Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (2024)

by Maya Last Updated on 19 Comments

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (1)

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This Slow Cooker Pot Roast is perfect for cold winter days!

I don’t know about you but I love a good slow cooker dish in the winter. A few minutes of prep, throw everything into the cooker and you’re good to go. This slow cooker pot roast is absolutely delicious for a cold rainy winter day. That’s exactly the type of day we’ve had lately. I just had to make something warm and comforting.

I had originally planned to make this in my dutch oven in the oven but, at the time of writing this post, our oven had broke the past weekend.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (2)

There is some prep work to this recipe but it doesn’t take very long at all. Searing the roast takes about 10 minutes and making the sauce takes about 3. After that you can set your slow cooker on low and forget about it for the next 8.5 hours.

I used sweet potatoes in this roast which I love more than regular potatoes. It gives the dish a nice sweetness that pot roasts usually don’t have. Plus they’re healthier than regular potatoes! I also used multi color carrots but any variety will do. They were on sale this week and they’re pretty. I love the purple, which strangely turns yellow after cooking.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (3)

I hope you enjoy this recipe just as much as we do. Be sure to have a lovely glass of red wine with it too! What’s your favorite dish to make when it’s nasty outside?

RECIPE CARD

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (4)

4.8 from 5 votes

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

This slow cooker pot roast is absolutely delicious for a cold rainy winter day.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword family, winter

Author Maya Krampf from WickedSpatula.com

Servings 6

★ Review Print

Ingredients

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  • 2-3 lb chuck roast
  • 2 tablespoons tapioca flour (divided)
  • Sea salt (to taste)
  • Black pepper (to taste)
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons roast beef seasoning (mine includes a mix of italian seasonings, garlic, salt, and onion powder)
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 6-7 large carrots
  • 1 large sweet potato (cut into rounds, then quartered)
  • 1 medium Red onion (quartered)

Click to convert between US & metric measurements:

Instructions

More TIPS about this paleo recipe in the post above!

  1. Season roast with salt and pepper and coat with 2 tablespoons tapioca flour.

  2. Heat olive oil in over medium high heat. Sear roast on each side for 4-5 minutes or until it develops a crust and is gaining some color.

  3. Remove roast from pan and place in the bottom of your slow cooker.

  4. In the same pan with the roast drippings pour in the wine and reduce heat to medium. Reduce wine by about half. Stir in mustard and beef broth. Season with salt, pepper, and roast beef seasoning. Continue to simmer for a few minutes.

  5. Place carrots, sweet potato, and onion on top of the roast and pour the sauce over the top.

  6. Set cooker to low and let cook 8.5 hours. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed and enjoy!

© Copyright Wicked Spatula. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (6)

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Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (7)

Reader Interactions

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    19 Comments

  1. Lia

    Reply

    This looks delicious! I want to try it today, but have no beef broth. Could you use vegetable broth in place of beef broth?

  2. Angie

    Reply

    I have tried many pot roast recipes and this was fabulous. I used 1/2c of my favorite Charles Krug Cabernet and it was to die for. Tender, juice and excellent taste. I wouldn’t change one thing in the recipe. Thank you! I will be looking to try your other recipes.

  3. Nikki

    Reply

    Would this work the same if I were to reduce the red wine amount and instead of preparing over stove first, dump all into the slow cooker for 8 hrs? Probably eliminate the flour?

  4. Val

    Reply

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (8)
    Hi! This will be my “Newly retired first meal”. I will post again when we eat. Following exact but almost double the recipe.

  5. Fiona

    Reply

    Would the recipe work if cooked on high for 4 hours? Or will this dry out the roast. Thank you 🙂

    • Lauren

      Reply

      It’ll be a bit drier but will work!

  6. Jessica

    Reply

    To make this SCD Legal, would it work to use butternut squash instead of sweet potato? Wondering if it would get mushy?

    • Lauren

      Reply

      Hi Jessica! You could probably use butternut I would just add it in the last few hours so it doesn’t turn mushy like you said. I bet butternut squash would be great in this though! Let me know if you try it 🙂

  7. Ashley Severance

    Reply

    This was great! Thank you!

    • Lauren

      Reply

      Thanks so much Ashley!! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  8. Anita

    Reply

    This sounds delicious, can’t wait to try it!

    • Lauren

      Reply

      Thanks so much Anita!

  9. Sharon @ What The Fork Food Blog

    Reply

    I absolutely love pot roast, it’s one of my all time favorites! Your pictures are gorgeous too!

    • Lauren

      Reply

      Thanks so much Sharon!

  10. heather @french press

    Reply

    I LOVE my slow cooker, and this pot roast, and those rainbow carrots, I cannot get enough

  11. Alisa Fleming

    Reply

    I really should venture a recipe like this. My husband grew up on English food and always comments about how he likes pot roast – I don’t, so I’ve never taken the hint!

    Silly question, but we never keep red wine on hand as it gives us both headaches – in a dish like this, would you think white wine would be a suitable alternative, or going with a deeper flavor like a touch of balsamic or a beef broth?

