This easy slow cooker pot roast recipe takes less than 10 minutes to load into your crockpot, and you’ll end up with a melt-in-your-mouth tender beef roast full of flavor. Perfect for a special family dinner or any time!
Does your family have a big Sunday dinner?
Maybe you all gather around the table, have a meat-and-potatoes kind of meal, and just enjoy each other’s company.
I love extra time with the family, but do you want to know a secret? I don’t always want to spend a ton of time cooking a big meal for the family on a Sunday evening.
That’s why I love this slow cooker pot roast recipe – it only looks and tastes like it took a lot of effort! But it’s actually super easy to make.
SLOW COOKER POT ROAST RECIPE
This is the BEST crock pot roast recipe, and it keeps showing up on our weekly meal plan. Here’s why:
- Hands-off. You dump everything in one pot and cook it.
- Cheap. Chuck roast, potatoes, and carrots are some of the cheapest real foods at the store.
- Great as leftovers. If you have any left, that is.
- 10 minutes of hands-on prep. Just dump everything in the pot!
- Really, really good. Like REALLY good.
- Tastes like Mom’s cooking. There’s nothing like a classic pot roast recipe!
- Comfort food made easy.
- Perfect for serving to company! This is one of those low-effort, high-reward recipes.
- Freezer-friendly: both for a future freezer meal or as leftovers.
INGREDIENTS FOR POT ROAST SLOW COOKER
- Beef. Boneless beef chuck roast works the best, but a round roast will work as well. (Brisket is a tougher cut and not ideal for this recipe.)
- Carrots. You can use baby carrots or make this with large carrots cut into 1” pieces.
- Potatoes. Use baby red potatoes or quartered russet potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes are also good.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup. I highly recommend Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup, which takes LITERALLY 5 MINUTES and tastes a million times better than any canned soup ever will. If you’re pressed for time, make it the night before.
- Dry Onion Soup Mix. Again, I highly recommend making the Dry Onion Soup Mix yourself. It takes 2 minutes and it’s WAY healthier than the store-bought packets.
Notice that you DON’T need beef broth, black pepper, flour, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, or garlic cloves (or garlic powder) in this recipe for a pot roast in the crock pot. All of these ingredients are already in the dry onion soup mix and the mushroom soup!
Psst! Want to kick this pot roast recipe up a notch? Try finishing your roast with a pinch of finishing salt! I love Ava Jane’s Kitchen because it doesn’t have microplastics (gross, right?) and it’s SO GOOD! Plus, you can get a free 8oz. bag of sea salt (just pay shipping and handling!). Add a pinch before serving or incorporate it into your dry spice mix to bring out the drool-worthy savory flavor of your pot roast!
EASY SUBSTITUTIONS FOR RECIPE FOR A POT ROAST
- Don’t like carrots? Try different veggies like parsnips, turnips, daikon radish, rutabaga, yams, or sweet potatoes. Cut whichever veggies you choose into 1-inch pieces.
- Don’t like cream of mushroom soup? Make Cream of Celery Soup instead OR make Cream of Beef (substituting beef stock for chicken stock). If you’re going store-bought, you need one can.
- Don’t want to make dry onion soup mix? Store-bought is fine. You need one packet.
For a totally different but equally delicious flavor, try my Balsamic Slow Cooker Roast Beef Recipe.
THE BEST BEEF FOR POT ROAST RECIPES
Grass-fed beef is very important to my family, so we joined Butcher Box a few years ago and LOVE having quality meat shipped to our front door every month.
They offer subscriptions of grass-fed beef, organic chicken, heritage-breed pork, and wild-caught seafood, and you can choose what cuts you want AND how often you want your box delivered. Obviously, you’ll want to choose beef for slow cooker pot roast recipes!
If you’ve never heard of Butcher Box, read my honest review here and how to make Butcher Box worth the cost here! I love to get large cuts like pork roast and chuck roast to make the best pot roast recipe!
The search for high-quality meat ends here. Amazing taste. Humanely raised and delivered to your door. Sign up today! Click this link to claim the current offer!
HOW TO COOK POT ROAST IN THE CROCK POT
Step 1. Place half of the potatoes and carrots in the bottom of the slow cooker. (If you’re in the market for a slow cooker, this one is highly recommended.)
Step 2. Next, place the chuck roast on top of the vegetables. There is no need to sear the meat first!
Step 3. Place the remaining vegetables on top of and around the chuck roast.
Step 4. Pour the dry onion soup mix and cream of mushroom soup over the top. You don’t need to add any water or additional liquid to the slow cooker.
Step 5. Cover with a lid and cook on low for at least 8 hours, preferably 10, until fall-apart tender.
Note: I strongly recommend NOT reducing the cooking time. In my testing, I made this recipe for a pot roast in the crock pot both ways – at a high temperature for fewer hours, and at a low temperature for more hours – and the longer cooking time was significantly more moist, tender, and flavorful.
Step 6. Shred the meat slightly with two forks and serve hot.
Store leftovers from this slow cooker pot roast recipe in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You may want to put the vegetables in separate storage, as they may soften more when reheating.
