Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (2024)

By Laura

Posted Nov 27, 2020, Updated Mar 16, 2024

4.98 from 39 votes

78 Comments

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This balsamic slow cooker pot roast is an easy, healthy make-ahead main dish recipe that takes 5 minutes to prepare (no browning required). This crock pot roast is my go-to dish for holiday entertaining.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (2)

This balsamic slow cooker pot roast is the most delicious crock pot roast I’ve ever had! It’s healthy (allergy-friendly), and can be prepared and cooked overnight in the slow cooker.

I usually start this roast cooking just before I go to bed on Christmas Eve (or the night before any holiday or hosting a meal). Then, when it is finished cooking in the morning, I shred it, make the gravy, and then reheat everything when it’s dinner time – making the holiday meal very low-stress so I can enjoy every moment with my family.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (3)

Slow Cooker Pot Roast: Ingredients & Substitutions

There are only a few simple ingredients in this crock pot roast recipe, but here are some potential substitutions.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (4)
  • Olive Oil.Any neutral oil can be used in place of olive oil – suggestions include avocado oil and canola oil.
  • Honey.Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey.
  • Honey Mustard. Sub your favorite mustard variety if desired: Dijon, regular yellow, spicy brown, etc.
  • Beef Broth.You can use chicken or vegetable broth but I highly recommend beef broth as it yields the best flavor! I keep this beef base on hand to make broth for this recipe.
  • Balsamic Vinegaris an ingredient I splurge on. Ahigh-quality balsamic vinegarshould be thick and naturally sweet. If your vinegar pours like water instead of syrup and tastes sour then you donothave a quality product and your recipe will not turn out as delicious.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (5)

How to Make Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Let’s walk through the steps in making the best, easy slow cooker pot roast recipe and answer some commonly asked questions! Don’t forget to watch the video.

Combine the rub ingredient sin a small bowl and stir until they’re evenly combined.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (6)

Next, place the pot roast in the low cooker and brush or rub olive oil all over it. Then use your hands to spread the rub over the roast, pressing it down so it sticks.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (7)

In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (8)

Then pour the sauce over the crock pot roast.

Cook on low for 8-10 hours, occasionally spooning more sauce over the roast, until it is very easily shredded with a fork.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (9)

Once the meat is finished cooking, shred it with two forks and return to the sauce to cook on low for another hour. This helps the shredded meat absorb the flavor even more.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (10)

Make the Gravy

I prefer to separate the sauce from the meat to strain and thicken it for serving. However you can simply add thickener to the slow cooker towards the end of cooking time if you prefer.

Remove the meat from the sauce and strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl (do not pour it down the drain)! Then, transfer sauce to a saucepan and whisk in the thickener. Cook on medium heat, stirring constantly. until sauce becomes thick.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (11)

Serve

Pour one-fourth of the thickened sauce over the meat and transfer the rest to a serving dish (gravy boat, small pourer, etc.) for serving.

Serve it with your favorite side dishes, bread or vegetables!

Store/Freeze

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to two months.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (12)

To Cook Overnight

Prepare the roast according to the recipe instructions. Begin cooking on low in the slow cooker when you go to bed at night. In the morning, when the roast is fork-tender, shred it and transfer the meat to a 9×9″ baking dish or a casserole dish with a lid.

Add a little bit of the reserved liquid, and store the meat, covered, in the fridge until it’s almost time to eat. Then when you’re ready to eat simply warm the meat, covered, in the oven at about 325 degrees until it’s warmed through!

Keep the sauce covered in a small saucepan until you are close to ready to eat. Follow the recipe instructions to make/thicken the sauce, then use according to the recipe.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (13)

Slow Cooker Pot Roast FAQs

Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot?

No! That’s another beautiful thing about this balsamic pot roast recipe, there is no need to brown it before putting it in the slow cooker!

Does Pot Roast get more tender the longer it cooks?

Yes, do not rush this pot roast. Let it cook low and slow for the most tender result.

Can I freeze pot roast?

Yes, leftovers of this recipe freeze very well. Put them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (14)

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (15)

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (16)

SavePinPrint

Balsamic Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Laura

This balsamic slow cooker pot roast is an easy, healthy make-ahead main dish recipe that takes 5 minutes to prepare (no browning required). This crock pot roast is my go-to dish for holiday entertaining.

4.98 from 39 votes

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 10 Servings

Calories 306

Prep Time5 minutes minutes

Cook Time12 hours hours

Total Time12 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless Chuck Roast
  • 1 Tablespoons olive oil

Rub:

Sauce:

Instructions

  • Generously grease the bowl of your slow cooker. Set aside

Make The Rub

  • In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper. Set aside.

Make the Sauce

  • In a medium bowl whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, mustard and beef broth. Set aside.

Assemble

  • Put the roast in the container of your slow cooker and coat it in the olive oil either with your hands or a silicone pastry bruch.

  • Evenly sprinkle the roast with the rub, pressing it into the meat so it sticks.

  • Pour the sauce over roast and turn your slow cooker onto low.

Cook

  • Cook on low for 8-10 hours, occasionally spooning more sauce over the roast, until it is very easily shredded with a fork.

  • Shred and continue cooking on low for another 1 hour.

Make Gravy & Serve

  • Just before you are ready to serve, remove the meat from the sauce and strain the sauce through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl (do not pour it down the drain)!

  • Transfer sauce to a saucepan and whisk in 1 Tablespoon cornstarch.

  • Cook on medium heat until sauce becomes thick.

  • Pour ¼ of the thickened sauce over the meat and save the rest for people to spoon on when you serve!

  • Enjoy.

