Slow Cooker Pot Roast is made with only 5 key ingredients and minimal prep work, yet is one of the most flavorful, comforting recipes for pot roast you will ever enjoy!
Want to speed up the process? Check out my recipe for Instant Pot Pot Roast.
![Crockpot Pot Roast Shredded pot roast in white dish over potatoes and carrots next to crock pot.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Pot-oast.jpg)
Crockpot Pot Roast is one of those meals that brings me back to my childhood. I have memories of sitting around my grandparent's table enjoying one of my Papa's signature dishes, like his Chicken Pot Pie, Classic Potato Salad, Old Fashioned Baked Beans, and his amazing Pot Roast.
Reasons to Love Crockpot Pot Roast
- Incredibly Easy Family Dinner. Made in the crockpot, with only a few ingredients, this pot roast could not be easier to make.
- The Best Flavor! My Papa's secret ingredient to making the best pot roast was adding prepared horseradish. The horseradish adds a subtle flavor to the roast, but it also helps to tenderize the meat. This addition results in the most tender, juicy, and flavorful pot roast. I know most people prefer dry onion soup mix, but I am telling you that horseradish is key to a great pot roast.
- Comfort Food. Pot Roast is a soul-satisfying meal that is perfect for a family meal.
- No Gravy Needed! The beauty of this recipe for pot roast is that it is so tender and juicy it does not need gravy. That said, I have provided instructions for making gravy with the cooking liquid if desired.
Only 5 Key Ingredients
![Slow Cooker Pot Roast Ingredients for slow cooker pot roast on counter.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pot-Roast-Slow-Cooker.jpg)
While you can prepare this pot roast without the potatoes and carrots, I love adding them to make a hearty, simple family meal.
- Chuck Roast: The best cut of meat for a pot roast is a chuck roast, as it is marbled with fat. That fat will break down as the pot roast cooks, rendering out the flavor, and becoming so tender it is able to fall apart with a fork.
- Beef Broth: This recipe calls for a lot of broth, which helps prevent the roast from drying out. Just be sure to use low-sodium beef broth or beef stock to control the level of sodium.
- Potatoes: Use baby potatoes or larger potatoes, like russet, Yukon Gold, or red potatoes, that have been cut into 3-inch chunks.
- Carrots: Use peeled carrots quartered, cut into 2-3 inch chunks, or whole baby carrots.
- Prepared Horseradish: Use prepared horseradish, which is found in the refrigerated deli section at the grocery store. You do not want to use horseradish sauce. And don't worry, the horseradish
How to Make Slow Cooker Pot Roast
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Sear Pot Roast
You can skip searing your pot roast, but I highly recommend taking the extra few minutes to sear the roast in a skillet until browned on each side. This step seals in the juices of the roast and will help deepen the flavor of the overall dish.
![Crock pot Pot Roast Pot Roast in cast iron skillet, browned.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Slow-Cooker-Pot-Roast.jpg)
Layer Ingredients
I recommend placing potatoes and carrots in the bottom of the crockpot and then place the pot roast on top of the vegetables. The juices from the beef will drip into the vegetables, adding flavor to the potatoes and carrots. Then add the beef broth and then smear the beef with the horseradish.
![Pot Roast Recipe Pot roast in slow cooker with carrots and potatoes.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Crockpot-Pot-Roast.jpg)
Slow Cook Pot Roast
Cook the roast until the beef and vegetables are tender. Once the pot roast is finished cooking, remove the roast from the crock pot, and let it rest before slicing or shredded to keep the beef tender.
![Pot Roast Recipe Cooked pot roast in the slow cooker.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Best-Pot-Roast.jpg)
More Crockpot Family-Favorite Recipes
- Slow Cooker BBQ Drumsticks
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
- Crockpot Pulled Pork
- Crockpot "Baked" Ziti
- Easy Crockpot Chili
- Slow Cooker Pork Roast with Apples
And don't forget, if you enjoyed this recipe for my Papa's Crockpot Pot Roast, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below!
![Close up of slow cooker pot roast on white platter with potatoes and carrots.](https://amindfullmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Crockpot-Roast-Recipe-360x360.jpg)
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon olive oil or canola oil for searing meat
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- 2-4 pound chuck roast
- 3 pounds russet or Yukon gold potatoes scrubbed and quartered
- 2 pounds carrots peeled and quartered
- 1 teaspoon onion powder optional
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic optional
- ½ cup prepared horseradish (not horseradish sauce!!)
