if you don’t have a convection option, do you still follow same directions with regards to temperature?

    Thanks,
    Linda

    • Reply
    • You might find that it will take longer without the convection function

      • Reply
      • I am cooking this tomorrow….but I don’t have convection. You mentioned it might be a longer time to cook the roast in a regular oven….approximately how much longer per pound are you talking? My roast is 4-5 lbs.

        Thank you.

        • Reply
        • Sorry for the delay. I would think that no more than 30 minutes would be necessary, if that.

          • Reply
  • Yes, upon carving I was in fact craving just like your pleasant typo. Thanks for a good one.

    • Reply
  • Looking forward to a great dinner of my first time cooking the sirloin roasts.

    • Reply
  • Love this article! Just realized my digital thermometer is broken. Any ideas on timing for a 1lb 9 oz roast? Generally speaking of course?

    Thanks!

    • Reply

Subscribe to the newsletter and never miss a recipe!