Easy Crock Pot Pot Roast (with Gravy!)
This crock pot pot roast is the ultimate comfort food and it’s SUPER easy to throw together. The slow cooker does all the work and delivers a perfectly tender, juicy pot roast with tender-crisp veggies and an optional 5-minute stovetop gravy!
Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
- The prep time is super quick! The best part about this recipe is that the slow cooker does most of the work! You just sear the roast, give the aromatics a quick saute, pop it all in the slow cooker, and head to work. By the time you come home, you’ll walk in the door to a delicious aroma and a tasty home-cooked meal that’s ready when you are.
- You’ve got easy lunches or dinners for the week! This slow cooker pot roast recipe tastes even better when it’s reheated making it one of our family’s favorites! It also freezes beautifully if you aren’t feeding a large family or want to deliver a delicious freezer meal to a friend!
- While this pot roast is almost a complete meal, you can easily throw together some quick garlic bread or a simple house salad and you’ve got a well-rounded dinner the whole family will love!
- You can still make a delicious brown gravy, even when you cook pot roast in the slow cooker! Just add a cornstarch slurry to the cooking liquid, simmer for a few minutes, and voila! Homemade gravy in just minutes that will perfectly coat the tender shredded beef, potatoes, and carrots!
Ingredients for Crock Pot Pot Roast
- Chuck Roast: I like to use a chuck roast for my slow cooker pot roast. See below for other cuts of meat that you can use instead.
- Onion & Garlic: Yellow onion and fresh cloves of garlic are the perfect aromatic flavor base for this roast. Slice the onion, smash the garlic, and saute and you’ll add TONS of delicious flavor to this roast.
- Tomato Paste: Tomato paste is one of my favorite ways to add depth of flavor in just minutes. The color also makes the gravy a deeper brown which I love. You can omit this ingredient if I don’t have it on hand, but I highly recommend keeping a tube of tomato paste in the fridge for recipes like this and my taco meat and chili recipe!
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a touch of sweetness that balances out the acid from the tomato paste. It also pairs really well with the aromatics of the roast.
- Herbs & Spices: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, and bay leaves are my favorite herbs and spices for this pot roast. Feel free to use your family’s favorites.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Worcestershire sauce is going to enhance the flavor of the beef and add some umami flavor as well.
- Beef Stock: You can use beef broth or beef stock. I find that the stock has a bit more flavor.
- Carrots: You can chop up whole carrots or use baby carrots. I find that freshly chopped carrots have more flavor.
- Baby Gold Potatoes: Try to find potatoes that are about the same size so they cook evenly. You can use baby red potatoes as well.
How to Make Pot Roast in a Slow Cooker
Season roast with salt and pepper and sear it in olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Place in slow cooker.
Saute onion, garlic, tomato paste, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Deglaze with Worcestershire sauce and a couple splashes of beef stock.
Add the onion and garlic mixture, carrots, and potatoes to the large crock pot. Pour in the remaining beef stock. Add a few liberal pinches of salt and pepper. Nestle fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, and bay leaves into the veggies.
Put the lid on and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours or until the roast shreds easily. Garnish with parsley and make brown gravy if desired!
How to Make Pot Roast Gravy
- If you want to make a delicious gravy for this pot roast, you’re in luck – it’s super easy!
- Strain the broth from the pot roast after it’s cooked and pour it into a saucepan over medium heat.
- Dissolve 3 tablespoons cornstarch in 3 tablespoons cold water. Stir the slurry into the broth.
- Simmer over medium to medium-low heat for a few minutes until the gravy thickens to your liking. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Best Cuts of Meat for Pot Roast
While the term “pot roast” typically implies a chuck roast, you can also use a few other cuts of meat. My favorites, in order, are:
- chuck roast
- round roast (bottom round or rump roast)
- shoulder roast
- brisket
- short ribs
You want to look for a cut of meat with good marbling so that it will stand up to a nice slow cook. The slow cooking process will help render the fat and create a perfectly tender, juicy, fall-apart roast.
Tips for Making
- Cut the carrots uniformly, about the same size as the potatoes. This will ensure that all the veggies cook evenly and are done at the same time. I like to use baby potatoes that I don’t need to cut or that I just need to slice in half to save on prep time.
- Sear the roast in a large saute pan or large cast iron skillet instead of a large pot. The saute pan will have more surface area which means that you can get a great sear on the entire roast. It will also be easier to move it from the pan to the slow cooker.
- Don’t skip the sear or the saute! Searing the roast is going to add tons of flavor and make it even juicier. Sauteeing the aromatics is going to really deepen the flavors of the overall dish. It’s a little bit of extra work but it really makes all the difference!
