How to cook topside beef (2024)

Beef topside is the long, inner muscle of the cow’s thigh which makes for a lean cut, yet it’s more tender than silverside taken from the hindquarters. It tastes delicious when roasted as a whole joint, or diced and slowly stewed so the meat breaks down and becomes melt-in-the-mouth tender. Because it has a slightly tougher texture than cuts such as rib or fillet, it’s on the cheaper end of the price scale, but what it lacks in texture is made up for with its deliciously rich, savoury flavour.

If you’re looking for some mouth-watering meal inspiration, try our best ever roast beef recipes, including the perfect Sunday roast. Want to master the art of cooking sirloin, rib or fillet? Read our guides on how to cook roast beef and how to cook a beef joint so it falls apart for perfect results every time – plus get your timings exactly right with our roast timer tool.

How do you cook a topside beef joint?

Roast topside beef

Often nicknamed the ‘poor man’s sirloin’, topside makes for a great, thrifty roasting joint that cuts into beautifully uniform slices. It can be served lightly pink. Roasted and thinly sliced it tastes particularly delicious, and any leftovers work well in sandwiches with horseradish mayo, or in salads. Try our roast beef with caramelised onion gravy for an extra-special centrepiece.

Braised topside beef

More like this

Cutting the beef into large chunks and gently cooking it in a stew is a great way to cook topside. It will become soft and should fall apart if cooked for long enough. Topside has less fat running through it than other cuts, making it leaner, and therefore it would work in a lower-fat stew, casserole or curry.

Pot-roasted topside beef

Pot-roasting topside is a great idea because it means slow-cooking the joint in stock, eliminating any toughness in the meat, and the all-in-one method, usually in a cast iron casserole, means less washing-up. Sit the meat on the veg with herbs and aromatics, and try adding wine to the stock before pouring it over. Meat-eaters will relish the meltingly tender results, and the juice that’s released combines with the stock to create a deep, rich gravy. Have a go at making our pot-roast beef with French onion gravy.

Slow cooker topside

When you’re stewing or cooking topside as a fall-apart joint, it can be done in a slow cooker. For stews, follow the stewing instructions and timings, and for a whole joint, make sure the meat is half submerged in liquid and follow our timings on the slow cooker recipe below.

Our favourite topside beef recipes

1.

If you have the time to spare, go the extra mile and make our . This ultra-luxurious family meal is simple to make but looks stunning and is sure to be the talk of the dinner table. Serve with all your favourite trimmings.

2. Slow cooker beef topside with red wine gravy

Put our favourite piece of kitchen kit to work by making our sensational slow cooker beef topside with red wine gravy. Spend a total of just 20 minutes preparing the beef, then slow-cook for added depth of flavour. Haven't got a slow cooker? The same method works with an ovenproof pan (see our handy tip below the recipe).

3. Victorian diable sandwich

Combine classic flavours in our Victorian diable sandwich. This satisfying roast beef sandwich with capers, mustard and gravy is best served warm with even more gravy on the side. It’s pure, afternoon luxury. If you have any leftovers from the Sunday roast, there’s no better use for them.

4. Pepper-crusted roast beef with béarnaise butter

Transform béarnaise sauce into a flavoured butter for ease – it’s just as good and pairs beautifully with pepper-crusted roast beef for a Christmas lunch

For even more sensational roasts and meaty crowd-pleasers, check out our top 10 roast beef recipes.

If you're looking to upgrade your kitchen kit, here are some of our tried, tested and top-rated favourites that would come in handy for cooking topside beef.

See more cookery guides...

How to cook salmon
How to cook buckwheat
How to make breadcrumbs
How to make a baked cheesecake

What's your favourite way to cook topside beef? Leave a comment below.