German Beef Rouladen (2024)

February 9, 2024 by Beth Pierce 90 Comments

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Impress your family and friends with this delicious and authentic Beef Rouladen recipe. With tender beef, tangy mustard, and savory bacon, this dish will surely become a favorite in your household.

What is Rouladen

Traditional German Beef Rouladen Recipe combines thin slices of top round steak stuffed with spicy brown mustard, bacon, pickles, and onions, all browned, braised, and smothered with a mouthwatering, easy-to-make beef gravy. This is one of our absolute favorite German dishes. If you ever plan on having an Oktoberfest, this traditional German dish should be on the menu. It will knock the socks off your guests, who will ask for more. I love to serve it withSkillet German Potato Salad, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, and German cucumber salad, but you could also do mashed potatoes.

Ingredients in Rouladen

Beef – top round roast
Mustard – preferably German
Bacon
Dill Pickles – reserve a little pickle juice for the gravy
Butter – salted or unsalted
Vegetable oil
Beef broth – low sodium
Cornstarch
Kosher salt
Black pepper – freshly ground
Sugar – just a wee bit

How to make Beef Rouladen

Start by spreading out your beef steaks on a clean work surface. Then, coat with a thin layer of German mustard. Next, lay the bacon slice on top, followed by the pickles and onions, leaving the last couple of inches free of any. Then, starting with the busy end (the one with the pickles and onions), roll up tightly, tucking the pickles and onions in as you go. Once completely rolled, secure with a toothpick or cooking twine. Repeat the procedure until all are rolled up. Then sprinkle with a little kosher salt and black pepper.

Heat a little vegetable oil and butter in a large ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef rolls on all sides. Then add the beef broth and pickle juice. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 90 minutes or until fork tender, letting the beef rolls tenderize in the liquids. Then, remove the roulades from the skillet and plate. Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Scrap the bottom to remove any brown bits. Then combine the cornstarch with a little bit of beef broth and whisk it in. Cook until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch or two of sugar. Add the roulade back to the skillet andsimmerfor a few minutes, spooning thegravyover them.

Recipe Tips

This cut of meat is called breakfast steak at my grocery store. It is not always available, so you might need to have your butcher cut a round roast lengthwise about 1/8 inch thick.
These can be prepped up to 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to cook.
German mustard is ideal, but honestly, any spicy brown mustard will work.
Cut your pickles and onions into long, thin pieces.
The rolls secure pretty easily with one wooden toothpick per roll. You will have it down pat once you have secured a couple.
Brown them thoroughly in a little vegetable oil and butter. You can use olive oil, but I find many things brown better in vegetable oil.
For extra flavor, throw in a splash of dry red wine like a Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon.
In a pinch, I have usedDijon mustardwith good results.
I like to cook these up in an ovenproof skillet, so there is only one pan to clean. However, you can transfer the rolls to a covered baking dish if you don’t have one. Then add the beef broth and pickle juice. Now bake for about 90 minutes. Then, transfer the juices to the skillet and make the gravy.

What beef is best for rouladen?

Beef round roast thinly sliced is the way to go. Some grocery stores sell this ready-to-go as roulade or breakfast steak. It is about 8-10 inches long, about 5 inches wide, and 1/8-1/4 inch thick. If you are having trouble finding it, ask your butcher if he can cut a round roast to this thickness. Other options includeflank steakor outside round roast.

What to serve with Rouladen

Serve with mashed potatoes, boiled potatoes, potato dumplings, spaetzle, carrots, potato pancakes, or red cabbage.

Storage and Reheat

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pot on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.

To freeze, first cool to room temperature. Then, add the rouladen and gravy to a sturdy freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.

More beef recipes

Beef and Broccoli

Beef Chop Suey

Beef Noodle Soup

Instant Pot Beef Stew

Italian Beef Sandwiches

Beef and Noodles

German Beef Rouladen

German Beef Rouladen are rolls of thin, tender round steak stuffed with spicy mustard, bacon, onions, and pickles, all baked to fork tenderness. Then it is smothered with an easy-to-make beef sauce made from the delicious browned bits and beef juices.