Video

Notes

To Cook Overnight

Prepare the roast according to the recipe instructions. Begin cooking on low in the slow cooker when you go to bed at night. In the morning, when the roast is fork-tender, shred it and transfer the meat to a 9×9″ baking dish or a casserole dish with a lid.

Add a little bit of the reserved liquid, and store the meat, covered, in the fridge until it’s almost time to eat. Then when you’re ready to eat simply warm the meat, covered, in the oven at about 325 degrees until it’s warmed through!

Keep the sauce covered in a small saucepan until you are close to ready to eat. Follow the recipe instructions to make/thicken the sauce, then use according to the recipe.

Store/freeze

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to two months.

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Olive Oil.Any neutral oil can be used in place of olive oil – suggestions include avocado oil and canola oil.
  • Honey.Maple syrup is a great substitute for honey.
  • Honey Mustard. Sub your favorite mustard variety if desired: Dijon, regular yellow, spicy brown, etc.
  • Beef Broth.You can use chicken or vegetable broth but I highly recommend beef broth as it yields the best flavor! I keep this beef base on hand to make broth for this recipe.
  • Balsamic Vinegaris an ingredient I splurge on. Ahigh-quality balsamic vinegarshould be thick and naturally sweet. If your vinegar pours like water instead of syrup and tastes sour then you donothave a quality product and your recipe will not turn out as delicious.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.7g | Protein: 25.9g | Fat: 19.1g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.3g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 364mg | Potassium: 357mg | Sugar: 3.5g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Calcium: 148mg | Iron: 2.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

Try these recipes

Best Mashed Potatoes

Burrata Salad

Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese

Best Dinner Rolls Recipe

Oven Roasted Broccoli

Easy Dutch Oven No Knead Bread

Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should pot roast be covered in liquid in crock pot? ›

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.

Is it better to cook a roast on high or low in slow cooker? ›

A lower, slower setting will take six to eight hours for the most tender finish. Using a bone-in cut will enhance flavor but extend the cooking time. Choose a marbled cut of beef for the best results — the richness from the fat will create a luscious flavor that's enhanced by the low and slow crockpot method.

How many hours per pound of roast in crock pot? ›

As a general guideline, roasting meat in a crockpot typically takes about 6-8 hours on low heat or 3-4 hours on high heat per pound. However, it's essential to consider the specific cut of meat, the size of the roast, and the desired level of doneness.

How long should you cook a pot roast on low? ›

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.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in crockpot? ›

Place firm, slow-cooking root vegetables like potatoes and carrots at the bottom of the crock and pile the meat on top. Set the heat level: A general rule of thumb is that cooking on the low setting (170 degrees F for most models) takes about twice as long as cooking on high (280 degrees F on most models).

Do you put vegetables on top or bottom of roast? ›

By placing the protein at the bottom (closest to the heating element), and vegetables at the top, you can keep your plant parts a little more toothsome, while ensuring your meat is fall-apart tender.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Is 6 hours on low enough for a roast? ›

Put the seared roast in the crock pot, as well as the onions, and garlic all on top of the carrots and potatoes. Sprinkle with dried thyme. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours until potatoes are fork-tender. You can also cook on high for 4-6 hours (low is better).

Why is my roast still tough after 6 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.

Why is my roast still tough after 8 hours 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!

How do you know when a pot roast is done in the crock pot? ›

If the fork goes in almost effortlessly and feels soft inside, that's a sign your meat is cooked through. Moreover, if you try turning the fork and can easily tear off some of the meat, that's your green light to remove the roast from the pot and call everyone to dinner.

How much liquid do you put in a crock pot for a pot roast? ›

Assuming you are cooking a standard 4-6 lb. pot roast, you will need to add 2-3 cups of water to your Crock Pot. Any less and your pot roast will be dry, any more and it will be too watery. I usually use 1 to 1–1/2 cup of beef broth, and after the roast is finished, make gravy with the remainder.

Is 4 hours long enough for pot roast? ›

Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway. Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs. Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours.

Should I flip my pot roast in the slow cooker? ›

There is no need to flip meat in a crock pot. In fact, I don't recommend trying it because it will be more hassle than it's worth. While it can be tempting to flip a roast in the name of even cooking, the crock pot takes care of that for you.

Can you overcook a pot roast in a slow cooker on low? ›

Is it possible to overcook a roast or other dishes in a crock pot on low heat for several hours? Yes, it is possible to overcook a roast or other dishes in a crockpot, even when using the low heat setting for an extended period.

Does meat in crock pot need to be covered with liquid? ›

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.

How much liquid should cover a pot roast? ›

Put the roast in the pot; the water should come only about 1 inch up the sides of the meat. Reduce the heat so the liquid is simmering, not boiling, and cover the pot tightly with the lid so meat braises.

How much water should cover a pot roast? ›

Place roast in a large baking pan; arrange potatoes, onion, carrots, and celery around roast. Pour 3 cups water into the baking pan. Season roast with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Cover pan with aluminum foil.

How do you keep roast from drying out in a crock pot? ›

To keep a pot roast from drying out, your slow cooker needs liquid to create a moist environment, and that can include meat or vegetable stock, wine or water. This doesn't mean the meat should be submerged; a cup or two of liquid will be enough, since the cooker is covered and liquids stay trapped inside.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Last Updated:

Views: 6101

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rev. Leonie Wyman

Birthday: 1993-07-01

Address: Suite 763 6272 Lang Bypass, New Xochitlport, VT 72704-3308

Phone: +22014484519944

Job: Banking Officer

Hobby: Sailing, Gaming, Basketball, Calligraphy, Mycology, Astronomy, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.