Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Content… How Long to Cook It Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Ingredient Variations Recipe Notes Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Hearty Slow-Cooker Recipes to Try

How Long to Cook a Slow Cooker Pot Roast

A pot roast usually starts by browning the beef and then slow-cooking it in broth for hours. Browning creates a lovely crust. When you deglaze the pan and transfer the liquid gold to the slow cooker, you’ll also get a more flavorful gravy.

I prefer cooking it slow and low for maximum tenderness and flavor. So it usually takes 7-8 hours, but you can speed it up on high and cook it for 3½-4 hours for fall-off-the-fork tender pot roast!

Recipe Ingredients

1. Roast – Beef chuck roast is ideal for this recipe since the marbling makes it tender and flavor-packed. You can also use other cuts of meat that benefit from slow cooking, like brisket, shank (think osso bucco), and oxtail.
2. Seasonings – Onion, garlic, and celery create a mouthwatering flavor base. Bay leaf and thyme deliver earthy, minty flavor notes. Cajun Creole seasoning provides bold flavor with a touch of heat.
3. Tomato Paste thickens the sauce and adds delicious umami.
4. Broth – The beef broth is a flavor powerhouse that tenderizes the beef and creates a flavorful gravy. You can use canned broth or homemade beef broth.
5. Vegetables – Potatoes and carrots are classic pot roast veggies! Yukon Gold potatoes are an excellent choice because they don’t fall apart easily when cooked. But you can also use Russet or red potatoes. For baby carrots, rinse and add with the potatoes.
6. Gravy – Butter, flour, and the cooking liquid from the roast create a smooth, silky gravy.

How to Make a Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Pot Roast

• Prepare – Trim the roast or any visible fat, rinse, and pat dry with paper towels.
• Season – Generously salt and pepper the roast, rubbing the salt into as many cracks and crevasses as possible. Then season it with Cajun Creole seasoning. Set aside.
• Sear – Heat about a tablespoon of oil in a skillet on medium heat, then place the roast in the skillet. Sear it on both sides until brown (3-4 minutes on each side). Transfer the roast to the insert of a slow cooker. (I used a 6-quart slow cooker.) (Photo 1)
• Seasonings – Add the bay leaves, onions, garlic, celery, and thyme to the skillet. Stir until fragrant or 2-3 minutes. (Photo 2)
• Deglaze – Add tomato paste and beef broth, scraping all sides to deglaze the skillet. Bring it to a boil, turn off the stove, and pour the mixture into the slow cooker. (Photos 3-5)
• Vegetables – Toss the carrots and potatoes into the slow cooker and salt to preference. (Remember, you can always add more.) (Photo 6)
• Slow Cook – Cover and slow cook on high for about 3½-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours. You can start checking for doneness after 3½ hours on high or 7 hours on low until the roast is tender.

Pot Roast Gravy

• Strain – Remove the roast from the slow cooker and let it rest for 10 minutes. Skim visible fat from the surface of the roasting liquid with a spoon. Discard the bay leaf and thyme stems. Strain out the vegetables, reserving the broth.
• Roux – Melt the butter in a saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat. Gently whisk the flour in to make a roux, stirring for 2-3 minutes to remove the raw flour taste.
• Whisk -Gradually add a ¼ cup or more liquid while whisking. Continue whisking as the mixture thickens into a smooth sauce.
• Gravy – Add the remaining liquid, adjusting the thickness to personal preference. (Remember, gravy thickens as it cools.) Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve – Slice the pot roast and serve it with the vegetables and gravy. Enjoy!

Ingredient Swaps

1. Veggie add-ins. Customize the vegetables by adding parsnips, sweet potatoes, turnips, or mushrooms according to your palate. Avoid adding asparagus and peppers until almost the end so they don’t become mush.
2. Umami boost. Add a couple tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, or soy sauce for additional depth of flavor.
3. Broth swap. Replace half the beef broth with a dry red wine. Cabernet sauvignon or Merlot complement pot roast nicely.
4. Lower-carb. For a lower-carb meal, swap the potatoes with cauliflower. Cauliflower cooks quicker than potatoes, so add it after the halfway point.
5. Roast beef sandwich. Gently shred the roast with two forks instead of slicing it. Leftover shredded pot roast is perfect for sandwiches, rice bowls, or taco filling!
6. Venison. Replace the beef roast with deer chuck roast, and proceed as usual.
7. Gluten-free. Stir a cornstarch thickener (3 tablespoons cornstarch and 3 tablespoons cold water) directly into the crock pot during the last hour of cooking for a gluten-free, stress-free gravy.

Recipe Notes

1. Searing beef (or any meat) creates a crusty exterior (Maillard reaction) for a more flavorful broth. However, you can put all the ingredients directly into the crockpot, and it will still be good.
2. Generously rub the entire roast with salt for a juicy and well-seasoned meal.
3. No slow cooker? You can oven-braise this pot roast in a Dutch oven on low for 3-4 hours. Watch the liquid level, adding more broth as needed.
4. Cut the veggies into large chunks so they keep their shape. Smaller chunks cook and fall apart faster.

Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions

Slow cooker pot roast is a great make-ahead dish since it’s easy to store and tastes even better the next day! Make it up to 3 days before serving it and refrigerate it in an airtight container.

You can also freeze this versatile dish for up to 4 months in a freezer-safe container and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat in the oven at 325℉ (160℃) until heated through or on the stovetop for 15-20 minutes.

What to Serve With Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Pair slow cooker pot roast with garlic mashed potatoes and homemade breadsticks to soak up every drop of the rich and flavorful gravy. Add a tossed salad or wedge salad for color and crunch.

More Hearty Slow Cooker Recipes to Try

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