This Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast is a great "set it and forget it" type of meal! With moist and tender meat, potatoes, carrots and flavorful gravy, it'll be a hit with the whole family!
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Is there a more classic comfort food than pot roast and potatoes?! I think not! And there's something about a good hearty meat & taters meal that just warms the soul!
Let me highlight a couple of my favorite things about this recipe. First off, it's a whole meal in one, so if you start the slow cooker in the morning, it'll be ready when you get home from work. Second, it's full of flavor without having to measure tons of ingredients, thanks to the flavor-packed onion soup mix and brown gravy mix. And lastly, my hubby and kiddos love it and when the whole family approves, this mama is sure to make it over and over again!
Ingredients for Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Pot Roast - A chuck roast would also work great as it's also a well-marbled, tender piece of meat
- Carrots - I use baby carrots (because, hello, it's EASY!) but you can certainly use whole carrots, peeled and cut into 3" sticks.
- Baby Yellow Potatoes - I used Yukon Gold potatoes, but any small yellow potatoes will work.
- Beef Broth - Sometimes I use half beef broth and half dry red wine! (Yum!!!)
- Brown Gravy Mix
- Onion Soup Mix
Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
1. Season the pot roast. 2. Sear the pot roast on one side. 3. Flip and sear the pot roast on the other side. 4. Add the potatoes to the slow cooker. 5. Next, add the carrots. 6. And then the seared roast. 7. Add the sauce ingredients to the pan and whisk well. 8. Pour over the roast. 9. Time to put the lid on and let the slow cooker work its magic!
Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot?
No, you certainly do not need to. I personally love the flavor of the caramelized bits of meat on the outside, but it's not a requirement. And it definitely saves a little time by skipping this step!
If you choose not to brown/sear the roast before adding it to the crockpot, you'll still season it first. Then, just mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl before adding to the crockpot. The rest of the instructions will remain the same!
Is it better to cook a roast on high or low in a crock pot?
Either option will work great! If you're going to be gone all day (ie. if you are at work from 8 to 5), I'd recommend cooking it on low. If you're a little short on time and only have 5-6 hours, cooking it on high will work great too. Either way, you'll know when it's ready by how tender the meat is. If you can easily shred with a fork, it's ready! If not, give it more time to cook.
You can also cook this in the Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure (just the meat and sauce mixture) for 75 minutes, then add the veggies to the top of the pot and cook an additional 15-20 minutes, or until tender.
Other Easy Meal Ideas!
Sheet Pan Pork Loin - If you like recipes that cook the meat and veggies all in one, this is for you! Very little prep and just 25 minutes in the oven!
Dr Pepper Pulled Pork in the Crock Pot - We love this pulled pork for its minimal ingredients, wonderful flavor and endless options for leftovers!
One Dish Ground Beef Casserole - With few ingredients and very few dishes, it’s a win-win for everyone. Even the pickiest eaters seem to love this one!
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Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- one 3-lb pot roast
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 lb baby carrots
- 2 lb baby yellow potatoes
- 1 c beef broth
- 1 pkt brown gravy mix
- 1 pkt onion soup mix
Instructions
- Season both sides of the pot roast with salt and pepper.
- Place a large skillet over high heat; add the oil to the pan.
- Once the skillet is hot, sear the pot roast for 4-5 minutes on each side.
- While the roast is searing, add the carrots and potatoes into the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Place the roast over the vegetables.
- Add the broth to the skillet and scrape the bottom of the skillet to get all the flavorful bits! Remove the skillet from the heat.
- Whisk in the gravy mix and onion soup mix.
- Pour into the slow cooker over the pot roast.
- Cook on LOW heat for 8 hours or on HIGH heat for 5-6 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- When ready to serve, remove the meat, potatoes and carrots onto a serving platter.
- If the sauce in the bottom is thick enough for your liking, serve as is. If you'd like it a bit thicker, see the notes below.
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