RECIPE FOR A POT ROAST SLOW COOKER TIPS
- If you cut the pot roast slow cooker recipe in half, keep the SAME cooking time.
- If you want to use a larger 6-pound roast, make sure your slow cooker is large enough to handle that size roast (like this 8.5 qt slow cooker, or an 8 qt Instant Pot with a slow cooker function). Double everything else and cook for 10 hours!
- Don’t add any milk or water – it’s not needed.
- Make this crockpot pot roast into an Instant Pot pot roast using my slow cooker to Instant Pot conversion guide.
- If you don’t want to make cream of mushroom soup or dry onion soup mix, store-bought is fine. You need one can of soup and one packet of seasoning.
RECIPES – POT ROAST GRAVY
You can take the liquid in the slow cooker and turn it into a brown gravy on the stovetop:
- Pour the meat drippings into a saucepan or Dutch oven and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat.
- Combine 3 Tablespoons of cornstarch and 3 Tablespoons of water in a mug and stir together.
- Pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan and whisk constantly.
- The sauce will thicken to a gravy to pour over your slow cooker pot roast.
- If you like, you can substitute red wine for some of the water for a richer gravy.
TO SERVE POT ROAST RECIPE
- This recipe for a pot roast in the slow cooker feeds my family of 4 and makes at least 2 lunches with the leftovers! We usually pair it with an Easy Dinner Salad.
- Try garnishing with herbs like fresh thyme or fresh rosemary. (If you have extra herbs after you garnish your crockpot chuck pot roast, freeze the herbs for another time – here’s how!)
- Use your Instant Pot for Steamed Broccoli on the side and dinner practically cooked itself! (I know you love your slow cooker, but curious if the Instant Pot is right for you? Read my review.)
- If you don’t have an Instant Pot, Sautéed Green Beans would go great with this slow cooker pot roast recipe!
- Try my Easy Dinner Rolls or serve with a loaf of Simple Sourdough Bread. What a feast!
- If you happen to have two crockpots, I definitely recommend this Slow Cooker Peach Cobbler for dessert.
SLOW COOKER POT ROAST FAQS
Do you have to brown the roast before putting it in the crock pot?
No need to brown the roast before putting it in the crockpot. Some say it helps lock in the flavor, but I’ve made this slow cooker pot roast recipe many times and it’s always been delicious! There’s no need to dirty another pan or skillet!
How much water do you add for slow cooking a beef roast?
You do NOT need to add any water to this recipe for a pot roast!
Is it better to make recipes – pot roast in the slow cooker or the Instant Pot?
Instant Pot roast is YUMMY…but it turns out to be less tender when compared to the crock pot version. I like how a crockpot chuck pot roast turns out better.
Does slow cooker pot roast get more tender the longer it cooks?
Any large piece of meat that you use in the crock pot will get more tender the longer it is cooked. Cooking for 8-10 hours at a low temperature will give you melt-in-your-mouth tender roast beef!
MORE DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER RECIPES
- Crock Pot Mississippi Roast
- Slow Cooker Beef Stew
- The Best Slow Cooker Carnitas
- Easy Slow Cooker Brisket
- Slow Cooker Cooked Chicken
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Classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
This easy slow cooker pot roast recipe takes less than 10 minutes to load into your crockpot, and you’ll end up with a melt-in-your-mouth tender beef roast full of flavor. Perfect for a special family dinner or any time!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Total Time: 10 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Main meals
- Method: Slow cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 chuck roast (3–4 lbs)
- 1 lb baby carrots (or carrots, cut into about 1″ pieces)
- 1 ½ lbs potatoes (any variety, cut into about 1″ pieces if necessary)
- 4 Tbsp of homemade dry onion soup mix
- 1 batch of homemade cream of mushroom soup
Instructions
- Place half the potatoes and carrots on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Next, place the chuck roast on top of the vegetables.
- Place the remaining vegetables on top and around the chuck roast.
- Pour homemade dry onion soup mix and homemade cream of mushroom soup over the top.
- Cover with a lid and cook on low for at least 8 hours, preferably 10.
- Shred the meat slightly with two forks and serve hot.
Notes
- Don’t add any additional liquid – it’s not needed.
- A longer cooking time is best – aim for 10 hours on low.
- Chuck roast tastes best for this recipe, but a shoulder roast will work in a pinch.
- If you don’t have time to make dry onion soup mix or cream of mushroom soup, you need one packet of dry onion soup mix and one can of cream of mushroom soup.
Nutrition
- Calories: 1,137
Hello. This recipe looks delicious. I only have a 3.5 quart slow cooker but only feeding 2 to 3 people. Can i use a smaller roast? Or do you have any other suggestions? Thanks a lot!
A smaller roast would work just fine Annie!
Ca I add green beans to this recipe?
Sure! If they’re canned, add them at the very end for about 5-10 minutes to warm through. If they’re fresh, add them halfway through!
Hi Tiffany!
Making this right now, I know this is not a newer recipe so I don’t expect a reply.
