Forktionary

Beef Birds Recipe

Experience the ultimate comfort food with these savory Beef Birds! Also known as Bacon Rolls or Roulades, this family-favorite recipe yields tender, flavorful beef rolls perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner or a special occasion. Each bite is packed with juicy beef, crispy bacon, and aromatic onions, creating a rich gravy that begs to be soaked up with potatoes. Easily customizable with your favorite herbs and spices, this forgiving recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Makes approximately 24 servings; leftovers freeze beautifully!

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 135 mins
Calories 723.3 kcal
Protein 94g
Rating 4.0 (1 Reviews)
Beef Birds 99

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Beef Birds

  • 2 lbs round steaks
  • 12 slices bacon
  • 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • enough water to reach 3 inches depth in pot, plus 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil

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How to Make Beef Birds

  1. Pound 2 lbs beef steak to 1/4 inch thickness using a meat mallet or the edge of a heavy plate.
  2. Cut the steak into 24 strips, approximately 3x5 inches.
  3. In a shallow dish, whisk together 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp garlic powder. Dredge each beef strip in the seasoned flour.
  4. Place 1/2 slice of bacon and 1 tablespoon thinly sliced onion onto each beef strip, leaving about 1 inch of the end free of onion for easier rolling.
  5. Roll up each beef strip tightly, tucking in the bacon and onion. Secure with 2 toothpicks per roll.
  6. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Brown the beef birds in batches, ensuring all sides are nicely browned. This step is crucial for flavor development.
  7. Once all beef birds are browned, return them to the pot.
  8. Add 2 cups beef broth and enough water to reach a depth of 3 inches in the pot.
  9. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for approximately 1 1/2 hours, or until fork-tender. Check for tenderness after 1 hour.
  10. Remove the beef birds from the pot and set aside. Carefully remove toothpicks.
  11. Skim off some (but not all) of the fat from the pot.
  12. Make a gravy using the pan juices. You can whisk together 2 tablespoons of flour with 1/2 cup cold water to create a slurry, then whisk it into the pan juices. Simmer until thickened. Season to taste.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

45 g

Sugar

4g

Fat

72g

Carbs

6g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Beef & Red Meat The Americas American Fall Recipes Holiday Recipes One Pot Meals

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

Time To Make Preparation Easy Dietary Low Carb Low In Something 4 Hours Or Less