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This slow cooker beef roast is a wonderful comfort dish the whole family can enjoy. Made with beef roast, potatoes, and carrots, it's a full meal that's ready to eat in just a few hours.
We love easy crock pot roast with potatoes and carrots, but it's not one of our cheaper meals to make, which means it doesn't happen too often. That said, it's a comforting slow cooker meal that can feed a small crowd, which is perfect for when we have family coming over.
This is a slow cooker recipe that is definitely worth keeping handy. Perfect for serving with our Jiffy Cornbread With Cake Mix or 2 Hour No Knead White Bread.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's convenient. One of the best reasons to bring out the crock pot is when you want to let something simmer all day while you do whatever you want (or need) to do. I love it when I plan to work long hours. Convenience is everything.
- It's comforting. Meat, potatoes, carrots, and gravy/broth, what's not to love? This dish is full of flavor and warmth and is truly heartwarming. Perfect for cold nights and homestyle cooking.
- Simple ingredients. This recipe uses very simple pantry staple seasonings, cornstarch, broth, veggies, and meat. You may have some of the ingredients on hand already, and if not, the ones you're missing should be easy to locate in your local grocery store.
Jump to:
- 🥘Ingredients
- 🍽 Equipment Needed
- 🔪 Instructions
- 🍴 Recipe Tips
- 👩🏻🍳 Storage
- 🍳 Reheating
- 🥗 Side Dishes
- ⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
- 💭 FAQs
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
🥘Ingredients
Beef roast- You will need a beef eye of round roast that is about 3.5 pounds in size. Other beef roasts will work too, but Eye of Round is great for shredding and slow cooked meals.
Seasonings- For delicious flavor, you'll want a blend of Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Broth- Use beef broth to help hydrate the food as it cooks and to give a great start to the gravy it will create.
Carrots- You'll want to use a pound of baby carrots, but if desired, you can use peeled and chopped larger carrots.
Potatoes- Red potatoes and yellow potatoes hold up better to the long cook times in the slow cooker as russets usually fall apart and become grainy. That said, you can use your potato of preference.
Onion- Adding in onion will give us a nicer and fuller flavor profile.
Celery- Use some chopped celery for added freshness and a little color too.
For the Gravy, you will need:
Water- You'll need a little bit of water to create a cornstarch slurry.
Cornstarch- Using cornstarch will help to thicken the cooked broth into a gravy without using any gluten.
For specific quantities, see the recipe card below.
🍽 Equipment Needed
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🔪 Instructions
Check out how to make Slow Cooker Beef Roast with these simple step-by-step instructions:
Add your Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to a small bowl.
Stir together to combine.
Add the seasonings to your roast.
Rub the seasoning well to coat the roast evenly.
Place the roast at the bottom of your slow cooker.
Add in the chopped potatoes. They should be quartered or 1.5 inches in size (whichever is smaller).
Add in the baby carrots.
Add in chopped onion and celery.
Pour in the beef broth.
Cover and cook on low for 9 hours or on high for 6 hours.
An hour before serving, you can mix the cornstarch slurry together in a small bowl and add it to the slow cooker. The juices in the crock pot will thicken as it continues to cook.
Alternatively, you can drain all of the juices from the crockpot into a pot with your cornstarch slurry and cook on the stove on medium-high until bubbling (about 3-5 minutes).
Place your roast on a large cutting board and shred it apart with two forks.
Serve with cooked veggies and gravy.
🍴 Recipe Tips
After cooking on high for 6 hours or cooking on low heat for 9 hours, your meat should be fairly easy to shred apart. If you find that your roast is tough, that means it hasn't cooked long enough.
Roast is one of those meats that have to cook past the safe-to-eat temperature in order to become tender. So turn the heat up to high, add an extra hour if needed, and check on it again.
I often like to cook my roast on low heat for about 7 hours and then finish the last 2-3 hours on high heat.
👩🏻🍳 Storage
When storing your leftovers, you'll want to keep your roast and veggies separate from the gravy if at all possible. This will make it easier to scoop and use what you want later instead of sifting through the solidified gravy.
Store the gravy in its own airtight container and store the meat and veggies in another. They can last about 3-4 da in the fridge. Note that you will want to add some juices to the meat to keep it from drying out.