4.99 from 52 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: main meal beef

Cuisine: German

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 356kcal

Author: Beth Pierce

Ingredients

8 slices beef top round roast sliced very thin
1/4 cup spicy brown German mustard
8 slices bacon
2-3 dill pickles thinly sliced
1 small onion thinly sliced
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup low sodium beef broth
1/4 cup dill pickle juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 pinches sugar to taste optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spread out your beef steaks on a clean work surface. Coat each with a thin layer of German mustard. Lay a bacon slice on each one. Top with the pickles and onions, leaving the last couple of inches free of any.
Start with the busy end (the one with the pickles and onions) and roll up tight, tucking the pickles and onions in as you go. Once completely rolled up, secure it with a toothpick. Repeat the procedure until all are rolled up.
Heat the butter and vegetable oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Brown the rolls on all sides. Add 1 cup of beef broth and pickle juice.
Cover the skillet with aluminum foil and bake for 1 1/2 -2 hours. Remove the rouladen from the skillet and plate.
Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Scrap the bottom to remove any brown bits. Combine 1/4 cup beef broth and cornstarch. Whisk into the skillet and cook until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch or two of sugar to taste. Add the rouladen back to the skillet and simmer. Spoon the gravy over the top and warm.

Notes

This cut of meat is called breakfast steak at my grocery store. It is not always available so you might need to have your butcher cut a round roast lengthwise about 1/8 inch thick.
These can be prepped up to 1 day ahead. Store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to cook.
German mustard is ideal but honestly any spicy brown mustard will work.
Cut your pickles and onions into long thin pieces.
The rolls secure quite easily with one wooden toothpick per roll. You will have it down pat once you have secured a couple of them.
Brown them thoroughly in a little vegetable oil and butter. You can use olive oil but I find many things brown better in vegetable oil.
I like to cook these up in an ovenproof skillet so there is only one pan to clean. However if you don’t have one you can transfer the rolls to a covered baking dish. Then add the beef broth and pickle juice. Now bake about 90 minutes. Then transfer the juices to the skillet and make the gravy.

Nutrition

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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf

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Nutrition Disclaimer: All nutritional information shared on this site is an approximation. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on this site should be used as a general guideline.

Reader Interactions

Comments

Franky V
February 22, 2024 at 1:28 pm

Very yummy recipe, I wasn’t sure about the pickle and the pickle juice but you are correct, the dish is absolutely delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  February 27, 2024 at 5:09 pm
  You are most welcome, Franky!
  Reply
Maria Lee
February 13, 2024 at 5:39 pm

This is such a terrific. Such an amazing flavor combination. This is a new favorite German dish. Even my picky husband loved it.
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  February 21, 2024 at 10:16 pm
  Thanks, Maria! So glad that he liked it!
  Reply
Odessa
February 13, 2024 at 10:09 am

Oh my God, this dish was divine! I love beef, especially in the winter. So darn tasty. Who knew all those individual flavors would work so well together.
Reply
Remington
February 13, 2024 at 4:54 am

This was a fantastic recipe. I love German food. It is so full of flavor and so comforting.
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  February 16, 2024 at 11:05 am
  I agree, Remington!
  Reply
Alicia
February 13, 2024 at 4:16 am

This sounds like my German fathers absolute dream, what a hearty and satisfying dish! I didn’t know Germany had their own kind of mustard, I tend to use Dijon though I’m not a huge mustard gal.
Reply
Dana
February 12, 2024 at 8:20 pm

This German Beef Rouladen is something my grandma would have loved to make. She loved cooking German food. Thank you for this recipe!
Reply
Bryan C
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February 12, 2024 at 8:09 pm

I do like Beef Rouladen, as long as it’s made right. Some restaurants try to cut corners and use less quality cuts of beef. If made right, it’s divine!
Reply
Babs
February 12, 2024 at 1:24 pm

I absolutely love rouladen. I had it on a trip to Germany a few years ago, so I was super impressed with how authentic your version tastes! Love it.
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  February 12, 2024 at 6:55 pm
  Thanks, Babs! I am so happy that you liked the rouladen. It is one of my favorite recipes.
  Reply
Tim
February 07, 2024 at 6:15 pm

I have them prepped and ready for tomorrow yum
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  February 11, 2024 at 5:14 pm
  Thanks, Tim! Enjoy!
  Reply
Nancy
January 03, 2024 at 8:35 pm
My mom was German and made this often. She chopped the bacon, onion and pickles up into little pieces and tied the rolls with string.
Reply
Sangeetha
June 20, 2023 at 4:10 am

