My daughter called me the other day and asked if she could have my slow-cooker pot roast recipe. I realized I had never shared this recipe with all of you. Here’s the deal: you know how popular the Instant Pot® is, right? I use the Zavor Pressure Cooker brand.
Well, let’s not forget how excellent our slow cookers are. Do you enjoy waking up in the morning and preparing dinner in your slow cooker? It brings me so much joy to smell my dinner cooking throughout the day.
I call it my set-and-forget dinner. This recipe is my favorite comfort food!
Mark and I ran to the grocery store to pick up a pot roast. Of course, I knew the prices were out of sight, but I wanted to put my recipe on the website.
We looked at several roasts, and I took pictures so you can see that any of them will work with this recipe. By the way, it makes its own gravy as it cooks. UPDATE: These are prices from September 2021. It’s raining too hard today to go get new pictures at the grocery store. I think they are probably double what is shown.
Mark and I grew up in homes where the typical Sunday dinner included meat and potatoes. Mark often asks me what happened to those traditional meals since his mom made the best gravy. Not sure, but my gravy is a great match, or a very close second.
I smile when I call this meal a “slow cooker” meal. We’ve always referred to our slow cooker as a Crock-Pot. We’ve owned many over the years, with various model names and from different manufacturers. Today’s meal was in a Cuisinart. It works great, as most have. 3-1/2 Quart Cuisinart Slow Cooker
Sunday Dinner Memories: Why Roast Beef and Mashed Potatoes Will Always Be Family
Growing up, Sunday dinner was not just a meal; it was a promise. Every single Sunday, without fail, our house smelled like slow-cooked roast beef and creamy mashed potatoes, and that smell meant the whole family was about to gather around one table. Grandma always said a good roast takes patience, and patience is exactly what makes a house feel like home.
There is something so comforting about that classic combination. The roast beef, tender enough to fall apart with a fork, sitting next to a big bowl of buttery mashed potatoes soaking up all that rich gravy. It is simple food, but the kind that sticks with you for a lifetime. I still cannot walk past a roast in the grocery store without thinking of my mother’s kitchen on a Sunday afternoon.
Slow Cookers Are Easier
These days, I make my Sunday roast in the slow cooker, and honestly, it might be even easier than the way Grandma did it. You can set it in the morning, go to church, run errands, do your chores, and come home to a house that smells like Sunday used to smell. It is one of those recipes that feels like a hug after a long week, and it is a wonderful way to teach the next generation that some traditions are worth keeping alive.
If your family has never made slow cooker roast beef a Sunday tradition, I hope this recipe helps you start one. There is nothing quite like watching everyone gather around the table, plates piled high with roast and mashed potatoes, and knowing you made memories that will last long after the dishes are done. I confess, rarely do I make a roast on Sundays; they are way too expensive, and it’s too much for just the two of us.
Best Roasts for the Slow Cooker
When it comes to choosing the right cut for a slow cooker roast, not all beef is created equal. You want something with good marbling and connective tissue, since that is what breaks down low and slow to give you that fall-apart tender texture. Here are the best choices.
Chuck roast. This is the classic choice and my personal favorite. It has wonderful marbling and turns out tender and juicy every single time.
Bottom round roast. A leaner option that still holds up beautifully to long, slow cooking.
Brisket. Rich in flavor and perfect if you want something a little more special for a holiday Sunday dinner.
Rump roast. Budget-friendly and tender when cooked low and slow for several hours.
Top round roast. Another lean cut that works well if you are watching fat content but still want that classic roast beef flavor.
Short ribs. Not a traditional roast, but they turn incredibly tender in the slow cooker and make a wonderful variation on Sunday dinner.
Chuck roast really is the gold standard for slow cooker pot roast, but any of these cuts will give your family that same cozy, comforting Sunday dinner feeling.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
Types of Beef Roasts:
1. Beef Chuck Pot Roast
This type of roast is my favorite to use for this slow cooker recipe, but the only one available at the grocery store was a 2-pound roast. The price of meat- wow, what can I say!!
2. Beef Chuck Boneless Rib Roast
This would be my second-choice roast because it always turns out tender.