Alternatively, you can freeze them in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
🍳 Reheating
It's not recommended to reheat your leftovers in a slow cooker so instead, use the microwave for smaller portions. About 1.5-2 minutes for a single serving should be sufficient for most microwaves.
For larger portions, add the roast and veggies to a 9x13 baking dish and add in any juices, beef broth, or gravy to the pan to help keep everything hydrated. Cover in foil and bake at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until heated through.
🥗 Side Dishes
Because this dish already includes starches and veggies, you can easily consider it a full meal on its own. That said, some great side dishes to serve with your roast can include Instant Pot Au Gratin Potatoes, Bacon Ranch Brussel Sprouts, and Easy Yeast Rolls for Beginners.
⏲️ Make Ahead Instructions
Prepare the seasoned roast the night before and chop your veggies too. You can keep them in the covered crockpot liner (assuming it's not ceramic) or in gallon-sized baggies in the fridge. In the morning, just pull everything out of the fridge and place it into the slow cooker.
💭 FAQs
What is the most tender beef roast for slow cooker?
The best type of roast to use is actually a top round roast. This is because it doesn't have as much fat and it's cheaper too.
Do you need to put liquid in a slow cooker with beef?
Yes and no. You'll want enough liquid to create a base in the slow cooker, but you don't need enough to submerge anything as the meat and veggies will release their own juices as they cook. Adding liquid to the crock pot will help to develop flavors and prevent food from sticking to the liner.
Does beef get softer the longer you slow cook it?
Yes, the longer it cooks, the more the collagen breaks down and melts, making the meat more tender as a result. When collagen breaks down, it turns into gelatin (picture unsolid jello), and this coats the meat making it juicy and silky in texture. Then when cold, it solidifies, only to melt when reheated again.
More great slow cooker recipes to check out soon
- Slow Cooker Cabbage with Bacon
- 3 Ingredient Crock Pot Pork Chops
- Crockpot Chicken with Enchilada Sauce
- Chocolate Crockpot Lava Cake
📖 Recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote
Slow Cooker Beef Roast
This slow cooker beef roast is a wonderful comfort dish the whole family can enjoy. Made with beef roast, potatoes, and carrots, it's a full meal that's ready to eat in just a few hours.
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 9 hrs
Total Time 9 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 488kcal
Cost Recipe $20.48 / Serving $2.56
Ingredients
- 3.5 pounds Beef eye of round roast ($13.77)
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning ($0.30)
- 2 teaspoons Salt ($0.20)
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper ($0.10)
- 2 teaspoons Garlic powder ($0.20)
- 1 teaspoon Onion powder ($0.10)
- 2 pounds Red potatoes (yellow and russet okay too!) ($2.88)
- 1 large Onion, chopped ($0.70)
- 1 pound Baby carrots ($1.24)
- 2 stalks Celery, chopped ($0.24)
- 2 cups Beef broth ($0.67)
Cornstarch Slurry (for gravy)
- ¼ cup Cold water ($0.00)
- ¼ cup Cornstarch ($0.08)
Instructions
In a small bowl, combine your seasonings.
(Video) SLOW COOKER POT ROAST | an easy crock pot roast for dinnerRub the seasoning mixture over the roast to fully coat.
Place the roast at the bottom of your slow cooker.
Add in chopped potatoes, chopped onions, baby carrots and chopped celery stalks.
Pour in the beef broth.
Cover and cook on low for 9 hours or on high for 6 hours.
An hour before serving you can mix the cornstarch slurry together in a small bowl and add it to the slow cooker. The juices in the crock pot will thicken as it continues to cook.
Alternatively you can drain all of the juices from the crockpot into a pot with your cornstarch slurry and cook on the stove on medium-high until bubbling (about 3-5 minutes).
Place your roast on a large cutting board and shred apart with two forks. Serve with cooked veggies and gravy.
Notes
Recipe Tips
After cooking on high for 6 hours or cooking on low heat for 9 hours, your meat should be fairly easy to shred apart. If you find that your roast is tough, that means it hasn't cooked long enough.
Roast is one of those meats that have to cook past the safe-to-eat temperature in order to become tender. So turn the heat up to high, add an extra hour if needed, and check on it again.
I often like to cook my roast on low heat for about 7 hours and then finish the last 2-3 hours on high heat.