Oh my goodness, this German Beef Rouladen recipe has my mouth watering! The combination of tender top round steak, spicy mustard, savory bacon, tangy pickles, and onions sounds absolutely delicious. And that mouthwatering beef gravy to top it all off? Pure perfection! I can see why it’s one of your absolute favorite German dishes 🍽️🇩🇪😋
Reply
Monti
June 15, 2023 at 11:53 am

Your recipe for German Beef Rouladen is absolutely mouthwatering! The way you described the flavors and cooking process made my taste buds tingle with excitement. I can’t wait to try it out and savor the deliciousness. Keep sharing these amazing recipes!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  June 19, 2023 at 11:17 am
  You got it, Monti! I will do just that!
  Reply
Nikki Wayne
June 14, 2023 at 9:00 am
Wow! What a really delicious looking recipe that I need to try! My family would love this for sure
Reply
Megan
June 14, 2023 at 6:29 am

This was like a great new recipe to try on the family. My husband really enjoyed it. He loves to eat beef. I love that its different than what we normally fix.
Reply
Julie Shahin
June 14, 2023 at 12:08 am

I really appreciate the time and effort you put into creating this recipe. It’s clear that you have a passion for German food, and it shows in your work. I’m so glad I found your website, and I can’t wait to try more of your recipes
Reply
May
June 13, 2023 at 7:41 pm

It already looks so good in the pan! And mustard and pickles? Mmmmmmm…..I can almost taste this beef!
Reply
Marysa
June 13, 2023 at 6:16 pm
I’ve never heard of of this dish before. However my daughter is going to Germany this summer and it would be fun to make this dish for her to try!
Reply
Pedja
June 13, 2023 at 8:23 am

This was so delicious. I am not a fan of roasting…anything…but this was really good and tasty. My new favorite German dish.
Reply
Nyxie
June 13, 2023 at 6:12 am
This looks gorgeous! I’ve had something similar years ago while on vacation near the black forest in Germany. It was beautiful but have never been able to recreate it myself. My mother has even tried and she lived there for 4 years!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  June 17, 2023 at 7:46 pm
  Thanks, Nyxie! It is delicious. You and your mother should give it a try!
  Reply
Stephanie
June 12, 2023 at 6:19 pm

I’ve never seen anything like this before, but my in-laws have when they were stationed in Germany many years ago. This isn’t something I would eat, but my husband would love everything about this! I’ll have to make it for him as a surprise one weekend.
Reply
Debbie
June 12, 2023 at 1:58 pm

I had never heard of the German Beef Rouladen dish before. The recipe was amazing as I love steak and all the spicy brown mustard, bacon, pickles, and onion were so flavorful. Thanks for sharing.
Reply
April
June 12, 2023 at 12:42 pm

What a great German recipe. We loved it. It is an odd combination of ingredients but we enjoyed it.
Reply
Maureen
June 12, 2023 at 10:59 am
We are always on the lookout for a new beef recipe that is easy and tasty! This recipe fits that bill. I love that this is something we haven’t tried before but easy enough to replicate. I can’t wait to get this dish on our menu!
Reply
Ivan Carlo Jose
June 12, 2023 at 10:54 am

That looks absolutely delicious! I can tell that it smells lovely just by looking at your photos. I’m quite intimidated by this dish just because I’m not too familiar with it. But I’m willing to give your recipe a try!
Reply
Nathan
May 04, 2023 at 1:08 pm

I’ve never had Rouladen before, but after seeing this recipe I’m adding all of the ingredients to my shopping list immediately! Can’t wait to try it out, thanks so much for sharing!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  May 05, 2023 at 9:01 pm
  Many thanks, Nathan. Enjoy!
  Reply
dina and bruce miller
May 04, 2023 at 12:39 pm

My mother’s ancesters are from Germany. She made us many dishes, but not this one. I know she would have loved this. Thank you for sharing. Can not wait to make for my family.
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  May 05, 2023 at 9:13 pm
  Thanks, Dina and Bruce. Enjoy!
  Reply
Tayler
May 04, 2023 at 12:10 pm

