Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe | Instant Pot Recipe

Few other dishes rival the warm, enveloping appeal of a slow cooker pot roast. This is the ultimate comfort food with tender meat, deep flavors and filling vegetables in a classic dish. Whether you’re making a Sunday family dinner or organizing meals for the week, slow cooker pot roast delivers ease and satisfaction. Here’s what you need to know to master this classic.

Read Also More About: Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna Recipe

A hearty slow cooker pot roast with tender beef, vegetables, and rich gravy.

Why Use a Slow Cooker?

Most every home cook’s best friend is the slow cooker, and it’s ideal for pot roast. Its low, gentle heat breaks down the connective tissues in tougher cuts of meat, think chuck roast or brisket, to fork-tender perfection. Slowly cooking, as well, keeps flavours in harmony with each other, resulting in a steaming rich and savoury food with little work.

A slow cooker filled with a pot roast, tender beef, vegetables, and a rich gravy simmering.

Ingredients Slow Cooker Pot Roast

3 to 4 pounds chuck roast (or any preferred cut of beef)
2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing the roast)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
1 onion, chopped (yellow or white)
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
4 carrots, cut into large pieces (or use baby carrots)
2 to 3 potatoes, cut into large chunks (russet or Yukon gold)
2 to 3 cups beef broth (or enough to cover most of the roast)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for deeper flavor)
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or fresh sprigs)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or fresh sprigs)
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
2 tablespoons water (to mix with cornstarch for slurry)

Picking the Correct Components

The wonderful thing about slow cooker pot roast is its simplicity. 3 With only several vital components, you may have a flavorful and nutritious meal. Here’s what you’ll need:

A selection of components laid out on a workbench, including wires, tools, and electrical parts for assembly.

Meat:

Choose a well-marbled cut, such as chuck roast and texture.

Vegetables:

Carrots, potatoes and onions are the classic trio, but you can include parsnips, celery or mushrooms for more flavor.

Broth:

The base is beef broth or stock, optionally further built up with things like red wine or Worcestershire sauce for more depth.

Seasonings:

You’ll need garlic, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt and pepper. You can even sprinkle in some balsamic vinegar for a gentle acidity.

Read Also More: Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings

Tips for Success

Don’t Skimp on the Sear: Searing the roast before slow-roasting it adds extra flavor.

Cut Vegetables Uniformly: So they cook evenly and don’t get mushy.

Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh thyme and rosemary lend them a vibrant and aromatic quality that the dried versions can’t emulate.

Serving Suggestions Slow Cooker Pot Roast

slow cooker pot roast is a one-pot deal, but it goes well with warm, crusty bread or a simple green salad. Leftovers can be shredded and used in sandwiches, tacos, or baked into savory pies.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Prep Time: 20 Mins > Cook Time: 30 Mins > Total Time: 50 Mins

A slow-cooked pot roast with tender beef, carrots, potatoes, and gravy in a crockpot.

Ingredients:

3 to 4 pounds chuck roast (or any preferred cut of beef)
2 tablespoons olive oil (for searing the roast)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
1 onion, chopped (yellow or white)
3 to 4 garlic cloves, minced
4 carrots, cut into large pieces (or use baby carrots)
2 to 3 potatoes, cut into large chunks (russet or Yukon gold)
2 to 3 cups beef broth (or enough to cover most of the roast)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for deeper flavor)
1 teaspoon dried thyme (or fresh sprigs)
1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or fresh sprigs)
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
2 tablespoons water (to mix with cornstarch for slurry)

Instructions:

Step 1:

Searing the roast in a hot skillet and then transferring it to the slow cooker is optional, but achieves a deeply caramelized flavor on the finished dish.

Step 2:

You will want to layer the vegetables on the bottom of your slow cooker under the meat. Layer the roast on top, then add the broth and seasonings.

Step 3:

On the low setting, dig your roast in for 8–10 hours. For a speedier route, cook on high for 4–6 hours.

Step 4:

When the roast is finished, you can use the cooking liquid to create a thick gravy. You do this by transferring the liquid to a saucepan, stirring in a cornstarch slurry and simmering it until it has thickened.

Conclusion

In summary, this slow cooker pot roast is an effortless yet delicious meal that can feed you for days! What I love most about this dish is how simple it is to prepare and how the ingredients meld together over time to create deliciously tender, juicy meat and perfectly timed vegetables. When you’re cooking for a family dinner or preparing a fancy meal for company, this recipe ensures guaranteed satisfaction every time.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Why Use a Slow Cooker?

Ingredients Slow Cooker Pot Roast