Storage
When storing your leftovers, you'll want to keep your roast and veggies separate from the gravy if at all possible. This will make it easier to scoop and use what you want later instead of sifting through the solidified gravy.
Store the gravy in its own airtight container and store the meat and veggies in another. They can last about 3-4 da in the fridge. Note that you will want to add some juices to the meat to keep it from drying out.
Alternatively, you can freeze them in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
It's not recommended to reheat your leftovers in a slow cooker so instead, use the microwave for smaller portions. About 1.5-2 minutes for a single serving should be sufficient for most microwaves.
For larger portions, add the roast and veggies to a 9x13 baking dish and add in any juices, beef broth, or gravy to the pan to help keep everything hydrated. Cover in foil and bake at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until heated through.
Make Ahead Instructions
Prepare the seasoned roast the night before and chop your veggies too. You can keep them in the covered crockpot liner (assuming it's not ceramic) or in gallon-sized baggies in the fridge. In the morning, just pull everything out of the fridge and place it into the slow cooker.
Nutritional Information
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 1040mg | Potassium: 1411mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 7910IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 6mg
Author NicoleDurham
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
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FAQs
Why is my beef roast tough in slow cooker? ›
Why Is My Crock-Pot Roast Tough? If the pot roast or chuck roast is tough, it is because it needs more cooking time. As the beef cooks the muscles and connective tissues break down and this makes the beef tender. Also, if you cook the roast at a high temperature, the roast will be tough.
What is the most tender beef roast for slow cooker? ›Top Round Roast
Because it doesn't have the fat content that other roasts do, it comes out its best when it's cooked for hours in the slow cooker to tenderize it. It's less expensive than other beef roasts, which is why it might be a better option for some cooks.
There is no need to cover the meat in liquid when cooking with a slow cooker, you only need enough liquid to cover the base of the slow cooker as the meat and vegetables will release liquid as they cook.
Can you cook a beef roast too long in a slow cooker? ›Can you overcook something in a slow cooker? Slow cookers are specially designed to cook food for long periods of time, but yes, you can still overcook in a slow cooker if something is left on the wrong setting for longer than it's supposed to be.
Why is my roast not falling apart in the crockpot? ›Why is my crock pot roast tough? 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!
Does beef get softer the longer you slow cook it? ›Yes, there are scientific reasons to back up the fact that slow cooked meat is better. Tenderness in meat comes from the melting of collagen – the connective tissue protein present in meat. When collagen melts, it turns into gelatin, a rich liquid that gives meat a lot of flavour as well as a silky texture.
Do you have to brown a roast before putting it in the crockpot? ›"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."
How long to cook a 2 pound roast in a slow cooker? ›| Beef roast size | Cooking time LOW2 | Cooking time HIGH3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3lb / 1-1.5kg | 7-8 hours | 3-4 hours |
| 3-4lb / 1.5-2kg | 8-9 hours | 4-5 hours |
| 4-5lb / 2-2.5kg | 9-10 hours | 5-6 hours |
| 5-6lb / 2.5-3kg | 10-11 hours | 6-7 hours |
Cook Low and Slow
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.
To ensure a tender roast without overcooking, probe it with a meat thermometer at the minimum cook time depending on the setting (4 hours on high, 8 hours on low). If the meat has reached 170 degrees internally, cook it for only 1 more hour.
How much liquid should I put in a slow cooker roast? ›
However, the liquid adds flavor and keeps a lean roast from getting dry. How much water do I put in a crock pot for a roast? At minimum, you only need about ¼ cup, though you can add more (up to 12 ounces) if you are relying on the drippings to create a gravy later.
Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›The difference between the two settings isn't a higher temperature, it's the time it takes for the slow cooker to reach the simmer point. On high, that's around three to four hours, and on low, it's seven to eight, according to Crock-Pot. So imagine if your dinner is cooking away on high all day while you're at work.
Can you leave a roast in slow cooker all day? ›The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm. After this, it needs to be cooled and transferred into the refrigerator. Why?
Why isn't my roast falling apart? ›If your roast is tough and not falling apart then you will need to let it cook longer. Trying to increase the temperature will also result in a tough roast. Low and slow is the key to getting a tender chuck roast that falls apart.