I made this beef rouladen for dinner last night and it was a total win! My whole family loved it!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  See Also
  This Chicken Fried Steak Is Ladd's Favorite
  May 05, 2023 at 9:14 pm
  Thanks, Tayler! So glad that you like the rouladen.
  Reply
Suja md
May 04, 2023 at 11:49 am

I just love this and its was a big hit with everyone. And this was such a pleasing experience!
Reply
Michaela ward
November 24, 2022 at 10:49 am
My grandparents were from Baden Baden Germany and this is so close to recipe that my grandmother brought over from Germany! Haven’t made it for years but will again!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  November 24, 2022 at 12:27 pm
  Thanks so much, Michaela!
  Reply
Janeane M Davis
December 19, 2021 at 6:04 pm
This recipe looks and sounds delicious. I would like to try it for my famly.
Reply
Melissa Cushing
December 17, 2021 at 6:44 am

I pinned this delicious recipe and have never heard of this before but it looks and sounds amazing! My entire family would love this,.. making t this week!
Reply
Everything Enchanting
December 16, 2021 at 5:44 pm
I don’t eat beef but I know of someone who would love this dish 😍 I’ll share this recipe with her 🙂
Reply
Lynndee
December 15, 2021 at 8:28 am
I’ve never had this dish before. But I love a good beef dish. That looks delish!
Reply
Swathi
December 15, 2021 at 12:49 am

This beef rouladen looks delicious great meal with some soup or bread.
Reply
Tasheena
December 14, 2021 at 6:16 pm

This recipe looks really savory, looking forward to giving this recipe a try.
Reply
Brianna
December 14, 2021 at 2:19 pm
YuM! I’m going to make this for my husband and son, they would LOVE this!
Reply
Lisa Night Charleston
December 14, 2021 at 1:09 pm

I don’t eat much beef but man this really looks delicious and simple to make too. My son in law would love this recipe!
Reply
Marysa
December 14, 2021 at 10:34 am
I have never heard of this dish before, but it sounds delicious. I’m sure my husband would really enjoy this.
Reply
Lisa
December 14, 2021 at 9:44 am

Wow this looks delicious! I don’t care for beef much but this recipe makes me want to try this out!
Reply
Richelle Milar
December 14, 2021 at 8:29 am

This is such a really great and perfectly looking recipe I would really love to try this one
Reply
Rose Ann Sales
December 14, 2021 at 8:28 am

Wow this looks absolutely delicious it is so mouthwatering I love this recipe so much
Reply
Gervin Khan
December 14, 2021 at 6:16 am

Such a mouthwatering dish. A perfect meal to prepare for our tonight’s dinner.
Reply
Catalina
December 14, 2021 at 4:54 am

Mmmm… these beef rolls look so inviting! They are perfect for our Sunday family dinner!
Reply
Monica Simpson
December 13, 2021 at 11:23 pm
Spicy mustard, pickles and onions stuffed inside? This sounds amazing.
Reply
Terri Steffes
December 13, 2021 at 9:54 pm
This sounds so good. I love something a little different and this is it!
Reply
Jei Laine
December 13, 2021 at 6:44 pm
I am not really on beef or meaty but this german beef looks so delicious! I will try to cook this. My family will surely love this.
Reply
Beth
December 13, 2021 at 5:10 pm
I can see how this would become a favorite recipe, it looks so good!
Reply
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
December 13, 2021 at 3:02 pm

I don’t eat a lot of meaty dishes but this one sounds really lovely. I’m loving the beef, pickle, and mustard combination.
Reply
Amber Myers
December 13, 2021 at 1:51 pm
This sounds tasty! I will have to make this for dinner one night. We love German food!
Reply
Tara Pittman
December 13, 2021 at 1:04 pm
My husband would love this recipe. He is a big meat eater.
Reply
Carrie Robinson
September 09, 2021 at 7:58 am

Looks like I definitely need to add this to my dinner rotation soon! Yum! 🙂
Reply
Danielle Wolter
September 09, 2021 at 5:45 am

I am drooling over this recipe…I cannot wait to make it. It’s slotted for the weekend!
Reply
Beth Sachs
September 09, 2021 at 5:36 am

This looks like proper comfort food! We love beef!
Reply
Dannii
September 09, 2021 at 2:23 am