- Check the slow cooker after 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low and see how things are looking. If the veggies are fork-tender but the roast isn’t shreddable yet, remove the veggies and let the roast cook until it shreds easily with two forks. Then you can pop the veggies back in once the roast is done to warm through before serving. All crock pots are going to cook slightly differently so the cooking time will vary.
- I find that a 6-7 quart crock pot works best for this recipe. Anything smaller and you likely won’t be able to fit it all in. If your crock pot is smaller and you can’t fit the roast in the crock pot as is, cut it in half and then just sear each half, and then cook them in the crock pot.
FAQ
Is it better to cook a roast on high or low in a crock pot?
Either will work just fine! Even if you set it on the high setting it’s still going to take a good 5-6 hours or more. The slow setting will take about 8-10 hours. It all depends on how much time you’ve got to cook the meal!
Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crock pot?
Yes! It is totally worth the extra time and effort because it will make the overall flavor of the dish SO much better. Searing the roast before slow cooking allows that rich dark brown crust to form which means more flavor and a more appealing appearance.
How long should I leave my pot roast in the crock pot?
This roast cooks in the crock pot for about 5-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low. Every slow cooker will cook slightly differently and depending on the size of your roast it may take more or less time to cook the pot roast.
Should pot roast be covered with liquid in slow cooker?
Not necessarily! 32 ounces of beef stock is the perfect amount for this roast. The steam that’s trapped in the slow cooker will cook the meat and veggies, even without your roast being completely submerged in the cooking liquid. Depending on the size and shape of your roast, it may or not be covered by the beef broth and that’s just fine.
Make-Ahead Pot Roast
This recipe for pot roast in the slow cooker is one of my favorites because it’s a delicious make-ahead meal! I love to throw it together on a Sunday and then have an easy meal to warm up for quick lunches or simple dinners all week. The slow-cooked nature of the beef allows it to reheat beautifully without feeling like boring, dried-out, bland leftovers! And the gravy reheats well too!
Storing Leftover Pot Roast
Store leftover pot roast and veggies in an airtight container for up to a week. Store the gravy or juices along with the shredded roast so that it’s submerged. This will keep it from drying out.
Freezing Leftover Pot Roast
Freeze leftover pot roast in its juices or gravy in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Reheat leftover pot roast in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the shredded beef, broth or gravy, and veggies to the pot and cook, stirring occasionally until warmed through. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.
Try these family favorites next!
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Crock Pot Pot Roast
This crock pot pot roast is the ultimate comfort food and it’s SUPER easy to throw together. The slow cooker does all the work and delivers a perfectly tender, juicy pot roast with tender-crisp veggies and an optional 5-minute stovetop gravy!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 8–10 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 3–4 pound chuck roast, fat trimmed
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, cut into 1/2” slices
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 32 ounces beef stock
- 2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into 2-3″ pieces
- 2 pounds baby gold potatoes, halved if they’re large
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch, optional (for making gravy)
- Kosher salt
- fresh cracked pepper
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat.
- Pat roast dry. Season liberally on all sides with Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Add roast to the large saute pan and sear on all sides (including the edges), cooking for about 4-5 minutes per side. Place in slow cooker.
- Without wiping out the pan, reduce heat to medium, add onion along with a couple pinches of salt and pepper and cook, stirring occaisonally for about 4 minutes.
- Add garlic, tomato paste, brown sugar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. Cook for another minute or so.
- Add Worcestershire sauce to the pot along with a couple splashes of beef stock to deglaze the bottom and scrape the yummy bits off.
- Add the onion and garlic mixture, carrots, and potatoes to the large crock pot. Pour in remaining beef stock. Add a few liberal pinches of salt and pepper.
- Nestle fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, and bay leaves into the veggies.
- Put the lid on and cook on high for 5-6 hours or on low for 8-10 hours or until the roast shreds easily.
- To make gravy, if desired, strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan on the stove over medium heat.
- Dissolve 3 tablespoons cornstarch in 3 tablespoons cold water. Stir cornstarch slurry into the stock.
- Bring gravy to a simmer and simmer, stirring frequently for a few minutes or until the gravy thickens to your liking. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Garnish roast with fresh chopped parsley and serve with gravy.
- If you loved this pot roast recipe, please leave a 5-star rating and review below!
Notes
- Cut the carrots uniformly, about the same size as the potatoes. This will ensure that all the veggies cook evenly and are done at the same time. I like to use baby potatoes that I don’t need to cut or that I just need to slice in half to save on prep time.