Can you cook a roast on low for 12 hours? ›Place roasts, side by side, in a 6-qt. slow cooker. Add carrots and remaining ingredients. Cook, covered, on LOW 10 to 12 hours or until tender.
Is it better to cook a roast on low or high in the crockpot? ›Cook on low.
While you can prepare this easy crockpot roast beef on the “high” setting, we always recommend low. The low temperature brings up the internal temperature of the meat so slowly that the whole roast cooks evenly across its entirety — the roast will be perfect from crust to center!
A roast can stay in a slow cooker for up to 10 hours. The length of time will depend on the type of meat, the size of the roast, and the temperature of the slow cooker. For a well-done roast, cook for 8-10 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high. For a medium roast, cook for 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.
Why is my roast beef tough? ›It's overcooked. Overcooking meat causes it to dry out, and as moisture is lost, the meat gets tougher and so harder to chew. It was cooked at too high a temperature. For soft and tender meat, it's always better to cook it low and slow than to heat it very quickly, which causes the protein in the meat to toughen.
Why do you put flour on a roast? ›Place your meat in a zip top bag with flour, salt and pepper and shake to coat. The flour will create a crust on the top of the meat when you sear it and thicken the juices for a nice gravy-like consistency.
Do you brown a roast in oil or butter? ›
To guarantee a well-caramelized crust, sear the roast in 1-3 tablespoons of oil for two to three minutes per side, either in the roasting pan or a skillet, before putting it into the oven.
Should meat or vegetables go in crockpot first? ›The trick to a perfectly-cooked Crock Pot is to layer the ingredients in the right order: Dense, tough veggies on the bottom, delicate ones on top – and meat or lentils on top of everything.
How do you fix a tough roast beef? ›Simmering in a little bit of liquid or broth is a great way to tenderize. Acidity can also be your friend here. A little bit of vinegar and lemon juice in the liquid can help you tenderize the meat. It adds moisture, but it also cooks the meat.
How to cook a tough beef roast and make it tender? ›Slow cook it. Tough cuts of meat with lots of connective tissue, like brisket, chuck roast, and bottom round, are some of the best choices for the slow cooker. Cooked low and slow for many hours, the collagen in these tough cuts eventually breaks, leaving you with shreds of tender, juicy meat.
Why is my roast beef tough and chewy? ›It's overcooked. Overcooking meat causes it to dry out, and as moisture is lost, the meat gets tougher and so harder to chew. It was cooked at too high a temperature. For soft and tender meat, it's always better to cook it low and slow than to heat it very quickly, which causes the protein in the meat to toughen.
Why is my roast not falling apart? ›If your roast is tough and not falling apart then you will need to let it cook longer. Trying to increase the temperature will also result in a tough roast. Low and slow is the key to getting a tender chuck roast that falls apart.
Do you cook roast longer if tough? ›All you need to do is continue cooking. Pot roasts are usually tough cuts, full of dense muscles and connective tissue. They need long, slow cooking to soften the muscles and melt the connective tissues into juicy, rich natural gelatin.
How do I make my roast tender? ›Low and Slow is the Way to Go
Whether you cook your pot roast using a stovetop, oven, slow cooker, or pressure cooker method, you'll always get the most tender and flavorful results if you use low temperatures over a long period of time.
So how does slow cooking tenderize? Broth, water, or juices are always added along with the meat. The moist heat they provide softens the connective tissue that binds the muscle fibers in the meat, helping it to fall apart more easily.
What tenderizes beef roast? ›Marinate the meat.
Acidic ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and even yogurt have a low pH that can assist in tenderizing your beef. And naturally-occuring enzymes like papain in papayas and bromelain in pineapples can likewise help soften your steak.
How do you make beef so soft and tender? ›
- Sprinkle 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carbonate soda) on 250g / 8oz sliced economical beef cuts.
- Toss with fingers, leave for 30 minutes.
- Rinse, pat off excess water.
- Proceed with stir fry recipe. It can be marinated with wet or dry seasonings, or cooked plain.
Does chuck roast get more tender the longer you cook it? It does! The secret to an incredible beef chuck roast recipe is to let it cook for long enough. I cook my chuck roast for 6 hours and 20 minutes, and by the time it's done it's fall-apart tender with soft carrots and potatoes all cooked in the same pot.