I’m wondering if I should thicken the sauce at the end or just leave it as is… I will likely take the roast out to shred on a cutting board and then mix up the juices to see what the consistency is like. Do you normally leave it as is or do you take some out to make a gravy to serve on the side?
Thanks so much! Smells so amazing in my house, the boyfriend and his brother were overjoyed when they got in from work!
Hi Crystal! I usually leave it as-is. I made a gravy one time, but it was almost too thick. Do let us know which you picked and how the roast turned out!
Hi! I am making this right now! I made the cream of celery soup with gluten free flour and it thickened up A LOT. It is more of a paste that is sitting on top of the other ingredients. Is this ok? Or was it supposed to be actual liquid soup consistency?
Hi Celine! It’s fine if it’s thick – it will thin out with the juices of the pot roast!
Chuck roast has been in the slow cooker for 8 hours, continue to 10 hours? Seems like a lot of liquid in the crock pot. When I have reached the 10 hours do I shred the roast in the crock pot with a fork in the liquid?
Yes, continue cooking! You can shred in the slow cooker, or you can take the pieces out and shred, and then put them back. Whichever is easier. 🙂
Delicious. Just made this. Only change was searing the roast 5 minutes each side. Not sure how much of a difference it made. Overall easy and excellent recipe. thanj you for sharing.
You’re very welcome Colleen!! (And for what it’s worth, I tested searing first and not searing, and didn’t notice any difference in flavor. So I went with the easy route. 😉 )
Easy to follow, made exactly as instructed and made the cream of mushroom soup to go in it, the best crock pot roast ever!!!
I’m so glad you liked it Alicia!!
I want to make the pot roast for my family on Sunday. There will be 10 adults. What size roast should I buy and can I cook in oven, since I don’t have a crock pot large enough to accommodate such a large roast! Tx
Hi Joyanne! You can certainly cook it in the oven, but I’ve always done it in the slow cooker so I don’t have a recipe to direct you to. As for the size roast, I’d go for 6 pounds personally, with LOTS of veggies – potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, onions, peppers… even halved tomatoes!
Do you have to add salt
No – there’s salt in the onion seasoning.
Hi, can I use a chuck roast already cut into chunks? Would I have to adjust the cooking time?
Yes you can, and no you don’t!
I think my crockpot may be too full??? The soup is supposed to sit on top of the roast?? Am i supposed to mix it in at any point?? I used prolly a 4.25 pound chuck pot roast. Added onions and celery to the original recipe. I have a 6 qt crockpot. Did I mess up by not using a larger crockpot? It’s been cooking for 3 hours so far. Should I expect it to need to cook longer than 10 hours with the larger roast and additional vegetables? I wish I could ass a picture to show how full my pot is.
As long as the lid touches the slow cooker Janell, you should be fine with the larger roast. You’ll still need 8-10 hours (preferably 10), but you don’t need to add any additional time. Yes, the soup sits on top. Just wait – it all comes together at the end!
I am using a 3lb bottom round roast and want to know if I should keep it standing upright or lay it on its side while cooking in the crockpot Thanks
The general rule of thumb Anne is to cook it with the fat on top. Other than that, however you can get it in will work!
Hello Tiffany making this tonight for tomorrow but im curious what you would serve this with… do you think rice would be good? 🤗
Yes! Rice is good, potatoes, egg noodles… you can’t go wrong!
I did everything per recipe, cooked to 10 hours, 3 ibs chuck roast, and it didn’t turn out 🙁 the roast didn’t seperate easily with a work, some of the potatoes and carrots weren’t fully cooked yet. Overall it didn’t seem to be done even after a while 10 hours.
That’s so strange Kristina… I’ve made this numerous times since first publishing the recipe, and I know it’s turned out very well for others. Perhaps your slow cooker runs on the cool side? The fact that your veggies weren’t cooked leads me to believe something is wrong with the appliance, not the recipe.
Me and my hubby made this recipe with a 2 lb roast and it was absolutely a home run! We have found our recipe for a great pot roast , thank you!
So glad you liked this recipe Sarah!
No one in my house likes cream of anything soup, so what could I substitute that for?
Would beef broth work?
Homemade cream of soup is actually made with beef broth. 😉 To be honest, your family won’t notice. *IF* however, you don’t feel comfortable using the creamed soup, you can use beef broth with all the veggies and seasonings.
Hi Tiffany! I’m looking forward to making this for dinner tomorrow 🙂
One question! Did you sear your roast before putting it in the slow cooker?
Nope – just toss it right in!! I hope you enjoy it!
Is the roast frozen or thawed?
It’s thawed Lindsey.
What if the roast is frozen? Can you still make it work or does it have to be thawed?
I’ve done a partially frozen roast before, but not a completely frozen one, and it turned out fine. Honestly, I’d recommend thawing it first. There’s no way to guarantee that the roast will be done in the cook time.
This sounds great! If I were to use canned soup how may cans should I use and should I add water?
Just one can Pam, and no water!
Do u have the nutrition facts on this recipe?
I don’t Marybeth, but you’re welcome to plug the ingredients into an online nutrition calculator!