Slow Cooker Pot Roast – Immaculate Bites

How long to cook pot roast in a slow cooker

A pot roast usually starts with browning the beef, which is then slowly simmered in broth for hours. The browning creates a beautiful crust, and you can also drain the browned bits from the skillet and transfer the liquid golden brown to a slow cooker for a more flavorful gravy.

I prefer to cook it slow and low for maximum tenderness and flavor, so it usually takes 7-8 hours, but if you speed it up on high heat and cook it for 3 1/2 to 4 hours, you’ll end up with a pot roast so tender it easily comes off the fork.

Recipe Ingredients

1. roast – Beef chuck roast is perfect for this recipe because it is marbled, tender, and flavorful. You can also use other cuts of meat that taste great when slow cooked, such as brisket, shank (like osso bucco), or oxtail.
2. seasoning – Onion, garlic and celery create a mouthwatering flavour base, while bay leaf and thyme add an earthy, minty flavour. Cajun Creole Seasoning It has a slight spiciness and a rich flavor.
3. Tomato paste This will thicken the sauce and increase its flavor.
4. broth – Beef bouillon is essential for tenderizing beef and creating a flavorful gravy. Canned bouillon or Homemade beef soup.
5. vegetables – Potatoes and carrots are classic pot roast veggies. Yukon gold potatoes are great because they don’t fall apart as they cook. You can also use russet or red potatoes. If you’re using baby carrots, wash them and add them with the potatoes.
6. gravy – Butter, flour and the cooking liquids from the roast create a smooth, silky gravy.

How to Make Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker

Pot roast

• prepare – Trim off roast and any visible fat, rinse and pat dry with paper towels.
• season – Season the roast generously with salt and pepper, rubbing the salt into as many crevices and cracks as possible. Cajun Creole Seasoning. Place it aside.
• bake – Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat and place the roast in the pan. Cook on both sides until browned (3-4 minutes per side). Transfer the roast to a slow cooker container (I used a 6 quart slow cooker). (Photo 1)
• seasoning – Add the bay leaf, onion, garlic, celery and thyme to the pan. Stir until fragrant or about 2-3 minutes. (Photo 2)
• Deglaze – Add the tomato paste and beef broth, scraping the pan on all sides to remove any browned bits. Bring to a boil, turn off the stove and pour the mixture into the slow cooker. (Photos 3 to 5)
• vegetables – Place the carrots and potatoes in the slow cooker and add salt to taste (remember, you can always add more salt). (Photo 6)
• Slow Cook – Cover and cook slowly on high for approximately 3 1/2 to 4 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours. Check after 3 1/2 hours on high or 7 hours on low to see if the roast is cooked through or just tender.

Pot Roast Gravy

• distortion – Remove the roast from the slow cooker and let sit for 10 minutes. Use a spoon to skim off any visible fat on the surface of the roasting liquid. Remove the bay leaves and thyme stalks. Strain the vegetables, reserving the broth.
• Roo – Melt the butter in a saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. Gently whisk in the flour to create a roux, stirring for 2-3 minutes until it has a raw flour taste.
• Whisk – While whisking, gradually add 1/4 cup or more liquid. Continue whisking until mixture becomes a smooth sauce.
• gravy – Add remaining liquid and adjust consistency to taste. (Remember, gravy will thicken as it cools.) Season with salt and pepper.
• serve – Slice the pot roast and serve with the vegetables and gravy. Serve.

Material exchange

1. Add vegetables. Customize your veggies to suit your taste by adding parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, mushrooms, etc. Don’t add the asparagus and bell peppers until the end to avoid them becoming mushy.
2. Umami boost. Add a couple of tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce for extra flavor.
3. Soup exchange. Replace half of the beef broth with a dry red wine — Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot work well with pot roast.
4. Low carb. For a lower carb meal, add cauliflower instead of potatoes. Cauliflower cooks faster than potatoes, so add it when the dish is half cooked.
5. Roast beef sandwichInstead of slicing the roast, carefully shred it with two forks. Leftover shredded pot roast is perfect for sandwiches, rice bowls, or taco fillings.
6. VenisonSubstitute the venison roast for the beef roast and cook as usual.
7. Gluten FreeTo make a gluten-free, stress-free gravy, mix cornstarch thickener (3 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water) directly into the crockpot during the last hour of cooking.

Recipe Notes

1. Searing the beef (or any meat) will give it a crispy exterior (the Maillard reaction) and create a more flavorful soup, but you can also just add all the ingredients directly to the crockpot and have delicious results.
2. For a juicy, well-seasoned meal, rub salt generously all over the roast.
3. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can braise this pot roast in a Dutch oven on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, keeping an eye on the liquid level and adding more broth as needed.
4. Cut vegetables into large chunks to keep their shape. Smaller chunks will cook faster and fall apart more easily.

Advance preparation and storage methods

Slow cooker pot roast is a great make-ahead dish because it stores easily and is even better the next day. Make it up to 3 days ahead of time and refrigerate in an airtight container.

This versatile dish can also be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 4 months and thawed in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the oven at 325°F (160°C) until warmed through or on the stove for 15 to 20 minutes.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Pot Roast and Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Homemade breadsticks To sop up every last drop of rich, flavorful gravy Tossed Salad or Wedge Salad For color and texture.

Try more hearty slow cooker recipes

1. Cooker Chicken Thighs
2. Pork loin
3. Slow Cooker Ham
4. French Dip Sandwich
5. Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken

This blog post was originally published in January 2018 and has been updated with additional tips and beautiful photos.