This tender, 4 ingredient slow cooker pot roast is delightfully easy, yet it turns out perfect every time! A hearty cut of meat is slowly braised in beef broth and onions, creating plenty of juices for a batch of mouthwatering gravy. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time preparing a meal.
Want a whole dinner ready when you get home? Add potatoes and carrots to your crock pot, too! They’ll cook alongside your roast, creating a perfect pairing!
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What Is Pot Roast?
Pot roast is named after the method used in its preparation, rather than a certain cut of meat. Pot roasts can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. They are braised at low temperatures over long periods of time. The slow, moist cooking breaks down the collagen in the meat, making it tender and flavorful.
What’s the Best Cut of Meat for a Pot Roast?
The cuts of beef that are best suited for pot roast also tend to be the toughest. That’s because they are located in the shoulder or hind areas of the animal, which are heavily muscled. These cuts tend to be economical, which is an excellent benefit to larger families or anyone watching their pennies.
Chuck Roast is the most common cut that is recommended for pot roast. It is heavily marbled, which makes for mouthwatering flavor. It falls apart easily and is great if you need shredded beef. There are several types of chuck roast, including arm roast, seven bone chuck, chuck eye, and blade chuck.
Top Round and Bottom Round Roast are a duo of popular cuts of meat for pot roast. They are lean and flavorful, with top round being more lean than bottom. However, these cuts are from the hind of the animal. Because the hind is leaner than the shoulder, these cuts lack the marbling that chuck roasts have, so overall they have less flavor. They are also less tender than chuck roasts.
Rump Roast is actually from the same primal cut as bottom round roast, however it is has more marbling. This is because the area it is cut from experiences a little less exercise, so more fat accumulates there. Butchers often roll and tie rump roasts into a cylindrical form so it can be cooked more evenly.
What’s the Best Way to Cook a Pot Roast?
Pot roasts are meant to be cooked at a relatively low temperature for a long period of time. My grandmother used to make pot roast on the stovetop, and occasionally I do, too. But the drawback to this method is that you have to keep checking on it. If the liquid evaporates, your roast is toast!
My preferred method is to use my crock pot for pot roast. I’ve never had a problem with the liquid evaporating, and I don’t have to worry about checking it. In fact, you can start your slow cooker, leave home, and your pot roast will be ready for you when you get back!
A number of people have asked me about cooking pot roast in an Instant Pot. Even though I love using my Instant Pot for things like soups and chicken breasts, pot roast in the Instant Pot just isn’t the same for me. It never seems to break down all the fat, and parts of it are tough while other parts are tender. I’d rather take fifteen minutes in the morning to get this easy 4 ingredient slow cooker pot roast into my crockpot. It’s a recipe I know I can always count on!
What Should I Serve with Pot Roast?
For my family, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower is a must-have! We love loading up a pile of mashed potatoes with chunks of mouthwatering pot roast and gravy. It is also delicious with cheesy grits or even risotto. I especially love Giada De Laurentiis’ red wine risotto–it takes time, but it is totally worth it!
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Directions
- Sprinkle all sides of the roast with salt and pepper.
In a large skillet, sear on all sides until browned. Place in slow cooker.
- Pour beef broth into skillet. Heat, stirring up all browned bits, about 3 minutes.
- Pour broth over roast in slow cooker. Top roast with sliced onion.
- Slow cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Remove roast from pot, set aside briefly.
At the end of the cooking period, you should have about 2 cups of liquid. If you do not, add water or remove liquid to make 2 cups. Whisk in both packets of brown gravy mix, or use an immersion blender.
- Return roast to crock pot. Slow cook on high for an additional 15 minutes.
Serve with gravy over mashed potatoes or cauliflower.
Grandma always said that a recipe is just a guideline. Feel free to adapt my recipes to suit your family’s needs. Be sure to comment below to let us all know how you made this recipe your own!
Looking for more classic comfort foods for dinner? Try our Classic Roast Chicken. We’ve got a secret roasting tip that delivers amazing flavor to your meat, every time!
4 Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Course: Beef, Main Dishes, Slow Cooker8
servings15
minutes4
minutesA hearty chuck roast is slowly braised in beef broth and onions, creating plenty of juices for mouthwatering gravy.
