This slow cooker pot roast is a chuck roast simmered to tender perfection in a crock pot with carrots and potatoes. A comfort food classic that’s simple to make, and is great for feeding a crowd.
When it’s cold outside, I often make slow cooker favorites such as salisbury steak, chicken noodle soup and this easy and hearty pot roast.
Slow cooker pot roast is a great way to turn an inexpensive piece of meat into an extraordinary meal. This dish is loaded with bold, savory flavors and is a complete meal that will satisfy even the biggest appetites.
What is the best meat for pot roast?
The best cut of beef for pot roast is any piece of meat at the store that is labeled as chuck. I prefer to use a boneless chuck roast, although a bone-in cut will also work just fine. Chuck is a well marbled and inexpensive cut of meat that becomes super tender when cooked for an extended period of time.
How do you make slow cooker pot roast?
First, season your roast and brown it on both sides in a pan on the stove top. While the roast is browning, prepare your sauce which consists of beef broth, herbs, spices, tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Place your sauce in the bottom of a crockpot, then place the meat and vegetables in the pot and spoon the sauce over the top. Add a few strips of bacon on top, then cover your crockpot. Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat, or until the roast is super tender. Strain the cooking liquid into a pan, then simmer it with corn starch to thicken and make gravy. Pour the gravy over the meat and vegetables, then sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot?
You do not have to brown a roast before putting it into a slow cooker. That being said, I find that it’s really worth the extra time to brown the roast first. The browning process adds a lot of extra flavor to the meat. If you’re really pressed for time, it’s fine to just put the meat into the pot without searing it first.
Tips for the perfect roast
- Make sure to cut your carrots and potatoes into large pieces so that they do not get mushy during the long cooking time. You can also add your vegetables in halfway through the cooking process if you prefer them to have a firmer texture.
- This dish is even better when made a day in advance. Store the roast and vegetables in a covered dish, then reheat in the oven at 325 degrees F until warmed through.
- Do not be tempted to add more liquid to the pot. The meat will release a lot of liquid as it cooks.
- You can either slice your cooked roast, or shred it with two forks.
- While I like to add a little parsley on top at the end, if you don’t have parsley you can also use chives, thyme leaves or fresh basil.
- This recipe can be served as a complete meal, or you can add another side dish such as garlic bread or a green salad.
Slow cooker pot roast variations
While this recipe is delicious as written, you can add other ingredients to customize it to your tastes.
- Vegetables: Swap out the carrots and potatoes for other hearty vegetables such as mushrooms, parsnips,celery, sweet potatoes, butternut squash or turnips.
- Flavorings: Feel free to add other flavorings to the sauce such as Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, butter, onion soup mix, beer or red wine.
This pot roast is one of the best I’ve ever had, and it comes out melt-in-your-mouth tender every single time. The whole family is sure to love this recipe!
More crock pot classics
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
- Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
- Crockpot Meatloaf with Vegetables
- Chicken Tortellini Soup
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 pound chuck roast
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 onion peeled and cut into wedges
- 2 pounds small Yukon gold potatoes whole or halved
- 1 pound carrots peeled, halved and cut into 2 inch pieces
- 3 slices bacon
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Season the roast generously all over with salt and pepper.
- Place the meat in the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes per side or until browned.
- Place the beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning, bay leaf, smoked paprika and salt and pepper in the bottom of a large slow cooker. Whisk to combine.
- Arrange the onions, carrots and potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the roast on top.
- Lay the slices of bacon on top of the roast. Cover and cook for 6-8 hours on low heat.
- Remove the meat and vegetables from the pot and arrange on a serving platter. Discard the bay leaf and bacon.
- Pour the liquid from the slow cooker through a strainer into a medium sized saucepan. Skim any fat from the liquid. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat.
- Whisk together the corn starch with 3 tablespoons of cold water. Add the corn starch mixture to the pan of liquid. Bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute or until gravy has just thickened.
- Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Jane says
I love your recipes as they always come out perfect! Meat was so tender and everything tasted great!
Julia Acheson says
I made this for family tonight and it disappeared! Thank you for s great recipe and for providing creative alternative suggestions. I added soy sauce and a little raw sugar – it was perfect!
Erin says
Your turkey chili was a big this weekend! Can’t wait to try the pot roast next Sunday!
Taylor says
I love all your recipes! This one is another keeper
Beth Harrington says
This recipe for pot roast has become my favorite one to use. I decided to make this at the last minute for a family dinner party, so I tried it in the oven instead and it came out superb. I don’t generally like cooked carrots, but with the seasonings in the gravy, even picky old me found them delicious. Thanks again for the wonderful recipe!
Eileen Derosa says
Really awesome. I will try these at my home.
Merrilee says
This Pot roast looks so good and tasty. I will have to try this recipe with my Crockpot. This will be great.
Catalina says
I love slow cooker recipes. They are so easy to make and always so tasty!
Toni says
This is SO amazing!! Everyone at my house really love it!
Vikki says
Love this recipe! Beautiful roast, came out just right
Erin says
This slow cooker pot roast looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Tara says
This pot roast is super tender and tasty! I love the combination of flavors, my mouth is watering right now!
Amanda says
Such a perfect use for my slow cooker! I can’t wait to try this out!
Beth says
I made this for dinner and it was so delicious! My family and I loved this!
Jen says
Seriously the best pot roast EVER! My hubby & I both enjoyed it. My only complaint was that we had no leftovers haha….we couldn’t stop eating it!!!
Thank you so much for giving out this delicious recipe. This will be my only pot roast recipe from now on!
Karlene Scott says
This recipe looks great and I would like to cook and serve it. Can you tell me what size slow cooker you did this in? The recipe calls for a 4 pound chuck roast does this mean I need a 4-Quart or bigger slow cooker? Thank you.
Sara says
The crock pot shown in the photos is a 4 quart pot. It does work, you just might need to arrange some of the veggies around the meat instead of all underneath, depending on the shape of your roast. You could also do a slightly smaller roast if you’re concerned!
Karlene Scott says
Thank you for responding and I am going to get a crock pot and do this recipe.