Oh this looks like total comfort food. I love the addition of dill pickles too.
Reply
Carolyn
August 28, 2021 at 10:48 am
I grew up with this recipe and my family loves it. I add sour cream to my gravy and serve it with egg noodles.
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  August 28, 2021 at 5:50 pm
  Delicious! I love rouladen!
  Reply
Jenny
August 16, 2021 at 5:34 pm
A German lady served this to my husband before we met- and he remembered it and asked her to teach me. Forty years later I still have the paper recipe with her writing! The problem can be the bacon being weird and limp and unappetizing, even though it’s cooked through. She partially cooked the bacon slices ahead of time and wrapped them on the outside with the toothpicks, or just crumbled up crispy bacon over the dish at the end, while using the bacon grease for cooking. It was great that way. Sometimes she put a few long fresh green beans and a thin long carrot slice inside when rolling, to be extra fancy for company!
Reply
Anjali
August 16, 2021 at 1:45 am

I actually hadn’t heard of this dish before I came across your recipe but now I can’t wait to try it! It looks so satisfying and hearty – perfect for dinner this week!
Reply
Seema Sriram
August 15, 2021 at 11:24 pm

This is serious cooking. I love the images you have captured. Shows exactly how the dish should be and helps a new cook to try it.
Reply
Nart at Cooking with Nart
August 15, 2021 at 11:00 pm

I tried making this dish for the first time using this recipe and boy it didn’t disappoint! just so, so good!
Reply
Jona
August 15, 2021 at 9:33 pm

This was a hit all around the dinner table last night! The beef was perfectly seasoned and I am tempted to have it again for dinner tonight!
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  August 16, 2021 at 7:47 am
  Thanks Jona! So glad that you liked it. It is one of our favorite dishes!
  Reply
Irina
August 15, 2021 at 7:15 pm

Oh, I am in love with the recipe! Made this beef rouladen for our lunch today! It was amazingly delicious. I will be making it again for sure. YUMMY!
Reply
Jan
July 30, 2021 at 1:16 pm
This recipe is how I’ve made these since living in Germany in the 80’s. A family favorite for almost 40 years now.
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  August 02, 2021 at 7:04 am
  Always so darn delicious!
  Reply
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
July 14, 2021 at 10:28 am

Wow!! This German Beef Rouladen dish looks amazing!!
Reply
Krystle
July 13, 2021 at 10:14 pm

Always looking for new ways to cook steak. This was unique and delicious. Hubby ate 2!
Reply
Claire
July 13, 2021 at 9:53 pm

This is amazing!!! Would love to try this!
Reply
Amanda
July 13, 2021 at 6:14 pm
My husband loves anything German, I cannot wait to make this!
Reply
Robert
July 13, 2021 at 9:55 am

I’ve been making this since a young man, followed my moms methods. I do though highly suggest a good German Barrel pickle, to us it makes a world of difference. I also dice and sweat my onion in bacon fat, I don’t believe I saw it mentioned, but I do use a mechanical meat tenderizer to thin the meat and soften it up a little. But ya gotta have Spetzle and Red Cabbage with it ! ! ! ok just my humble opinion, hehehe…
Reply
- Beth Pierce
  July 13, 2021 at 12:21 pm
  Thanks for the tips Robert! They are so delicious. I wish I had some now!
  Reply
- Nicole
  August 28, 2021 at 1:03 pm
  I have to ask . What is spetzle? And where can you find a good German barrel pickle? Thanks
  Reply
Cathy
July 13, 2021 at 8:23 am
This is such a delicious dinner! They’re so flavorful!
Reply
Claire
July 11, 2021 at 8:13 pm

This is HIGH CLASS! It looks so savory, I wish I can dive on my screen right now!
Reply
Sandi Gaertner
July 11, 2021 at 10:36 am

Your easy step by step directions helped make this a breeze to make!
Reply
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
July 11, 2021 at 8:22 am

This German Beef Rouladen sounds amazing! I want to dive into my screen!
Reply
Catalina
July 11, 2021 at 5:08 am

Mmmm…. how good this dish looks! I am always looking for new recipes for my family!
Reply
- Catalina
  July 14, 2021 at 1:13 pm
  
  I’ve made this and my family loved it! It’s our new favorite dinner!
  Reply
Vikki
July 10, 2021 at 1:01 am

Very tasty beef rouladen! Love the combination of flavors here
Reply