Ingredients
3 lb (or more) chuck roast
Salt and pepper
1 cup beef broth
1 onion, sliced
2 – .87 ounce packets brown gravy mix
Directions
- Sprinkle all sides of the roast with salt and pepper.
In a large skillet, sear on all sides until browned. Place in slow cooker. - Pour beef broth into skillet. Heat, stirring up all browned bits, about 3 minutes.
- Pour broth over roast. Top roast with sliced onion.
- Slow cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours. Remove roast from pot briefly.
At the end of the cooking period, you should have about 2 cups of liquid. If you do not, add water or remove liquid to make 2 cups. Whisk in both packets of brown gravy mix, or use an immersion blender. - Return roast to crock pot. Slow cook on high for an additional 15 minutes. Serve with gravy over mashed potatoes or cauliflower.
Notes
- For a full meal, add quartered potatoes, carrots, or both to the pot to cook alongside your roast.
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Yum. This pot roast looks amazing. I will have to try it out. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I secretly call it Pot Roast for Lazy Folks, lol. It is definitely easy but tastes delicious!
That sounds amazing!
I always love finding something easy that tastes so good. You’ll have to try it!
I literally have a pot roast cooking in my crock pot right now, lol! Such a good, hearty meal. I use my crock pot constantly.
I use mine a lot more than I used to. It’s easier for me to get food prepped in the morning than in the evening. That’s when chaos usually reigns!
I hadn’t thought to ever try this with cauliflower…this is a great idea. I can’t wait to give it a shot. We are always looking for new ways to health-inize our meals!
Thanks! I think the key to a good mashed cauli is to minimize the liquid you add so it doesn’t become cauliflower soup. Somehow I don’t think that would go well with pot roast over it…
I would love to try this but only if I was home the entire time. Reading this I pictured my cat going crazy with the smell and getting up on the the counter and knocking the slow cooker off. She is old and tiny but still mighty!
Those cats! We have three, and thankfully they aren’t interested in pot roast. Now if it was salmon, that’d be a different story!
This looks like perfect comfort food! We’re expecting a huge snowstorm this weekend, so this will be perfect!
Ohhhhh yes! Pot roast really hits on the spot on those snowy days!
Pot roast is one of my absolute favourite meals! Yum!
I don’t like cold weather, but one of the benefits of winter is that it’s pot roast season!
I love pot roast! It was one of the first things I made when I got my slow cooker…years ago… and its still a fave. Thanks for sharing your recipe, it looks delish!
I think it was one of my first dishes in my slow cooker, too. It’s pretty forgiving, so it’s great for beginners.
Wow, that looks so good! I’ve never made pot roast but this seemed like I could easily do it!
You definitely can! Let us know how it goes when you give it a try!
Yummy. I always love the smell of pot roast cooking all day.
ME TOO! And it’s so satisfying when you finally get to eat!
Thank you for explaining the different cuts of meat. I always get overwhelmed at the store wondering what to get.
I totally feel your pain! I used to keep an index card in my purse with the cuts I needed for my go-to recipes. It took a while to get them all figured out, and even now I get confused sometimes.
Love a good pot roast and this looks yummy!
Thank you! I love it on weekends when we’re running around like crazy!
Yum! Pot roasts are one of my favorites but whenever I make it in a slow cooker it smells weird… will try your recipe, maybe it’s all in the recipe I use.
That’s strange. Could it be your slow cooker? Maybe something is going on with the wiring.
I have to laugh. Every time I read one of your posts, I expect it to be about chicken soup!
That’s going to get really weird when the dessert posts come up!
COMFORT FOOD! Who doesn’t love it! This looks amazing!
Thanks! I assure you, it tastes as delicious as it looks!
I haven’t had a good pot roast in ages!
I think I see one in your near future now!
These pictures have me craving a roast now. My family will be very happy!
And I’ll be over just in time to be served!
This looks so yummy! I love some good old comfort food.
I agree! Pot roast is at the top of my comfort food list.
Sounds like an amazing and easy recipe for a delicious roast! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
It’s so nice to drop everything in the crock pot and let it go all day!