- Sear the roast in a large saute pan or large cast iron skillet instead of a large pot. The saute pan will have more surface area which means that you can get a great sear on the entire roast. It will also be easier to move it from the pan to the slow cooker.
- Don’t skip the sear or the saute! Searing the roast is going to add tons of flavor and make it even juicier. Sauteeing the aromatics is going to really deepen the flavors of the overall dish. It’s a little bit of extra work but it really makes all the difference!
- Check the slow cooker after 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low and see how things are looking. If the veggies are fork-tender but the roast isn’t shreddable yet, remove the veggies and let the roast cook until it shreds easily with two forks. Then you can pop the veggies back in once the roast is done to warm through before serving. All crock pots are going to cook slightly differently so the cooking time will vary.
- I find that a 6-7 quart crock pot works best for this recipe. Anything smaller and you likely won’t be able to fit it all in. If your crock pot is smaller and you can’t fit the roast in the crock pot as is, cut it in half and then just sear each half, and then cook them in the crock pot.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 of meat, veggies, and broth/gravy
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 7.7 g
- Sodium: 738.7 mg
- Fat: 11.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 28.9 g
- Fiber: 5.8 g
- Protein: 31.6 g
- Cholesterol: 80.4 mg
Could I make this with a round roast?
I haven’t tried it before but I think this recipe would work well with most any roast!
This is my favorite pot roast recipe! It has been on repeat in our home almostly weekly for the past 2 months!
Woohoo! Love to hear that, Ashley!
In the instructions, I don’t see where it says to add the tomato paste mixture to the crockpot so I just threw it in after the vegetables.
In step #7 it says to add the onion and garlic mixture to the slow cooker. That is the mixture that has the tomato paste in it. Hope that helps to clarify!
This recipe was very easy to follow and I ended up with the most flavorful pot roast.
The browning of the ingredients, including the roast, gave it such a rich flavor.
This will now be my go-to recipe!!
Woohoo! So glad to hear that, Alice 🙂 Thanks for leaving a review!!
Hi Kylie. This was pot roast was excellent! The meat and vegetables were perfectly done in six hours. I made a roux of three tablespoons of melted butter and three tablespoons of flour. I whisked in most of the sauce. It was the perfect thickness and delicious over everything including mashed potatoes! I will definitely be making this again. Thank you!
YUM! That sounds delicious, Tammy!!!
I’m not kidding I always get full after one serving but this had me going back for a heaping of seconds!!! The best pot roast I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to make this for the rest of my life now!! Thank you!!! 😍
Woohoo! What a rave review, Katie 🙂 I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed this slow cooker pot roast recipe!
I have made this for my husband and I, twice now in this last month…and let me tell you, it has been an absolute FAVORITE of ours! This recipe is absolutely incredible and we can’t stop raving about it! So glad I came across this, thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that, Amy!
Hubs doesn’t eat red meat so I bought a 1.5 pound chuck roast before I started looking at recipes. I’d like to keep the full amount of veggies but with this smaller roast. Same cooking time? Can’t wait to try it, have had pot roast since childhood (40+ years!)
You could probably decrease the cooking time slightly for a smaller roast!
Just made your recipe for the 3rd time. My husband loves it! I don’t eat beef, but he says it’s awesome and braggs to his friends that I don’t eat meat but can make a mean roast. Thanks for the recipe!
Hahaha you are a saint to make him this pot roast when you don’t eat meat!! He’s lucky to have you 😉 Glad y’all have enjoyed this recipe.
You are vegetarian or vegan? Or do you cook separate from veggies?
If not, the roast sure would flavor it. I fully understand though. My grandson and wife are vegans. But their food is so good. My other granddaughter is off and on according to her finances. The texture in her mouth is the biggest thing.
My other granddaughter’s friend she lives with is vegan too.
I wish I could do that. I have cut way back on portions of meat. Love veggies.
Turned out PERFECT! Great flavor depth and the steps were so easy to follow with the added detail. Already recommended to my sister!
-Coco in FL
I’m so glad that you enjoyed this slow cooker pot roast, Coco! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review – I really appreciate it 🙂
Just put this delicious smelling meat and veggies in the crockpot. I’m sure it won’t disappoint!!
I can’t wait to hear what you think, Molly!
I just loved this recipe,
The roast flavor was great and the drippings made the most awesome gravy, rivaling the best demi in NYC!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Nick! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Wonderful flavor and tenderness, thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this pot roast, Lisa!
Sounds delicious, cooking tonight
I can’t wait to hear what you think, Valerie! This is one of our family’s favorites!!