- 4 cups low-sodium beef stock
For Gravy (OPTIONAL)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 cups cooking liquid
Instructions
Crock Pot Pot Roast
- Heat a heavy bottom skillet or Dutch oven, over medium-high heat. Season meat liberally with 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt and ½ to 1 teaspoon pepper, just enough to coat the meat. Once skillet is hot, add in oil into skillet. Sear roast on each side until browned, about 2-3 minutes per side, or once the meat easily pulls away from the pan.
- Layer potatoes and carrots in the slow cooker. Top with garlic and onion powder (or sliced onion), if using. Sprinkle vegetables with 1 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Lay the roast in the middle of the vegetables, nestling into the vegetables. Pour 4 cups beef broth around the meat. Spread the horseradish evenly over the roast.
- Cook on low 10-12 hours or high 5-6 hours.
- After the pot roast has cooked, remove from slow cooker and let rest on cutting board, tented with foil to keep warm. Remove the vegetables with a slotted spoon and cover with foil to keep warm as well.
Pot Roast Gravy (optional)
- Strain the cooking liquid to use for gravy. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan. Whisk in 2 tablespoon flour, and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 1 to 2 cups of strained liquid, whisking well. Season with salt and pepper and cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in 2014 but was updated in 2021 with new photos and tips.
Bridget Alvarez
I am so glad I found these recipes. I have 2 bad legs and cannot stand long to cook. I’m getting a knee replacement in late May or June. So one pot recipes that I can set and just wait for them to get done is great. I Love pork chops!!! Do you have any recipes with pork chops??? If you do it would be great!!! I’m making beef stew and then the pot roast. Can’t wait to try them.
Bridget
Kristen Chidsey
I am thrilled you found these recipes! I truly hope they help making getting meals on the table faster for you. I have a recipe for Instant Pot Pork Chops and several slow cooker recipes for pork roasts: Crockpot Pork and Apples, Pulled Pork, and Carnitas. I hope you enjoy 🙂
Darrell Badertscher
Hi Kristen
My name is Darrell and I do almost all of the coking in our home. I am a retired Paint Chemist so have always enjoyed trying different ingredients to make my paint products perform better than the average product. When I cook I like to try the same process. add something that improves the flavor or texture so the meal is memorable. I recemtly tried your Instant Pot Pot Roast recipe and I have to say it was one of the best pieces of chuck roast I have ever had. I think the addition of the horseradish was the thing that made it so special. It gave the roast a different vlavor that was most enjoyable. I look forward to trying more of your recipes soon.
Thank you!
Darrell
Kristen Chidsey
Thank you so much, Darrell for sharing! I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed the pot roast and hope you find many more recipes to enjoy here!
Sage
All those hours cooking wont make the carrots disintegrate? Im worried about them turning to mush cooking for 12 hours
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Sage! The carrots will certainly be soft, but not disintegrate. If you would like them to be firmer, add them midway through the cooking time.
Cat W
Thx for posting. I have to go get the horseradish to try this. Im posting cause Im so happy to find someone who recommends cooking 10-12 hrs. All other recipes say 8-10 and my roasts are still tough in that time range. I could never figure out what I was doing wrong. Thx again and cannot wait to try.
Kristen Chidsey
I hope you enjoy Cat!
Erica
Hi, I am making this right now. It smells delicious! When the roast is finally done cooking do I mix the remaining horseradish into the liquids, or do I leave it as a sort of sauce on top of the meat? Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Erica! It is up to you! I always mix into the sauce, but my grandpa always left it on top when he served it. Enjoy!
Allyssa
Really helpful! Thanks a lot for this delicious and really easy to make recipe! Highly recommended!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed Allyssa! Thanks for sharing.
Betsy
Delicious! Love coming home to a meal all cooked and ready to go! And pot roast is one of my favorite meals. The potatoes...the carrots.. all cooked together in a mix of savory seasonings and drippings and juice from the meat...I could eat this just about any day. Great recipe. Perfect weeknight dinner!
Kristen Chidsey
It is pretty awesome coming home to dinner! Thanks for sharing your review, Betsy!
Lily
This pot roast was so hearty and delicious, the perfect family dinner for fall, I will definitely be making it again!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that you plan to enjoy again! Thanks for sharing Lily!
Rusty S.
So happy I found this recipe! It is my go-to pot roast and there are never leftovers!
Kristen Chidsey
I LOVE hearing that Rusty! Thanks for sharing!