    • Lauren

      Reply

      Hey Alisa! I wouldn’t use white wine. Balsamic would be a great alternative. I would use a bit less than 1/2 cup though. Maybe 1/4 cup. Let me know how it turns out if you decide to make it!

  12. Nicole @ Or Whatever You Do

    Reply

    Oh yum! I LOVE roasts. My favorite part is the onion and carrots slow cooked with the beef. YUM.

  13. Kimberly | Chic & Sugar

    Reply

    This looks so good and perfect for the season! I would have freaked out about the oven, too, but you seem to have handled it with grace!

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe - Wicked Spatula (2024)

FAQs

How much water do you put in a slow cooker for roast beef? ›

If your slow cooker is 3/4 full, no extra liquid is required. However, if you're cooking a smaller amount of food, add 1-2cm of liquid in the bottom of the slow cooker bowl to ensure there's enough liquid for cooking. Don't add too much liquid, because as the food cooks, it produces its own liquid.

How long can roast cook in a crock pot? ›

Cut potatoes, onions, and celery into fairly large chunks; place in the bottom of a slow cooker along with baby carrots. Place roast on top of vegetables. Place 3 bouillon cubes randomly on top of the roast and pour in 1/2 cup water. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours or on High for 4 to 5 hours.

What is the most tender beef roast for a slow cooker? ›

Chuck roast is one of the more popular slow-cooker options because of how tender and flavorful it becomes after several hours of cooking on low.

Why is my pot roast tough in the crock pot? ›

If your crock pot roast is tough, it is possible you didn't use a boneless chuck roast, in which cases some cuts of meat will never become fall-apart tender OR more likely, you did not cook your beef long enough. If your pot roast seems tough, cook on!

Should roast be covered with liquid in slow cooker? ›

Some recipes call for liquid, some do not. It mainly comes down to the type of meat you use. Cuts like chuck roast will release more fat and moisture than leaner cuts, so they don't need any water. In addition, the slow cooker itself creates some moisture, which helps keep the meat juicy.

How much liquid is needed in a slow cooker? ›

How much liquid do I add? Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

When should I add potatoes to my pot roast? ›

Place the roast on top of the onions and season with the salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup of the broth or water and bring to a simmer. Cover and simmer on low for 2 hours. Add the potatoes, carrots, and quartered onions and cover and slowly simmer for 1 hour longer.

Is it better to cook a roast on high or low in a crock pot? ›

PRO TIP: It's better to cook pot roast on the low setting rather than the high setting when it comes to pot roast. Your meat will be tender and delicious every time.

Is 4 hours long enough for pot roast? ›

Place in the oven for 3 to 4 hours or slow cooker for 8 hours or until meat falls apart.

Why is my roast still tough after 8 hours? ›

There are several reasons why this could have happened even after so much cooking. First, your choice of a rump roast could be a factor since cuts from the hind quarter are very muscular and, since muscles are the most resistant to breaking, this cut is quite stubborn when it comes to becoming tender.

Which beef roast falls apart when cooked? ›

A perfectly cooked beef joint makes a wonderful centrepiece for a Sunday roast or Christmas dinner. To cook it until it's so tender it falls apart, you'll need to choose a joint like chuck and blade or beef brisket and either braise, slow roast or slow cook it for at least a couple of hours.

How do I make sure my beef is tender in a slow cooker? ›

Cook Low and Slow

Add your other ingredients and liquids, then set your cooker to “low.” Plan for 6-9 hours of cooking time for your warming slow cooker meal. This long, slow braise breaks down the connective tissue and fat, creating deliciously soft and juicy meat.

Should I brown my pot roast before slow cooking? ›

1. Browning Is Better. Slow cooker recipes don't always instruct you to brown meat before adding it to the pot, but there are some advantages to doing so. If you sear meat to a crusty brown with a little oil in a hot skillet, the meat develops more complex flavors and improves the dish.

Is 6 hours on low enough for a roast? ›

directions. Place roast into crockpot and surround with vegetables. Combine beef broth and vegetable soup mix, then add to crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW 6-8 hours or HIGH 3-4 hours.

Can you put too much liquid in pot roast? ›

Pot roast is prepared using a braising method, which involves slow-cooking meat in a liquid such as stock or red wine. If you add too much liquid, the meat might end up boiling instead of braising.

How much liquid for slow cooked beef? ›

Place chuck roast into the cooker; pour in water until all but the top 1/2 inch of roast is covered. Sprinkle ground pepper over top. Cover and cook on Low until meat is tender, about 22 hours.

How much water do I put in the bottom of a roast? ›

Add one inch (2.5 centimetres) of water or broth to the bottom of the roasting pan and replenish every 30 minutes. No time to defrost? You can cook a beef roast from frozen – simply add 50 per cent more cooking time.

Do you add water when cooking a roast beef? ›

If you are roasting a joint of beef you do not add any water. Roasting is a dry cooking process, maybe a small amount of fat but no water.

How much water is needed for a pound of beef? ›

It takes approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef — that's enough water to fill 39 bathtubs all the way to the top. For only one pound of beef?

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