Go Back
+ servings
the best pot roast served with potatoes, onions and carrots
Print Recipe
No ratings yet

Perfect Pot Roast

The Perfect Pot Roast Recipe with instructions to make it in the oven or slow cooker! The secret for the best pot roast is to brown it to lock in the flavor. Serve with homemade gravy, tender carrots, onions and potatoes.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Pot Roast, slow cooker
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4-5 pound chuck roast
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 3-5 medium yellow onions quartered
  • 5-6 whole carrots peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
  • 3 russet potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized chunks
  • Around 4-5 cups beef broth
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour

Instructions

Oven Directions

  • Pre-heat your oven to 275 degrees.
  • Use paper towels to pat the chuck roast dry.
  • Prepare the chuck roast - liberally season both sides of the roast with kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. When hot, add the roast to the pan. The goal during this step is to brown all sides of the roast really well. You’ll need about 3-4 minutes per side. When the bottom of the roast is browned well, use tongs to flip the roast and brown the other side. You can also brown the sides if you wish, just use tongs to hold the roast up as the sides brown.
  • Remove the browned roast from the pan and set aside.
  • Add a bit more oil to the pan if necessary, then add in the onions and brown them on all sides. They might look a little burned but this is what you want.
  • Return the roast to the pan, placing it on top of the onions.
  • Arrange the carrots and potatoes on the sides of the roast.
  • Add in enough beef broth so that the sides of the roast are covered, about 4 cups.
  • Bring it up to a gentle simmer, then cover the dutch oven and place in the oven for about 4 hours for a 4-5 pound roast or 3-4 hours for a 3-4 pound roast.
  • When the roast is fork tender and will easily fall apart, it’s done.
  • Carefully remove the roast from the dutch oven. It is going to be super tender and a little tricky to transfer to a large plate. Remove the onions, carrots and potatoes as well.
  • Return the dutch oven to the stove with just the liquid remaining. Heat over medium high heat for about 5-10 minutes.
  • To make the gravy: Make a roux – In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat.
  • Add in the flour and whisk really well. Allow the roux to cook for a minute or two.
  • Mix the roux in with the liquid and whisk really well. Simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened a bit.
  • Season the gravy to taste with additional salt and pepper if you wish.
  • Use two forks to shred the meat, or cut it across the grain into slices.
  • Serve the roast with onions, potatoes, carrots, and gravy.
  • Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Directions

  • Use paper towels to pat the chuck roast dry.
  • Liberally season both sides of the roast with kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper. This is important!
  • Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium high heat. When hot, add the roast to the pan. The goal during this step is to brown all sides of the roast really well. You’ll need about 3-4 minutes per side. When the bottom of the roast is browned well, use tongs to flip the roast and brown the other side. You can also brown the sides if you wish, just use tongs to hold the roast up as the sides brown.
  • Remove the browned roast from the pan and set aside.
  • Add a bit more oil to the pan if necessary, then add in the onions and brown them on all sides. They might look a little burned but this is what you want.
  • Transfer the onions to a large slow cooker. Place the roast on top of the onions.
  • Arrange the potatoes and carrots on the side of the roast.
  • Add in enough beef broth so that the sides of the roast are covered.
  • Cook on low for 8-9 hours, or on high for about 4 hours. When the roast is fork tender and will easily fall apart, it’s done.
  • Carefully remove the roast and veggies from the slow cooker and transfer them to a plate. Cover with foil.
  • Pour the remaining broth in a large stock pot and simmer over medium high heat for about 5-10 minutes.
  • To make the gravy: Make a roux – In a small saucepan, melt 1/4 cup butter over medium heat.
  • Add in the flour and whisk really well. Allow the roux to cook for a minute or two.
  • Mix the roux in with the liquid and whisk really well. Simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the gravy has thickened a bit.
  • Season the gravy to taste with additional salt and pepper if you wish.
  • Use two forks to shred the meat, or cut it across the grain into slices.
  • Serve the roast with onions, potatoes, carrots, and gravy.
  • Enjoy!