Elevate your beef recipes with this Slow Cooker Pot Roast! This classic pot roast recipe transforms basic ingredients into the perfect juicy roast for any occasion.
If you’re looking for the best crock pot roast recipe, you’re in luck. This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is one of our favorite slow cooker recipes, right alongside our Slow Cooker Short Ribs, Lamb stew or Slow Cooker Shredded Beef. This ultimate comfort food boasts incredible flavor and low effort, perfect for a cold night or Sunday dinner. With a few simple ingredients, you can craft a delicious roast with tons of leftovers to enjoy again and again.
What Is Crockpot Chuck Roast?
Slow cooker pot roast takes tougher cuts of meat like chuck roast and cooks it at a low temperature for hours in broth, vegetables, and fresh herbs. We love using the crockpot to make this recipe as it’s super low-maintenance, making it perfect for busy weeknights. If you don’t have a crockpot, feel free to use a large Dutch oven and cook it on the stovetop for 3-4 hours or until the beef is fork tender.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast Ingredients
- Chuck Roast: The star of the show, the chuck roast, is a flavorful and well-marbled cut of meat. Slow cooking allows it to become tender and juicy, soaking in all the delicious flavors.
- Kosher Salt and Freshly ground Pepper
- Oil
- Onion, Carrot, Garlic
- Red Wine: The red wine not only adds richness and complexity to the sauce but also helps deglaze the pan, incorporating flavorful bits stuck to the surface during searing.
- Beef Broth: Acting as the base for the cooking liquid, beef broth infuses the roast with savory notes and keeps it moist throughout the slow cooking process. If you want to add a little more depth, a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce is a great addition, too.
- Fresh Thyme: This herb imparts a subtle earthy and fresh flavor, complementing the richness of the meat and vegetables.
- Cornstarch: Used to thicken the gravy, cornstarch provides a smooth and velvety texture to the sauce, bringing the dish together.
How to Make This Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
- First, pat the chuck roast dry with paper towels. Secure it with kitchen twine wrapped around the outside edge to help it maintain its shape during cooking. Sprinkle the roast generously with salt on all sides.
- Next, preheat your slow cooker for the sear setting, or you can use a large skillet if your Crockpot doesn’t have this feature. Add oil to the bottom of the pot when preheated, and add the chuck roast to sear the beef on both sides for about 5 to 7 minutes per side. Once seared, set the beef aside.
- In the same slow cooker or skillet, sauté onions and carrots for 5-7 minutes until just softened. Then, add garlic to infuse more flavor into the mix. Pour in a little of the red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up the browned bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon. Add in the remaining red wine.
- Nestle the seared beef back into the slow cooker. Add in the fresh thyme and pour in the beef broth. Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on high for 5-7 hours or low for 6-9 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the meat to become fork-tender.
- When the cooking time is up, carefully remove the roast from the slow cooker and let it rest for 15 minutes. Use this time to cut away the twine from the roast.
- Now, strain the cooking liquid into a small saucepan, making sure to save the veggies. To create a slurry, mix cornstarch with a teaspoon of water. Gradually incorporate the slurry into the liquid, bringing it to a boil while stirring occasionally. Let the gravy simmer for about 10 minutes until it thickens to a smooth consistency.
- Finally, serve the tender pot roast with the veggies, and don’t forget to drizzle that rich gravy over top for an extra layer of flavor.
What to Serve With This Delicious Pot Roast
Served over mashed parsnips or creamy mashed potatoes with some of the flavorful gravy from the beef roast. A fresh side of crispy green beans or foil-wrapped asparagus is also nice alongside this hearty slow cooker pot roast recipe.