3. Beef Round Tip Roast
I settled on this roast, but after cooking it for 12 hours, it was too tough for my liking. So I took the roast out and pressure-cooked it for 40 minutes with one cup of water. I left the gravy in the slow cooker.
Here’s the deal: Mark would be fine with this roast, but I prefer it to be tender and “fall apart” so it’s super easy to chew. After 12 hours, it was easy to slice, if that’s how you like your pot roast.
This type of roast is a bit tougher, but it still tasted fabulous! I should have gone with my gut and bought the small 2-pound chuck pot roast. But I wanted a slightly larger roast. You will love this recipe either way. The gravy is so good that I could almost drink it! LOL!
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Step One: Gather Ingredients
Gather the ingredients.
Step Two: Put the Roast in the Cooker
Place the roast in your slow cooker. This particular slow cooker is an excellent size for Mark and me. It’s a 3-1/2 Quart Cuisinart.
Step Three: Combine Ingredients
Combine all of the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
Step Four: Stir
Stir until most of the mixture is smooth.
Step Five: Pour Mixture Over the Meat
Pour the mixture over the meat in the slow cooker. Place the lid on and set the temperature to low for 12 hours. If you buy a flat chuck roast, it will be the best slow cooker pot roast you have ever made. You can always do what I did with the pressure cooker if a round roast is cheaper. It’s so good!!
It’s incredible how a pressure cooker can solve so many meal preparation challenges. It not only cooks things faster but, as in this case, also makes the meat or other ingredients easier to eat if they are initially tough.
Finished Product
I love to shred my roast beef and serve it over mashed potatoes! When I was growing up, my mom baked a pot roast in the oven with potatoes, carrots, and onions.
I had to admit the onions were my favorite! They were tender and juicy and cooked in meat drippings. Then my mom would make the best gravy. This recipe makes the gravy for you! This gravy is even better than my mom’s!
Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients
- 2-4 pound Beef roast. (I used a 3-pound roast today)
- 1 10-3/4 ounce Franco American Beef Gravy
- 1 10-3/4 ounce can Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 3 tablespoons White Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 package Dry Onion Soup Mix (I used the dry mushroom onion one today)
Instructions
- Place your roast in the slow cooker.
- Combine the gravy, mushroom soup, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and dry onion soup mix. Stir until smooth.
- Pour the mixture over the roast in the slow cooker. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook it on LOW for 12 hours or cook on HIGH for 7 hours.
- This will be the most tender roast you have ever had. Enjoy.
How do I store the leftover slow cooker pot roast?
I store what’s leftover in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will stay good for 3-4 days. I like to eat it cold too! We enjoyed our pot roast over mashed potatoes today. I wanted to mention that it also tastes good on toasted bread if you want a hot open-faced sandwich. It’s a quick meal, and still tastes delicious.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers. Place the leftovers in serving-size portions and store them in airtight containers in the freezer. The pot roast will last 2-3 months in your freezer.
Do I need to brown the roast first?
I didn’t brown this particular roast; it’s so easy to place it in the slow cooker, pour the mixture over it, and let it start cooking. No mess, no grease, no splatters; it’s so easy to make.
Do I need to add water?
No water is needed; the roast magically makes the best gravy with the ingredients poured over it.
What is the best cut of beef for the slow cooker?
Chuck steak or chuck roast is meant to be cooked in the slow cooker. They are juicy and tender.
What can I serve with this slow cooker pot roast?
- Mashed potatoes
- Steamed carrots
- Green beans
- Steamed asparagus
- Tossed salad
- Dinner Rolls
Can I cook potatoes, carrots, and onions in the slow cooker?
Yes, you can. Add your favorite vegetables about halfway through the cooking time so they don’t become mushy.
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Instant Pot® Tender Beef Stew
Final Word
There is something about cooking from scratch, which is why this slow-cooker pot roast recipe is perfect for teaching families how to cook. It’s easy, fuss-free, and tastes great! Please keep prepping; we must. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Homemade Slow Cooker Roast Beef Depositphotos_103597600_S By bhofack2
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